Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2025

Ask an Expert: How Can I Make My Home More Energy-Independent?

Ask an Expert: How Can I Make My Home More Energy-Independent?

When you can’t connect to the grid, rely on natural gas, or store enough solar energy, propane is a dependable way to power your home. We asked an expert how it works.

It’s the most beautiful piece of land-surrounded by forest, near a river, or perhaps just steps from the ocean. You can picture your home there, far from the bustle of society. The only problem is: How will you power it?

Most people use propane to heat patios and fire up outdoor grills. But when connecting your home to natural gas or the grid isn’t viable-say you’ve decided to take up van life or live in an area far from utilities-then propane could be a beneficial addition to your energy mix.

We wanted to learn more about responsible use of propane, so we spoke with Bryan Cordill, director of residential and commercial business development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

What types of homes benefit from propane systems?


Propane makes it possible to build wherever you like, even in the most remote areas. Use is most common in larger, rural lots and on land where the cost of natural gas infrastructure doesn’t make sense based on the area’s sparse density of housing. These locations also tend to have fragile electrical service, so it gives the builder even more incentive to use products that require less electricity.



Studio Schicketanz often works with clients who decide to build in off-grid places. The goal of this family vacation home overlooking the coastline in Big Sur was to disrupt the natural landscape as little as possible. Its power system includes a propane tank, which is buried in the ground.

Does propane make sense for homes near cities where electricity is widely available?


Even if you don’t live in the wilds, propane can round out your power supply and help carry the load when electricity is unfeasible. We are also seeing a dramatic increase of propane used in new subdivision developments. It comes down to reliability-propane adds to your home’s energy independence.



The Cappo residence (shown) by Studio Schicketanz cascades down a steep hillside overlooking Point Lobos near Carmel. A propane system was part of the plan that allowed the home to be sited in this idyllic spot.

Are there instances when propane can actually outperform electricity?


In terms of convenience and cost savings, propane furnaces and boilers are good examples. Take water heating, for instance. A propane-fueled, tankless water heating system allows the homeowner to have hot water on demand without having to spend money keeping it hot when they don’t need it. On the other hand, a storage tank–based electric water heater needs time to reheat between uses, making it inconvenient when everyone needs a bath or shower at the same time. Same goes for the air-heating system-you want it to respond quickly and bring the home to a comfortable temperature.



"A gas fireplace or fire table can keep guests comfortable on cooler nights, while propane mosquito control devices can be helpful during the warmer months," explains Cordill.

A significant portion of electricity available through the grid is still powered by fossil fuel. Are there advantages to storing propane on-site in terms of controlling how much of it you use?


Using propane on-site is much more efficient than using electricity generated by burning coal or natural gas at a plant miles away. Only about one-third of the energy from the gas or coal at the plant reaches your home, which means it takes three times as much fuel at the plant to match the same amount of energy supplied by propane stored at your home. In this case, powering some appliances with propane can reduce your dependence on electricity, relieve strain on the grid, and decrease the size and cost of the standby generator needed.

Can you give another example of a situation where propane makes sense?


A common cause of power outages is people’s dependence on electric resistance heat as a backup to their air-source heat pumps. When the temperatures fall below 40 degrees, most of those heat pumps can't keep up, and the added strain can cause a major increase on the electric grid, leading to the system’s failure. In this instance, the propane-fueled home would still be up and running.



Studio Schicketanz’s Dani Ridge residence is perched on a cliff overlooking the coastline along Highway One in California and surrounded by native grasslands.

Outdoor heaters powered by propane have been ubiquitous since the pandemic. What should we look for in these types of heaters in terms of fuel consumption and effectiveness?


Always start with the manufacturer’s safety guide for installation clearances in relation to combustibles or heat-sensitive building materials. Beyond that, you need to think about how you want to use the appliance. Perhaps it’s the "mushroom" patio heater, with 360-degree radiation, that will best meet your needs, or maybe you need something more directional, like a wall-mounted infrared heater. You can have it connected to the home’s propane system and larger storage tank, or you can opt for the flexibility of a portable cylinder.



This home design by Studio Schicketanz includes a heated outdoor soaking tub with an unbeatable view. "By using propane to power all the high-consumption appliances in the home-such as water heaters, cooktops, and spas-you allow the electrical supply to power the things it does best: lighting, ventilation fans, and water well pumps," says Cordill.

How can propane enhance the way we entertain in our outdoor spaces?


The built-in propane grill is the heart and soul of the ultimate outdoor kitchen, and there are lots of models and options available to meet the needs of the most discerning chef. A gas fireplace or fire table can keep guests comfortable on cooler nights, while propane-powered mosquito control devices can be helpful during the warmer months. I also use a high-output-power burner in my outdoor kitchen for boiling seafood and blackening fresh fish.



"I have often said that no one ever invites you over to their new all-electric outdoor kitchen," says Cordill, noting propane plays an essential part in many homeowners’ outdoor entertaining set-ups.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
×