Natural Gas Utility Energy Efficiency Programs: Good for the planet (and your pocketbook)

December 16, 2008 by Paula Gant · 1 Comment, leave one of your own
Filed under: energy

Utility companies may not be the first bunch that comes to mind when one thinks of proponents of energy efficiency, but maybe they should be. In reality, natural gas utilities are uniquely positioned to promote smart energy use. Due in part to natural gas utility efforts to help their customers implement energy saving measures, the average American home uses 32 percent less natural gas now than in 1980 – benefiting both consumer finances and the environment.

Each year, AGA surveys its member natural gas utilities to determine what they are doing to help customers use natural gas more responsibly. Ways in which these utilities encourage responsible energy use include offering cash rebates for upgrades to more efficient appliances, providing tools to help customers understand their energy use, and supplying information about what changes a customer can make to his home or business to use energy smartly.

map Natural Gas Utility Energy Efficiency Programs: Good for the planet (and your pocketbook)

This year’s results demonstrate that utilities and their customers are taking energy efficiency seriously, and that their actions are having an impact. In 2007:

Nearly $329 million was budgeted to help customers use natural gas more efficiently.

Energy savings achieved through natural gas energy efficiency programs were enough to offset 0.6 million tons of carbon.

Programs administered by utilities helped customers reduce the amount of natural gas they use in their home by an average of 9 percent.

For consumers of natural gas, these programs are helpful in reducing energy bills without sacrificing the comfort or productivity of homes and businesses. For all of us, they help contribute to a cleaner, greener planet.

For a link to the full survey report, and related information about natural gas utilities and energy efficiency, please click here.

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One Comment on Natural Gas Utility Energy Efficiency Programs: Good for the planet (and your pocketbook)

Nick on Tue, 5th May 2009 9:23 am

I have several unresolved issues with Nat .gas industry in US.

1. Why ma I paying per temperature… not per volume. a Therm is a certain amount of BTU, and BTU is temperature not volume, such as gallons, litters, cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters… after all it is liquid natural gas that enters my house. That leads me to my second question…

2. If I compare Electricity vs. LNG they are almost at the same when it comes to value, price… as Electricity has much better efficiency. Plumber contractors has exploited the high efficiency gas appliances by charging triple for installation and maintenance. I guess my question here would be… Why you say something that is not real. Physically LNG is best energy carrier yet price wise… !!!

3.And here is my third question… Why is the price of LNG so high? average in EU is about 450-650 USD per 1000 cubic meters. that would be around 35000 cubic feet to the public. you can make the math for yourself.

Well thank you for reading and I hope to see LNG price going even lower as I personally don’t wish to deal with plumbers. And electricity can be made out anything. and get even cheaper, now that we have plans for more nuclear power plants, wind farms and solar cell tax rebates… AGA members ought to wise up.

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