Top Uses of Natural Gas
by Tyler Castle
2.3 min read
Natural gas has a wide variety of uses and is most notably used in homes for cooking and heating. However, most natural gas is burned as fuel and used to generate electricity. In this blog post, Santanna Energy discusses the top uses of natural gas in the United States.
Residential Uses for Natural Gas
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2018, residential customers accounted for about 17% of natural gas consumption in America.. Homeowners use natural gas in their homes in the following ways:
Hot Water
Many homes have a hot water heater that uses natural gas to power it. Most people prefer to use natural gas for their hot water heaters rather than electricity as natural gas is more economical and lower in price. Additionally, natural gas also has the capability to heat water much faster than electricity.
Cooking
Similar with hot water, natural gas stove tops significantly less energy than their electric counterparts. This is because, typically, gas ranges heat up and cool down much faster. Similarly, those who are fond of cooking also prefer this using natural gas ranges to better able control the temperature during the cooking process.
Drying Clothes
Clothes dryers using natural gas saves 50 percent more energy than traditional electrical models. Similar to heating water and cooking, clothes dried using natural gas are ready much faster than electric dryers.
Commercial Uses for Natural Gas
According to the IEA, the commercial sector accounted for 12% of the U.S.’s natural gas consumption. Similar to residences, commercial buildings use natural gas for space heating, hot water, refrigeration, cooling equipment, and drying clothes.
Electrical Sector Natural Gas Uses
In 2018, 35% of the U.S.’s natural gas consumption was from the electrical sector and used to generate electricity. The three fossil fuels used to generate electricity are: coal, oil, and natural gas. Of these three fossil fuels, natural gas emitted the least amounts of carbon dioxide, emitting 30% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less than coal. Additionally, burning natural gas for electricity production releases lower amounts of nitrogen, and mercury compared to oil and coal.
Natural Gas Uses in the Industrial Sector
The industrial sector is responsible for 34% of the U.S.’s total consumption of natural gas. The industrial sector uses natural gas to make a wide range of products including the manufacture of glass, steel, cement, bricks, and paper.
Natural gas is also used for the production of certain chemicals such as butane, ammonia, ethane, and propane. Other products made using natural gas include fertilizers, fabrics, pharmaceuticals, and plastics.
Whether you need natural gas services for your home or business, Santanna Energy has you covered. With our affordable fixed price options and rewards program, you can expect quality service fit for your home or business. Contact us today.
Tyler is an experienced energy professional, having worked for Santanna Energy Services, for the past four years. He is passionate about renewable energy and believes that diversifying the energy grid is the key to a sustainable future. Tyler is dedicated to supplying consumers with the best possible energy solutions and works diligently to make sure that Santanna can deliver the highest quality service.
