Natural Gas Offers Climate-Friendly Solutions

Washington, D.C. –   The American Gas Association (AGA), representing the nation’s gas utilities, today encouraged Americans to view every day as Earth Day and continue to turn to natural gas as part of the climate change solution.

“Earth Day is a good reminder that we must all take actions everyday to reduce our carbon footprints,” said Roger Cooper, executive vice president, policy and planning of the American Gas Association.  “America’s natural gas companies offer clean, reliable and abundant options for meeting our country’s energy appetite.  As we look toward the goal of becoming more “green” every day, natural gas can play an important role in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions both nationally and globally.”

Natural gas provides nearly half of all energy consumed in the residential and commercial sectors, yet consumption in these sectors accounts for less than 6 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.  The lowest carbon-emitting fossil fuel, natural gas emits 45 percent less CO2 than coal and 30 percent less CO2 than fuel oil.

For homeowners, the direct use of natural gas offers proven energy-saving benefits and reduced greenhouse gas emissions: 

• A house using natural gas for water and space heating, cooking and clothes drying creates, on average, 30 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a home using electric appliances for these same activities.
• About 90 percent of the natural gas produced is delivered to customers as useable energy. In contrast, only about 27 percent of the energy converted to electricity reaches customers.
•  Because they are more efficient, natural gas water heaters have lower average energy costs than electric models. Over the 9-year life of a water heater using natural gas, families save could save more than $2,000.