Direct Use of Natural Gas is a Cost-Effective Path to Lower Emissions
The American Gas Foundation’s study on emerging natural gas direct-use technologies demonstrates that high-efficiency natural gas appliances can play an important role in reducing emissions across homes and businesses.
Efficiency improvements in natural gas technologies are one of the lowest cost ways to reduce emissions while maintaining customer affordability.
- Adoption of high-efficiency natural gas technologies can reduce emissions by more than 20%.
- Using natural gas during high-demand periods offers families and businesses increased reliability and reduces reliance on the electric system. Increased natural gas efficiency can help protect affordability.
Natural gas appliances are more affordable than electric alternatives.
- Electric space and water heating options are more expensive, especially in colder climates.
- Families choose natural gas heat pumps over electric heat pumps at a ratio of 4 to 1.2
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to reducing emissions.
- Regional differences in climate, energy prices, infrastructure, housing availability and installation complexity all affect which technologies are practical and cost-effective.
- Even when local or regional policies incentivize electrification, customers often continue to choose natural gas.
