Know Your Natural Gas Generator - The Consumer's Choice
The choice of using a natural gas power generator can be made either with the mind or the heart or in some cases by a meeting of both. Compressed natural gas is usually sold in the form of methane which has been cleaned of other impurities such as Sulfur. When using natural gas home generators for power outages the consumer is assured that they are producing up to 30% less carbon dioxide than would be the case if they were using a petroleum generator, natural gas generators therefore represent the cleanest source of fossil fuel that money can buy. In addition in countries like the United States which is one of the primary consumers of natural gas the fuel source is usually cheaper than petroleum or diesel. The consumer is thus assured that they are contributing less greenhouse gas to a strained environment and at the same time saving money on these cash strapped times.
However, in terms of cost it should be noted that LPG or liquid propane gas is even cheaper than natural gas and has therefore become the gas source of choice for a number of household applications, including heating and for use in natural gas generators. Most consumers are familiar with propane in its use as a fuel source for grills, without which the outdoors would be considerably less fun on a warm summer day. Portable propane generators can be seen at most outdoor activities, due to their reliability and ease of use.
When it comes to the natural gas vs propane debate the deciding factor for the consumer will be availability, cost and concern for the environment. Because of the status of natural gas as the least polluting of the fossil fuels many of the more environmentally conscious consumers are leaning toward its use. The cost differential between natural gas and propane is in most cases negligible, so the environmental concern will often be the deciding factor.
When considering the use of a gas generator for power outages the state of power supply across the globe should always be taken into account. Although those in first world countries may not take note of the state of power supply on other, less developed continents the truth of the matter is that globally electricity supply is under enormous strain. Even in first world countries the threat of brownouts (not enough electricity to go around, lights dim etc.) as well as blackouts are becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Changing weather patterns and catastrophic weather events like Hurricane Katrina have made many households realize that power supplies can be cut at any time and that in times of crisis an uninterruptible power supply can mean the difference between life and death. In cases like these natural gas power generators for power outages are one of the choices, along with petroleum or diesel backup generators that face the homeowner.
So the choice is the consumer’s, a natural gas power generator makes the lowest contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases of all the fossil fuels. Other fuel sources like diesel or petroleum might be more easily available, but more hazardous to store. A propane natural gas generator will be cheaper to operate than those powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), but harsher on the environment. Money, availability or the environment, each consumer must balance their individual household demands with the demands of their conscience.
