we get propane as we are out in the country for the stove and water heater. It is fairly expensive but heats quickly. Would it be a better enviromental choice to switch to electric?

Dang, that's a good question. Everything I've read says it's best to get electric from a renewable source. However, renewable sources tend to be expensive.

The question is, what would be the source of electricity? Renewable or petroleum or coal based?

I don't know how it works, environmentally, but gas puts particulate matter into your house at a higher rate. Like, if you have asthma, a gas stove is a horrid thing.

We have gas. I hate it. I get a snootful of fumes every time I turn it on. I think I have to get a job to change it, since dh doesn't really see a problem with this.

If you don't have a breathing problem, it's a pretty neutral situation, I'd think. I mean, electricity loses watts as it travels, so it's not particularly efficient in the country.

ari

some of the electric comes from hydroelectric at Niagara Falls, the rest I'm not sure, possibly nuclear.

i also think you have to consider the speed of gas vs electric for instance with cooking- you turn gas on it is hot immediately- so i think about that as well.

i'm going to be keeping an eye on this thread - our new house that we're moving into this week (yea!!) is out in the country and has propane heat & fireplace, but not stove. it used to have a propane water heater, but the propane line burst and caused a fire. most of the house had to be rebuilt, and when they were rebuilding it, they relocated the water heater to the first floor (why it was on the second floor is beyond me) and installed an electric one instead.

this might be a stupid question, but i know absolutely nothing about propane - where does it come from? how do propane companies get it? that might be something to consider, too, when figuring out which is more environmentally friendly.

Propane is more efficient than electric at heating things. Natural gas is more efficient still. If you look at pure BTU output per unit of energy, I think that is how it shakes out.

There are so many factors to consider. For us, propane makes an incredible amount of sense because it's much less expensive than electric where we are, plus more efficient. But fuel oil would be cheaper than propane. Natural gas is not available.