Page 12 - Fall_2020_Montana-Dakota

naturallyBetter

(continued from page 11) ney. Finally, people will appreciate the energy efficiency of natural gas
Fireplaces bring all those elements into a room, creating a warm, calming as compared to other fuels. In terms of home improvements, updating
environment. There is something primal about our love of fire, and the a fireplace provides one of the highest returns on investment.
ability to have that in your home daily can lead to tremendous comfort.” Today’s gas fireplaces offer more flexibility, better installation op-
Consumers typically mention one of three benefits to upgrading to a tions, updated styling and realistic-looking flames that appear to dance
gas fireplace, he said. First, homeowners like the convenience of turning effortlessly between the logs, casting an orange hue across the room.
a gas fireplace on or off with the push of a button and easily adjusting From a design perspective, some consumers want larger glass and are
the temperature. For those moving from wood to gas, this simplicity is a more focused on the fireplace’s aesthetic than just the flame. In that
bonus, with no more hauling logs and cleaning up afterward. Second, a way, fireplaces are expanding to become larger and squarer instead of
gas fireplace is safer than a wood-burning fire since there are no sparks rectangular, or extra-long and linear.
and embers to worry about, as well as no creosote buildup in the chim- Corner and multisided fireplaces are another way to integrate a fire-

amPLE suPPLy: NaTuraL Gas ProDuCTioN CoNTiNuEs uPWarD TrajECTory.

Because natural gas is a popular energy source for Natural gas is a more efficient energy source than
heating, generating electricity and fueling a multitude electricity because very little energy is consumed in
of appliances, it’s good to know there is a plentiful sup- transmitting it along pipelines and into homes. It’s all
ply for today – and in the future. about site-to-source efficiency.
The United States has been the world’s top producer Site energy measures energy consumption at the point
of natural gas since 2009, according to the U.S. Energy of use – for example, an appliance. Source energy mea-
Information Administration. In fact, the nation’s total sures energy consumption through the entire energy
natural gas production increased 12% from 2017 to supply chain, whether it’s a gas molecule from the ground
2018, and that upward swing continues, the organiza- to burner tip or an electron from generation to use. Source
tion reports. energy captures the entire efficiency of an appliance
“Not only does clean-burning natural gas heat because it considers how effective energy is used in the
about half of American homes, but it also generates whole process, not just at the endpoint of use.
more than one-third of the nation’s electricity and is “When measured using source energy, natural gas is
used to manufacture a wide range of products,” said 90% efficient,” said Audrey Casey, editorial and mar-
Nichole Francis Reynolds, vice president, government keting director with American Public Gas Association.
and public affairs, Interstate Natural Gas Association “Very little energy is lost in getting energy from the
of America. “With proper infrastructure, the growth in source to the end user. This results in lower energy bills
domestic natural gas production can continue to bolster for consumers and less energy wasted.”
America’s economy while helping the nation meet its Because natural gas is provided through an efficient
environmental goals.” production and delivery network, it is three times more
Fortunately, while demand for natural gas increases, efficient than electricity from source to point of use,
the resource base is also growing. Plentiful natural gas Casey said.
formations exist throughout the country. That growing “The direct use of natural gas in homes and busi-
resource base is attributable to shale gas, which is now nesses reduces demand for other more carbon-intensive
accessible through innovation. forms of energy, and results in net carbon emission
“These new resources have been known in the past, reductions,” she said.
but they couldn’t be tapped into without today’s new The natural gas industry is continuing to look for ways
technologies,” said Rick Murphy, managing director, to be even more efficient and sustainable. That includes
energy markets with the American Gas Association. using waste streams from landfills or agricultural sites

12 naturalliving ❙ Fall - Winter 2020