Natural gas dispensed from a simple stovetop can generate heat in excess of 2000°F (1093°C) making it a powerful domestic cooking and heating fuel.  In much of the developed world it is supplied to homes via pipes where it is used for many purposes including natural gas-powered ranges and ovens, natural gas-heated clothes dryers, heating/cooling, and central heating. Home or other building heating may include boilers, furnaces, and water heaters. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is used in rural homes without connections to piped-in public utility services, or with portable grills.

Natural GAS Powered HOME?

In addition to heating homes, natural gas can also be used to help cool houses through natural gas powered air conditioning. Natural gas air conditioning is nothing new, in fact, it provided most of the air conditioning requirements of the 1940s and ‘50s. Due to new advancements in technology and efficiency, natural gas air conditioning is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Although natural gas air conditioner units are initially more expensive than a comparable electric unit, they are considerably more efficient and require less maintenance. Modern residential air conditioner units use close to 30 percent less energy than in years past, and have an expected working life of 20 years with very little maintenance.

Natural gas appliances are also rising in popularity due to their efficiency and cost effectiveness. Although many natural gas-powered appliances are initially more expensive than their electric counterparts, they are commonly much cheaper to operate, have a longer expected life, and require relatively low maintenance. Other natural gas appliances include space heaters, clothes dryers, pool and jacuzzi heaters, fireplaces, barbecues, garage heaters and outdoor lights. All of these appliances offer a safe, efficient, and economical alternative to electricity or other fuel sources. The same natural gas pipes that supply gas to a furnace can be used to supply energy for all of the appliances listed above, making installation simple and easy.

Although natural gas has many uses and can supply energy to a vast number of residential appliances, there are some energy requirements around the house which cannot be satisfied by natural gas. A television, blender or microwave, for instance, will likely never be powered directly by natural gas, but will instead require electricity. However, natural gas can still power these appliances in the home, by what is known as 'distributed generation'.

Distributed generation refers to using natural gas to generate electricity right at the doorstep. Natural gas fuel cells and microturbines both offer the residential consumer the capacity to disconnect from their local electric distributor, and generate just enough electricity to meet their needs. Although this technology is still in its infancy, it is very promising in being able to offer independent, reliable, efficient, environmentally-friendly electricity for residential needs.

The very first natural gas fuel cell was installed in a house in Latham, New York in July 1998. The system was plugged into the home's natural gas line as the fuel supply, and is now completely independent of any outside electricity. Because a significant amount of electricity is wasted when it is distributed through power lines from a central power plant to the home, on-site electric generation could lead to significantly higher energy efficiency, which translates to cost savings for the residential consumer.

For more information on fuel cells, click here.

For more information on natural gas and the generation of electricity, click here.

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