Indoors
Think about all the hot water you use every day.
For showers and baths. For dishes. For laundry. Hot water is a necessity and, with an energy efficient water heater, it can be an affordable luxury as well. In most homes the hot water heater is used frequently and draws a high percentage of total energy use, so choosing an efficient natural gas water heater for your home can mean energy bill savings for years to come.
The Right Water Heater for You
The efficiency of your water heater will be determined primarily by what type of water heater you choose and, in some cases, its capacity. The most common water heater is the storage water heater. These heaters maintain a reserve of hot water that is ready when you are. Natural gas users can also take advantage of more efficient instantaneous water heaters, which heats water as you need it, thereby reducing standby energy loss.
For Best Results
Choosing the right size water heater for your needs will increase your home's energy efficiency. If your water heater was installed before 2004, you may also be able to boost its efficiency by adding an insulation jacket to your water heater. This will reduce the amount of heat lost through the walls of the tank and reduce the amount of energy you need to heat the water. Most newer models come with hefty insulation, so always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding insulation jackets. You can also boost your energy efficiency by adding extra insulation to your hot water pipes, which will reduce the amount of heat lost on the way to your faucet.
For additional energy savings, lower the temperature to the lowest setting that provides you with sufficient hot water. For many households, 120 degrees will be a reasonable setting. In addition to saving energy, you will also reduce the risk of scalding, a factor especially important in homes with small children. Also, install energy efficient flow shower heads and faucet aerators; these help conserve water and energy.
DID YOU KNOW? Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 13% of your utility bill. Visit U.S. Dept. of Energy to learn more about boosting the energy efficiency of your water heater.
Your favorite television chef is cooking on a gas stovetop, and not just because of the visual effect: if you’re looking for accuracy and flexibility gas stoves are the way to go.
Whether you’re mixing up delicate sauces inside or grilling steaks on the patio, natural gas appliances make it easy to add that special something to your cooking.
Cooktops
Natural gas ranges offer unparalleled control for professional chefs worldwide. Just as most professional chefs insist on cooking with natural gas, everyday cooks recognize that natural gas offers even heat and rapid temperature control. You use your range almost every day, so you naturally want one with all the modern features that make cooking and cleaning easier. Features that make cleanup easy include sealed burners, removable control knobs, and porcelain drip pans under burners. And you’ll want a cooktop that uses the most efficient, most economic energy available. That’s natural gas.
Ovens
Gas ovens have lots of great features, including automatic ignition, self-cleaning or continuously cleaning capabilities, and smokeless broiling. One great new breakthrough is the convection gas oven that bakes and broils faster and less expensively than a conventional gas oven.
Barbecues
Don’t risk running out of fuel just before the your dinner’s ready: natural gas grills offer the advantage of an uninterrupted fuel supply. There’s no need to store, transport or connect propane cylinders, and natural gas is much safer and convenient than charcoal.
DID YOU KNOW? Natural gas ranges now use electronic spark ignitions instead of continuously burning pilot lights. This new feature can save you as much as 30% on energy costs.
Natural gas clothes dryers are economical and come with a variety of useful amenities.
Save Energy, Save Money
One of the ways today’s natural gas dryers have become more energy efficient is by using electronic ignitions systems. This way, the dryer does not require a continuously burning pilot light.
Take Care of Your Clothes
All new natural gas dryers include energy-efficient automatic termination. A moisture sensing cycle measures the moisture left in the laundry and stops the dryer when the clothes are dry. This means less wear and tear on your clothes due to over-drying.
On many new dryers you can select the level of dryness. If you want to iron clothes when they are slightly damp, the dryer can be set at that level. If you want to make sure the clothes are completely dry, you can set the dryer to produce a very dry load. Natural gas dryers shut of automatically and the heat stops immediately.
For Best Results
Choose a dryer that suits the volume of clothes you typically dry. Regular or large gas dryers can handle average family loads. Extra large gas dryers are designed to handle very large loads and bulky household items, such as comforters.
Achieve efficiencies as high as 97 percent!
In most homes, heating is the single biggest energy expense. Replacing your old furnace, boiler or boiler circulator pump with new high-efficiency heating equipment can take a bite out of your energy costs, plus make your home more comfortable. Older furnace and boiler systems have efficiencies in the range of 56 to 70 percent. High-efficiency heating systems achieve efficiencies as high as 97 percent, converting nearly all the fuel to useful heat for your home. That can mean big savings!
Outdoors
Everyone who likes to cook will love being spoiled by a natural gas grill.
Natural gas grills are the key to gourmet grilling. Natural gas provides complete control of the flame, from low heat for slow smoking and grilling, to high heat for braising and searing.
Convenience
Natural gas grills are convenient, safe, fast and easy to use. Forget the worry of running out of propane in the middle of a barbecue and the hassle of refilling the tank. Natural gas grills tap directly into your home’s natural gas supply.
Easy, Flexible Installation
Installation is a snap. Grills can be mounted on a permanent post, built into a brick base or put on a cart with a quick-disconnect so the grill can be easily moved. At one time, rigid, threaded black iron pipe was the industry standard for natural gas lines. But in recent years the development of quick disconnect valves and fittings and flexible natural gas supply hoses has made it easy to change the location of your outdoor appliances.
For Best Results
If you’d like to save energy and increase flavor, you might want to consider switching to the latest in outdoor cooking technology – infrared. The heat from the burner of an infrared grill heats the food and not the surrounding air. This intense heat sears the outside of your food, locks the moisture and flavor inside, and cooks food faster. You save energy, eliminate pre-heating the grill and shorten your cooking time. Infrared grilling gives you the flavor of a hot charcoal fire with the control of a natural gas flame.
Available for several years only on expensive high-end grills, infrared is now available in a variety of moderately priced grills. If it’s time for a new grill in your backyard, check out energy saving, flavor enhancing infrared!
Enjoy the warmth and and coziness of a fire without hauling wood.
What could be more pleasing than a nice warm fire? In a traditional fireplace or a casual fire pit in the back yard, natural gas fires can help you create a gathering place for friends and family.
Fireplace
Indoors or out on the patio, with friends or family or with that special person, the fireplace can help set the mood on any occasion. With a natural gas fireplace, you can create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere without the mess and fuss of a wood fire. With the variety of styles and sizes now available, there is literally a hearth for every home.
Firepit
One of the hottest new concepts on the market is using a natural gas fire pit or campfire. Imagine relaxing on your patio or deck with a fire that is easy to turn on and off, one that will provide a warm cozy atmosphere, with the convenience of clean burning natural gas. Enjoy the great outdoors with the natural beauty of a natural gas campfire!
Commercial Gas Equipment
Improving and maintaining good indoor air quality is good business.
Inadequate ventilation and high humidity can increase the level of mold and spores, which can make your employees and customers ill. High moisture levels can also cause structural damage. Improve productivity and maintain your facilities by installing adequate ventilation systems and dehumidifiers, where necessary.
Ventilation
Poor ventilation can cause air pollutants to accumulate and affect the health and productivity of your employees. Many indoor air pollutants are concentrated at levels two to five times higher than those outdoors. Scientists have identified more than 1,500 indoor air pollutants from such common indoor furnishings as carpets, photocopiers, and ventilation ducts. Avoid sick building syndrome, sick employees, and insurance claims by installing and maintaining adequate ventilation systems.
Dehumidification
Humidity can be a problem all year long. Buildings that drop below the dew point can suffer from excess moisture from condensation. Excess moisture from summer humidity or condensation can result in damage to wood, drywall, and sensitive equipment. Using a dehumidifier to keep relative humidity between 30-50% can reduce structural damage as well as decrease the proliferation of mold and other agents of ill health.
For Best Results
If you’d like to know whether your building has acceptable ventilation, get the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62-2001, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. This comprehensive ventilation resource provides standards for system operation and maintenance in existing buildings as well as new construction.
Adequate ventilation can help prevent moisture from accumulating in areas like kitchens and bathrooms. However, in areas of high humidity a dehumidifier sized to fit your space will provide an energy efficient solution.
DID YOU KNOW? The EPA says that indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental risks of our time. For more information regarding indoor air quality from the EPA, try these links:
If you are interested in heating and cooling equipment, consider the efficiency advantages of natural gas equipment.
Investing in modern, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment will return dividends for years to come.
Heating
If you’re looking for a high-efficiency condensing furnace, you will find that there are many natural gas options. Natural gas condensing furnaces can achieve up to 97% efficiency and provide many flexible heating options, including forced air and radiant heating.
Cooling
During the summer, the cost of electricity peaks. Avoid high rates by using natural gas to power your cooling system. Many reliable manufacturers offer high-quality gas cooling products that promise significant cost savings and flexibility, as natural gas air conditioners may be used to create a single natural gas cooling solution or to enhance an existing system.
For Best Results
Choose heating or cooling equipment that is sized properly for your needs. Correctly sized units require lower energy costs, lower maintenance costs, and produce less pollution. For guidelines, see the ENERGYSTAR Website.
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more
DID YOU KNOW? Older boilers typically have efficiencies ranging from 56 to 70%. New condensing models can achieve efficiencies of 97%. Upgrading your natural gas furnace or boiler from 56% to 90% efficiency in an average cold-climate house will save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Find out more at Eere.energy.gov.
Generate electricity on-site and benefit from higher energy efficiency and lower exposure to peak-demand rates.
Distributed Generation (DG) describes onsite electricity generation. Electricity generated at or near the site where it will be used is more reliable, more cost effective, and delivers more environmental benefits.
Incentives from MNG
The Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) is offering incentives to businesses that implement distributed generation projects. Businesses may choose among several incentives, depending on their needs. One option you may select is lower natural gas charges from MNG. For more information, please review visit EMT or call MNG's Sales Representative.
Standby and Emergency Power
Given increasing pressure on the power grid it is increasingly important for some businesses to have back-up power capabilities. Having on-site generation in place reduces the risks associated with outages and decreases exposure to high peak-demand electricity prices.
Environmental Benefits
Distributed Generation builds on the environmental benefits offered by natural gas. Natural gas is always an environmentally friendly choice, but reaping the efficiencies of local use (no energy is lost over power lines) make distributed generation a very efficient application.
Cogeneration
Two out of every three dollars of fuel used to produce electricity ends up as wasted heat. However, by generating electricity onsite, your business may be able to use that heat and save money on your heating and cooling requirements. Examples of combined heat and power technologies include engine-driven generators, microturbines, and fuel cells.