Most worship facilities use energy 24 hours a day but are only occupied 20-30% of the time, so energy efficiency is crucial. When it comes to deciding how to fuel your worship facility, consider the benefits of fueling your facilities with electricity or natural gas.
Natural Gas Advantages:
- It’s reliable. Natural gas will be available throughout your worship facility whenever you need it—you don’t have to worry about scheduling fuel deliveries. Natural gas enters your building through underground pipelines, so in the event of storms, power outages, or other complications, you will still be able to fuel your worship facility without interruptions.
- It’s a clean fuel source. Natural gas produces a clean and even form of energy that leaves no residue, soot, or other unpleasant byproducts. It’s the cleanest fossil fuel available, producing less than half the amount of carbon dioxide than oil when burned. Natural gas also emits little to no sulfur, so it runs more efficiently than other fuels.
- It’s affordable. Natural gas has tended to be less expensive than electricity and propane in recent years. In a deregulated market, you’re able to shop for an energy supplier that offers the best rates. This allows you to choose options that work best for your church or worship facility, ensuring your energy bills are affordable.
- It’s domestically produced. Pennsylvania is one of the most productive gas resources in the U.S. Because natural gas is produced domestically, it allows us to offer lower prices and reduce dependence on foreign energy. Our country’s supply of natural gas is projected to last for decades to come, so prices are expected to remain at record lows for the foreseeable future.
- It’s reliable. Even during many storms, outages, and other complications, natural gas delivery typically remains uninterrupted, which means you’ll still be able to power your heating and water heating systems, preventing other issues like water pipes bursting in frigid weather.
Electricity Advantages:
- It’s accessible. Electricity is the only heating option that is available to everyone as an option.
- It’s versatile. Electricity can be produced from a variety of different energy sources, including coal, nuclear energy, wind energy, hydropower, and solar energy. This means that in one way or another, it will always be available.
- It’s convenient. With electricity, you can heat and cool your worship facility with one system. Today’s heat pumps can provide both forced-air heating and central air conditioning, making use and repairs convenient for you and your worship facility.
- No need for ductwork. If you have a space in your worship facility that needs to be heated or cooled but does not have existing ductwork, ductless mini-splits can offer you the advantages of high-efficiency heating and cooling without the construction required to retrofit ductwork into your facility.
- It’s efficient. While natural gas furnaces and boilers typically have the highest energy efficiency, some newer models of electric heat pumps have gotten excellent efficiency ratings. Depending on the model you choose, your worship facility’s energy usage can be cut down, saving you money on your energy bills.
What does Energy Choice mean for your house of worship?
Before energy deregulation, consumers had to purchase their energy from their local utility at whatever rates they were offering. Energy Deregulation, also called Energy Choice, means that you can now “shop” for your energy – whether gas or electric. So your organization can enjoy the freedom to purchase your energy from a supplier of your choice. It is important to consider the many things when choosing an energy supplier including pricing options (fixed, variable, or a hybrid), convenience, term lengths, and the company’s expertise and reputation.
Shopping for energy for your church or worship facility can be a difficult decision if you don’t have some help. The experts at UGI EnergyLink can explain the process and assist your committee in making an educated decision. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know when shopping for energy, and ensure that you get a rate that works for your worship facility. Contact us today to get a quote.
Interested in learning more about shopping for energy for your worship facility? Check out our Worship Facility Energy Guide.