PERC

Talk resiliency with customers after downloading PERC’s free power generation guide

In celebration of National Preparedness Month, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is encouraging construction professionals to download its new resource, The Ultimate Guide to Power Generation.

This free, downloadable resource gives construction professionals an in-depth look at propane’s capabilities as a resilient energy source for residential, commercial, and industrial use by:

• Detailing the different types of propane power generation including prime, standby, towable and portable, and micro-combined heat and power (CHP).
• Educating construction professionals on how to bundle propane generators and propane appliances for more affordable protection.
• Sharing case studies of residential and commercial projects relying on propane generators and micro-CHP systems.

“If you think about the number of systems and appliances that are powered by electricity—whether in a home or commercial building—you can get a sense of the impact a power outage can have,” said Bryan Cordill, director of residential and commercial business development at PERC. “Recent vulnerabilities in our electric grid have prompted Americans to take a closer look at their energy selections and we want them to know they can rely on propane power generation for true peace of mind and security—all without sacrificing cost or environmental impact.”

Propane’s stability and portability make it the ideal backup power energy source. Propane-powered generators offer an efficient, versatile solution to keep homes and businesses running and protect them from the damage a power outage can cause. Available in a wide variety of capacities, there’s a model that can meet the needs of any size home, business, or commercial building. Plus, propane can power other major energy systems, too, reducing a building’s reliance on standby power.

“We want construction professionals to be well-versed in propane’s role in a resilient design and encourage them to start a preparedness conversation with their customers,” Cordill said. “After all, preparedness is the best defense.”

Download PERC’s backup power resource for free at Propane.com/Generators. To learn more about the benefits of propane, visit Propane.com.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) launched a new identity for propane that signals a seismic change in how to view this reliable energy source.

The new brand, PROPANE Energy for Everyone™, highlights propane’s role in ensuring energy equity and reducing carbon emissions.

“Americans are beginning to appreciate the value of propane in a wider energy mix after seeing the vulnerabilities of the electric grid in Texas and California and around the country,” says PERC President and CEO Tucker Perkins. “Propane is clean, affordable, and available right now. Unlike the electric grid, it does not require trillions of dollars in infrastructure investment that will create a burden on those who can least afford it. Propane offers solutions for climate, health, and equity.”

The PROPANE Energy for Everyone™ brand was created by PERC’s newly selected creative agency of record, Elevation Advertising, after a competitive review. It is rolling out to propane industry partners in anticipation of consumer and market-specific campaigns this fall.

“As we familiarized ourselves with the energy sector as part of the competitive review, we realized that propane has a remarkable story that’s not being told,” says Elevation’s co-founder and executive creative director, Aaron Dotson. “Propane is part of a clean energy mix that complements other renewable systems to help reduce carbon emissions today, right now. With the national energy conversation shifting more toward sustainable solutions every day, it’s the perfect time to share propane’s story.”

The PROPANE Energy for Everyone™ brand was the top performer in testing with homeowners, business owners, energy influencers, and propane professionals. Millions of Americans use propane for heat, hot water, cooking, and power generation at home and at work. It is also a popular fuel for school buses, emergency first-responder equipment, high-end restaurants, remote farms, and countless other applications.

“That’s why propane is energy for everyone,” adds Dotson. “Because everyone deserves access to energy. Everyone.”

“The Pro-Energy Icon that forms part of the logo is designed to recall the many users and uses of propane,” Dotson says. “But it’s also calling to mind a stylized landscape of the cleaner world it’s helping to create.”

The new brand platform is being introduced to national propane providers and state associations with video, direct mail, and marketing collateral that they can use to communicate the benefits of propane to their customers.

“The many propane industry volunteers who helped us choose a new agency and develop the new brand proved themselves to be extremely strategic thinkers,” says Erin Hatcher, senior vice president of marketing and communications at PERC. “With their help, Elevation accomplished an incredible amount of thoughtful work in a short amount of time. We’re excited to be forming this partnership as we continue to educate people about the many benefits of clean propane, the energy for everyone.”

Three considerations for right-sized tankless installations–and increased customer satisfaction

Propane tankless water heaters use less energy, cost less to operate, and produce fewer emissions than other options, which is why a growing number of homeowners are requesting these systems.

As contractors know, determining the right configuration for their projects isn’t always straightforward. Whether considering a single unit for the whole home or multiples that run in tandem, knowing how to predict demand is key to giving customers a setup that meets their performance and cost expectations.

Here are three factors to consider when right-sizing a tankless system for projects.

How much water will the customer need?

Knowing how many people will live in the home, who will be using hot water, and for what purposes is the first step toward installing a system that will fulfill their specific needs. Additionally, understanding a customer’s lifestyle and habits–when they shower, how often they do laundry, and whether they expect to install radiant heating–can help determine expected peak demand times.

Take stock of the number and type of appliances and systems requiring hot water and note their water delivery rates. To calculate peak demand, the Department of Energy (DOE) recommends counting the number and gallons per minute (GPM) rate of faucets, showers, and appliances that could be in use in the home at any given time. Features such as in-floor radiant heating and spas can considerably raise a home’s hot water demands. Propane tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water, averaging roughly 222 gallons per hour, compared with an average first-hour delivery rating of just 62 gallons per hour for electric storage tank models.

How much will the water need to be heated?

It’s important for contractors and installers to know the difference between outdoor ground temperatures and the desired indoor hot water temperature. That will reveal how much the water will need to heat and, therefore, how quickly the unit can deliver hot water.

For example, a typical shower head delivers 2.5 GPM, so a 9.4 GPM unit would run three to four showers depending on the inlet ground water temperature. According to the DOE, the average groundwater temperature across the U.S. is 50 degrees. In most cases, water should be heated to at least 120 degrees, so the home will need a tankless unit that can heat 2.5 GPM by 70 degrees. Lower flows can be heated to a bigger temperature rise and higher flows to a smaller temperature rise. Most propane or natural gas tankless water heaters on the market can handle a rate of 5 GPM at a 70-degree temperature rise. As fixtures are added, demand on the system increases and that 5 GPM rating can quickly get overwhelmed.

While a tankless unit will provide hot water almost instantly at the unit, the water still has to travel to the faucet, so location of the units is an important part of system design. Oftentimes, two smaller units, each placed closer to the end use site, can provide the project a higher level of satisfaction than one large or two smaller units installed in a single location. This also provides some redundancy if a unit or fixture needs to be serviced.

What can the home accommodate?

Peak demand scenarios are why contractors shouldn’t assume an undersized system will cover their client’s full range of needs. Oversizing isn’t as big of a concern with tankless systems. While oversizing a traditional tank water heater would result in significant wasted energy over the life of the unit, tankless units vary their flow rates based on demand and, therefore, having excess capacity doesn’t necessarily mean a tankless system is using more energy.

New projects can more easily accommodate tankless units at the point of use than existing homes, which are often designed for a central tank system–and may be better suited for one or more units installed in the basement. For most projects, one unit is sufficient. Multiple units may be used to handle larger loads or as homeowners scale up in the future as their hot water needs change. Because of the popularity and dependability of propane tankless water heaters, new products are available on the market that would allow customers to have “multiple” heaters in a single cabinet, or on a single rack that comes to the project ready for installation making system design easier still.

To determine the optimal number of tankless units for a home, help customers understand their consumption habits and how the system can be sized to meet their expectations. Determine peak demand and gauge actual usage and lifestyle habits. Then, compare prices for systems that meet those needs relative to a client’s budget. Put in as much capacity as those factors will allow to balance cost and comfort. By simply installing a propane system, customers will see optimal cost savings. That’s because propane tankless water heaters offer reduced energy costs, a lower total cost of ownership, and a longer service life compared with other options. Notably, propane tankless systems can reduce energy costs by up to 50 percent and eliminate standby energy loss from the tank.

To learn more about propane water heating systems, visit Propane.com/Water-Heating.

Bryan Cordill the director of residential and commercial business development for the Propane Education & Research Council. He can be reached at bryan.cordill@propane.com.

Campground earns recognition for its electric to propane water heater conversion

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced the Boston/Cape Cod KOA Campground as 2020’s Commercial Propane Project of the Year, an annual contest that recognizes the best residential and commercial projects being powered by propane.

The campground is a popular tourist destination for people visiting Boston, Cape Cod, and Southeast Massachusetts. Like any hospitality business, guest experience is extremely important and was a driving factor in their decision to switch from electric to propane for water heating.

After fielding customer complaints about minimal hot water use and long wait times, the KOA Campground started converting water heaters to propane tankless systems several years ago, but their budget only allowed them to convert two water heaters per year.

Fortunately, with the help of JaySan Gas Service operations manager Evan Pittsley, the campground was able to expedite converting all the water heaters to propane, for a total of 18 cabins running on propane, improving overall customer experience. Pittsley negotiated appliance and material pricing with vendors, secured incentives from the Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE), and arranged rebates from tankless manufacturer, Rinnai, to help fund this project.

“The switch from electric water heating to propane instantaneous water heaters seems to be the perfect fit for this campground,” said contest judge Matt Evans, building systems analyst and certified HERS rater at Newport Ventures. “This eliminated the wait time for campers who want to camp and not wait for a warm shower. As an avid camper myself who rents cabins like these, I can attest to the benefits of propane tankless vs electric water heating firsthand.”

“What impressed me most about the project was the propane supplier’s ability to go above and beyond in finding a solution to provide the entire campground with propane hot water heaters,” contest judge Brian Brooks, manager at Brooks Gas, added.  “It highlights the personal relationship our industry has with both their customers and suppliers — relationships that other energy providers simply don’t have.”

In addition to the tankless units in the cabins, the campground utilizes propane in a pump station that fills portable cylinders and RVs and in a laundry building with propane-powered commercial dryers.

“Propane tankless systems offer considerable advantages over electric water heating options, and we were thrilled this conversion could help enhance their overall guest experience,” said Bryan Cordill, PERC director of residential and commercial business development.

For those interested in learning more about PERC’s annual Propane Project of the Year contest, visit Propane.com/Project-of-the-Year.

To learn more about commercial propane applications, visit Propane.com/Commercial-Buildings-and-Construction.