The Propane Education & Research Council

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 Read more

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.”

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 Read more

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.