Consumers Want Access to Affordable, Reliable Natural Gas
Choice. It’s something consumers value when making decisions about where to move. The ability to choose things like how to heat their homes or cook their favorite meals is a treasured right for many homebuyers and homeowners. From the kitchen to the laundry room, customers regularly seek the benefits that natural gas offers, including affordability, reliability, and the benefits of a gourmet kitchen home cooked meal. The choice of how a home is fueled is one that will have a significant impact on a person’s day-to-day life, which is why integrating natural gas options into homes is a smart move for builders.
Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,132 per year compared to their all-electric counterparts. The price of natural gas is projected to be 30-50% lower than the price of other fuels through 2050, preserving those energy savings long term. Additionally, an Energy Star natural gas household could have a carbon footprint that is 16% lower than an Energy Star heat pump and 28% lower emissions compared to an electrical resistance furnace. Carbon dioxide emissions from residences using natural gas for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying are about 18% lower than those attributable to an all-electric home.
There is also a reason why 96% of chefs prefer cooking with natural gas, beyond the aesthetics appreciated by high-end customers. A natural gas stove allows for remarkable speed, efficiency and control on the cooktop. According to a 2021 study by the National Association of Home Builders, 51% of home buyers prefer to cook with gas. Cooking with natural gas is faster than electric alternatives, and busy parents appreciate the ability to boil water rapidly for quick boxed mac and cheese, saving precious time and reducing the burden of meal prep. Experienced home chefs who want to try their hand at professional techniques benefit greatly from the control and precision of a natural gas burner.
In addition to the money saved each year by having natural gas in the home, the startup costs of building an all-electric home are decidedly high. A 2021 study conducted by the Home Innovation Research Labs found that building an all-electric house can cost up to $15,000 in additional up-front costs compared to a house with natural gas equipment and appliances. Builders should be able to weigh the cost benefit of building a house with natural gas hook ups and in turn, present home buyers with energy options.
More than 189 million Americans currently use natural gas appliances, a number that continues to grow—in 2023 alone we saw growth of 763,000 new customers. People appreciate having the option of choosing natural gas – while not all areas have access to natural gas infrastructure, the overwhelming majority of customers who live in an area where natural gas is an option choose it. In today’s competitive housing market, natural gas options give builders and sellers a distinct advantage. Blanket bans on natural gas are neither smart nor effective, and are opposed by 74 percent of Republicans, 58 percent of Independents and 51 percent of Democrats. There are real and practical paths to energy efficiency and a net-zero emissions future, but without natural gas as an option, consumers would be deprived of choice when it comes to affordable and reliable energy.