Liquefied petroleum gas, known as propane or LPG, has a lot going for it -- and it goes a long way for us. Propane is an energy source that does not require large amounts of foreign oil. Currently, about 80 percent of the propane consumed in the United States is produced domestically. A by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, propane is:

Energy efficient, cost effective. . .
For efficiency, propane is a winner, tallying in with as high as a 97 percent energy efficiency rating. That means there's virtually no waste, so you get more heating -- and cooking and water heating -- for your money. You don't have to convert propane from one form of power to another, as you do to create electricity from coal -- or fuel oil-burning power plants.

By the time those big power plants create the electricity that heats your stove or warms your home, they rack up one of the least efficient energy systems going -- at only 33 percent efficiency. And electricity is expensive. Federal statistics show that it costs more to heat a home with electricity than it does to heat it with propane.

Among residential owners across the country and in the Midwest, gas is the Number One choice for heating homes and cooking food. A recent survey shows that more than eight of every ten homeowners nationwide prefer to heat their homes with gas. In the Midwest, that preference is even stronger, with nearly nine out of ten homeowners voting in favor of the clean-burning, efficient energy source.

One of our best environmental energy sources. . .
Clean-burning propane gas meets or exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for clean emissions to reduce environmental problems. Environmentally, propane is among the best of the nation's major energy sources -- far cleaner than electricity. In short, propane is a key player on the energy team for the environment.

Emissions from coal-fired generating plants that produce electricity continue to compound our problems with global warming and are responsible for creating acid rain that kills our continent's northern forests. Propane has even less effect on the upper atmosphere than natural gas, another relatively clean-burning fuel. Natural gas is lighter than propane gas and emits hydrocarbons when burned. Rising into the upper atmosphere, those hydrocarbons, as carbon dioxide, contribute to global warming.

Fuel for tomorrow. . .
It's no wonder that propane may be the fuel of choice for the future. For heating and cooking, it's clean, efficient and cost-effective. It is even proving to be a remarkable fuel for powering cars, trucks and other motor vehicles. It gets great mileage and helps the environment by greatly reducing emissions. It also extends the life of vehicle engines.

But you don't have to wait until tomorrow to take advantage of the benefits of propane. You can make the change to propane today. And that will help the planet and your pocketbook. For more information, just contact your MFA Oil propane plant. We'll be glad to get you cooking -- and heating -- with gas.