NATIONAL PROPANE DAY
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NATIONAL PROPANE DAY
It's October 7 on the National Day Calendar and we are celebrating propane suppliers across the country today! National Propane Day gives us the opportunity to dedicate an entire day to a group of small business owners who provide propane to their customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It also allows us to share amazing information about the benefits of using propane.
#NATIONALPROPANEDAY
There are over 3,500 propane suppliers across the United States. Most of these suppliers are small, family-owned and operated small businesses that provide propane services to local communities. Oftentimes, propane supplies take extraordinary measures to keep their customers and their families safe and warm during natural disasters and power outages. Let's use October 7 as a way to show our appreciation to the propane suppliers in your area and learn a few facts about this eco-friendly alternative.
Fun Fact About National Propane Day
The chemical designation for propane is 1075, which is why the Propane Education & Research Council cleverly selected October 7 (10/7) as the date for National Propane Day.
Propane is a gas normally compressed and stored as a liquid. Sometimes known as liquified petroleum gas (LPG), propane is a common product we use for space and water heating, cooking, and as fuel for engine applications. Machinery such as forklifts, farm irrigation engines, fleet vehicles, and buses all use propane to operate.
Did you know propane is found in the 1990 Clean Air Act? It's true. Propane is a great substitute for gas and fuel oil. It not only reduces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, it also reduces air pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. In fact, propane is an economical step towards cleaner air. Most importantly, propane is a safe and reliable product for every day use and provides a safe, healthy environment by reducing emissions.
Propane Beginnings
In 1910, Chemist Walter Snelling accidentally discovered propane after watching a gasoline jug cork pop off, calling it "wild gas." By 1913, Snelling was awarded patent number 1,056,845 for LP gas. His further research during the 1920s and 1930s would help pave the way for use of propane in homes, equipment, and vehicles.
As propane use became more widely acceptable during the 1930s, a rotten egg odor (ethyl mercaptan) was added to propane. This additive would allow consumers to detect a propane leak easier. Because propane is an odorless chemical, detection of leaks was difficult up to this point. Today, propane is safely used in homes, for appliances, and machinery.
5 Propane Facts
The U.S. produces over 90% of propane, which is reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Propane is energy efficient. In fact, using propane for your furnace instead of conventional electricity may reduce your energy by up to 90%.
As a nontoxic chemical, propane will not harm soil, water, or animals. However, propane is highly flammable and classified as an asphyxiant. This means it an be dangerous in exposure to high concentrations. Luckily, the rotten egg additive makes it easy to identify.
Propane freezes at negative 44 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a great heating choice during harsh winters.
As a clean burning fuel, propane is reduces emissions into the air. This cleaner alternative is affordable for consumers.
How is propane produced? Interestingly, propane comes from natural gas and crude oil products. As a liquid, byproduct propane is first extracted from wellhead gas at processing plants. which allows natural gas to flow better in pipelines. During the extraction process, the capture of other gases like butane and ethane also happen. Though some propane byproducts are sold globally, most propane is kept in the U.S. for heating, cooking, appliances, and standby power.
CELEBRATE THE POWER OF PROPANE
We've dedicated an entire day to celebrating propane suppliers across the country. Here are a few ways to celebrate National Propane Day:
Check your propane tank on your grill and invite friends over for a cookout.
Learn about the benefits propane has on the environment.
Buy your local propane dealer coffee.
Discover the most common myths and misunderstandings about propane and take the Environmental Impact Mini-Quiz to test your knowledge.
Support your local propane dealer on social media tagging #NationalPropaneDay.
NATIONAL PROPANE DAY HISTORY
In 2022, National Day Calendar and the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) decided to team up and create National Propane Day. Each year on October 7, we celebrate propane suppliers across the country. In addition, we educate people on an eco-friendly byproduct that is safe for the environment and affordable to consumers.
3 Key PERC Goals
Safety: PERC increases awareness of safe practices in the handling and use of propane and propane-fueled appliance.
Training: PERC leads the development and updating of the propane industry’s most relied upon employee training and certification programs and courseware.
Research and Development: PERC promotes the commercialization of technologies that expand the utility, efficiency, environmental performance, and safety of propane for users in residential, commercial, engine fuel, and agricultural markets.
Follow Propane Education and Research Council on social media to learn up-to-date information about propane.
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