©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
Trends in the heating, cooling and insulation fields and the sciences behind them project lower costs and greater efficiency, say the experts.
John V. Bove Jr., CFO of G. A. Bove and Sons Inc. of Mechanicville, said his company is experiencing an uptick in propane systems and delivery, especially in new residential construction.
“Propane is very versatile,” said Bove. “The fuel is very similar to natural gas, but gas lines have to stop somewhere.”
A new residential neighborhood may not have been piped for natural gas, although the utility may add lines later on. Meanwhile, propane gas has diverse uses, including heating, hot water, cooking, cooling, fireplace inserts, outdoor grills and fire pits, even for heating the pool, Bove said.
“It’s one source for winter, summer and everything in between,” said Bove.
Among older homes or businesses, it is an easy conversion to propane or natural gas as older oil furnaces reach their life expectancy.
“Schools used to use oil, but it was not good for the environment. You cannot retrofit an old number six boiler, so the schools converted to gas or propane, which was cleaner and cheaper,” Bove said.
