THECANADIANPROPANEASSOCIATION

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propane)
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propane/applications)
TheCanadianPropaneIndustry
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industry)
RegulatoryOverview(/en/about
propane/regulatoryoverview)

(http://www5.smartadserver.com/diff/988/3332359/go2.asp?
3332359%3B468309%3B2594709837951082569%3B7864307398%3BV%3Bsystemtarget=%24qc%3d1307010339%3b%24ql%3dunknown%3b%24qpc%3d560001%3b%24qpp%3d0%3
Safety(/en/aboutpropane/safety)

ENVIRONMENTALBENEFITS

EnvironmentalBenefits(/en/about
propane/environmentalbenefits)

Propaneisclean,available,affordableandversatile.Manyproposalsforfightingclimatechangeandreducingthe
environmentalimpactofenergyusewillhavetowaitfornewtechnologiestobeperfected,however,propane
producedrighthereinCanadacanmakemajorandimmediatecontributionsusingtodaystechnology.The
propaneindustryhasaroletoplayinthecleanenergymixandiscommittedtomaximizingitsvaluetoCanadians
overthelongterm.Propaneisanenergysolutionfortodayandtomorrow.

GreenhouseGasEmissions
Propane,withitstinycarbonfootprintandhighefficiency,canplayamajorroleinfightingclimatechange.Burning
mostfuelsusedintheworldtoday,fromcoaltowood,oil,gasolineandnaturalgas,producesvariouskindsof
carbonthatcontributetoglobalwarmingasGHGs.Propanehasalowercarboncontentthangasoline,diesel,
keroseneandethanol:
(http://mediaedge.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vegz15/i2/p1)

ReadthelatestIssueofEnergized|nergisthe
officialmagazineoftheCPA
(http://mediaedge.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vegz15/i2/p1)

(http://www5.smartadserver.com/diff/988/3978404/go0.asp?
3978404%3B468310%3B2594709837951082569%3B7864307398%3BS%
Althoughnaturalgas(consistingprimarilyofmethane)generatesfewerCO2emissionsperBTUthanpropane
whenburned,methaneisadirectgreenhousegaswhenreleasedintotheair.Onekilogramofmethanereleased
intotheatmosphereproducesthesameeffectonclimatechangeas25kilogramsofcarbondioxide!Propane,on
theotherhand,isnotagreenhousegaswhenreleased.Thedifferenceisinhowquicklypropane,comparedto
naturalgas,canberemovedfromtheairbynaturaloxidationorprecipitationpropaneisremovedfromthe
atmospherefasterthanittakesforittohaveanimpactontheclimate.
Ithaslongbeenknownthatpropaneemitslessthanhalfthegreenhousegasemissions,kilowattforkilowatt,than
coalfiredpowerplants,buttherearemanyotherapplicationsinwhichpropaneoutperformsotherenergysources:
Inresidentialandcommercialapplications,studieshavefoundthatpropanemodelsemit:

(/en/membershipevents/becomemember)

52%lowerGHGemissionsthanelectricwaterheaters.
38%fewerGHGsthanfueloilfurnaces.
Halfthecarbondioxideemissionsofacharcoalbarbecues.
Inon&offroadvehicleapplications:
Propanevehiclesemitupto26%fewerGHGsthangasolinevehicles.
Propanefuelledschoolbusesproduce17%lowerGHGemissionsthangasolinefuelled
buses.
Propanefuelledforkliftsemit19%fewerGHGemissionsthangasolinefuelledforklifts.
Groundserviceequipmentfuelledbypropaneemit33%fewerGHGsthangasolinefuelled
equipment.
Inagriculturalapplications:
Propanefuelledirrigationenginesproduce24%lowerGHGemissionsthangasoline
fuelledirrigationengines.

Pollution&ToxicSubstances

(/en/training)

Ourhealthandthatofourplanetisworsenedbyinefficientanddirtyfuelsourcesthatcontributetoasthma,cancer,
heartdisease,acidrainandotherseriousproblems.
AccordingtoEnvironmentCanada,studiesshowtherearemorethan5,000prematuredeathsayearinCanada
thatcanbeattributedtoairpollution.InOntarioalone,duringanaverageyear,exposuretoairpollutionresultsin
anestimated60,000emergencyroomvisitsand17,000hospitaladmissions.
Propanestandsabovemostfuelsandrivalsasbeingoneofthecleanest:

(http://thegrid.propane.ca)

Itisnontoxic,leadfree,andhasextremelylowlevelsofsulphuracontributortoacidrain.
Itisonlyliquidwhileunderpressureinitsstoragetank,ifitisreleased,propanebecomesavapourand
dissipatesquicklyintotheatmosphereandwillnotcontaminatesoilorwater.Whilepropanevapouris
heavierthanairandcansettleinlowlyingareasorclosedspaces,evenasmallamountofair
movementisenoughtodispersethevapours.
Itiscleanburning:propaneemitsvirtuallynosootandlowcarbonmonoxide,hydrogenandoxidesof
nitrogen,whicharethebasicprecursorsofgroundlevelozone,orsmog.

CriteriaAirContaminants
CriteriaAirContaminants(CAC)areemissionsofvariousairpollutantsthataffectourhealthandcontributetoair
pollutionproblemssuchasgroundlevelozone,haze,andacidrain.CACaretrackedbyEnvironmentCanadato
measuretheeffectivenessofemissionreductionprogramsandtosupportingscientificresearch.
CriteriaAirContaminantsinclude:
SulphurOxides(SOx)
NitrogenOxides(NOx)
ParticulateMatter(PM)
VolatileOrganicCompounds(VOC)
CarbonMonoxide(CO)and,
Ammonia(NH3).
InastudypublishedbytheWorldLPGasAssociation,dieselvehiclesproduced30timesmoreParticulateMatter
thanpropanepoweredvehiclesandrecentvehicletestingperformedbyNaturalResourcesCanadaonaRoush
CleanTechpropanevehiclereportedupto60%lessCarbonMonoxide(CO)comparedtoagasolinevehiclesand
20%lessnitrogenoxide(NOx).ThevehicletestedbyNaturalResourcesCanadaalsomeetstheSULEV(Super
UltraLowEmissionVehicle)Standards,aU.S.classificationforvehiclesthatproduceminimalairpollution,
typically90%lessthananequivalentordinaryfullgasolinevehicle.
ToreadthetechnicalsheetfortheRoushCleanTechpropanevehicleclickhere
(/sites/default/files/files/roush_transport_canada_etv.pdf).

AirToxics
Motorvehicleexhaustisamajorsourceoftoxicsubstancesinourair.Bothgasolineanddieselfuelreleasetoxins
whentheyareburned,evenduringrefuelling.Propaneisnontoxicwheninhaledhowever,intheabsenceof
oxygen,itposesanasphyxiationrisk.
TheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyCleanAirActdefinestoxicairpollutantsastheaggregatemotor
vehicleemissionsofthefollowing:
Benzene
1,3Butadiene
Polycyclicorganicmatter(POM)
Acetaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Exposuretothesesubstanceshavebeenknowntocausemanyofthefollowingadverseeffectsallergies
asthmaeye,ear,nosethroat,skinandrespiratorytractirritationandpotentiallyevencancer.
AstudypublishedbytheWorldLPGasAssociationontheairtoxicsemittedbydifferentfuelsduringthewellto
wheelsfuelcycle,showsthelowerlevelsoftheseairpollutantsproducedbypropaneoverbothgasolineand
diesel:
ToxicSubstancesEmittedbyFuelType

Milligramsoftoxics/mile

Fuel

1,3Butadiene

Formaldehyde

Benzene

Acetaldehyde

ConventionalGasoline

0.57

2.00

7.67

0.61

Diesel

0.58

1.65

4.72

0.56

Propane

0.11

1.68

0.63

0.43

Chemicals
Chemicalsareoftenusedtocontrolweeds,bacteria,viruses,andinsectsbutcanbeharmfultosoiland
groundwater,andcanleadtochemicalresistantstrains.Propanefuelledequipmentcanuseheattocontrol
unwantedpestsinasafeandenvironmentallyfriendlyway:
Propaneflamecanbeusedinpoultryhousestosanitizehousefloors,eliminatingdangerousmicrobes
andbacteria,reducingtheneedforchemicaltreatments.
Propanepoweredthermalremediationcanbeusedasachemicalfreewaytocontrolbedbug
infestations.
Propanepoweredsteamweedcontroltechnologycancontrolweedswithoutsprayingchemicalswhich
ishazardoustowaterandsoil,ormechanicalcultivationwhichcandamagecroproots.
Propaneorchardheatersareacleanoptioncomparedtodieselheatersifthedieselspillsitcanpose
arisktothesurroundingsoilandwater.
Tolearnmoreaboutpropaneheattechnology,pleaseseethePropaneEducation&ResearchCouncilwebsiteat
www.agpropane.com(http://www.agpropane.com)

Transportation
TransportationisoneoflargestsourcesofpollutionandgreenhousegasemissionsinCanada,whichmakesit
importanttoreduceourvehicleemissions.Withtheadvantageofpropanescleanburningpropertiesandarange
superiortootheralternativefuels,noothertransportationfuelisasreadyandabletoassistinmeetingthe
challengeofaddressingclimatechangeandairqualityconcernsinCanada.
PropaneisabundantinCanada,withinfrastructurealreadyinplace,andtheabilitytoquicklyandcosteffectively
installadditionalinfrastructureasneededtoservicespecificfleets.Propanevehiclesarealreadyservingabroad
varietyofpurposes,fromtaxistodeliveryandservicevehicles,andcompaniesthatmaketheswitcharesaving
money,aswellashelpingtosavetheenvironment.
Therearemorethan17millionpropanefuelledvehiclesinoperationaroundtheworldtodayanumberthatis
growingeveryyear.InCanada,propaneisthethirdmostcommonfuelandthemostcommonalternativefuelfor
transportationthereareapproximately40,000vehiclesontheroadandover2,000fueloutletsacrossthe
country.That'snotsurprising,giventheenvironmentaladvantagesofpropanevehicles:

Propanevehicleshavealowercarbonfootprintthangasoline
Upto26%lessGreenhouseGases(GHGs)
12%lessCarbonDioxide(CO2)
20%lessNitrogenoxide(Nox)
PropanevehiclesemitfewerCriteriaAirContaminantsthangasolineanddiesel
Upto60%lessCarbonMonoxide(CO)comparedtogasoline.
Dieselfuelledvehiclesemitupto30timesmoreParticulateMatter(PM)thanPropane
vehicles
Propanevehiclesemitsignificantlylessharmfultoxicsubstancesthangasoline
2090%lessBenzene,Acetaldehyde,Formaldehyde,and1,3Butadiene
Lowermaintenancecoststhangasolineanddiesel
Propaneburnscleaner,experiencessignificantlylesscarbonbuildup,andhasthepotential
forincreasedenginelife

Buses
Childrentravellinginsideadieselpoweredschoolbusmaybeexposedtoasmuchasfourtimestheleveloftoxic
dieselexhaustassomeonedrivinginacaraheadofit.Releasingfewerharmfulpollutantsmakespropanenot
onlyacleanervehiclefuelbutalsoahealthierone.Schoolbusfleetsconvertedtopropanefromdieselemit
significantlylessfineparticulatematterintotheatmosphereandprotectthehealthofthechildrenwhousethem.
CheckouttheseCaseStudiesbytheU.S.PropaneEducationandResearchCouncil(PERC):
PropanePowersDentonISDSchoolBuses
(http://www.autogasusa.org/uploadedFiles/Fuel/Fueling_With_Propane/Refueling_Options/CS_Propane%20Powers%20Denton%20School%20Buses.pdf)
PropanePowersLADOT'sDASHBusService
(http://www.autogasusa.org/uploadedFiles/Fuel/Fueling_With_Propane/Refueling_Options/CS_Propane%20Powers%20LADOTs%20DASH%20Bus%20Service.pdf)
PropanePowersPortlandPublicSchoolBuses
(http://www.autogasusa.org/uploadedFiles/Fuel/Fueling_With_Propane/Refueling_Options/CS_Propane%20Powers%20Portland%20Public%20School%20Buses.pdf)
PropanePowersZionNationalPark'sShuttleBusService
(http://www.autogasusa.org/uploadedFiles/Fuel/Fueling_With_Propane/Refueling_Options/CS_Propane%20Powers%20Zion%20Shuttle%20Bus%20Service.pdf)

Forklifts
Propanepoweredforkliftsareoneexampleofindoorvehiclesthattakeadvantageoftheenvironmentalbenefitsof
propane.Propaneisacleanburning,nontoxicfuelthatcansafelybeusedindoors,withproperventilation,and
canproduce19%lowerGHGemissionsthangasolinefuelledforklifts.
CheckoutthisCaseStudybytheU.S.PropaneEducationandResearchCouncil(PERC)PropanePowers
Overnite'sForkliftFleet
(http://www.autogasusa.org/uploadedFiles/Fuel/Fueling_With_Propane/Refueling_Options/CS_Propane%20Powers%20Overnite%27s%20Forklift%20Fleet.pdf)

AirportGroundServiceEquipment
AirportsacrossNorthAmericaareturningtopropanetofueltheirvehiclesandconformtoallowablelevelsofair
pollution.Vehiclesrangefromfireandrescuetruckstorunwaysweepersandhotelshuttles.Usingpropanetofuel
thesefleetsenablesairportstoexpandtheirfacilityandservice,whilemeetingtheirenvironmentalrequirements.A
U.S.studyhasshownthatgroundserviceequipmentfuelledbypropaneemits33%fewerGHGsthangasoline
fuelledequipment.

Rebates&Incentives
Lookingforpropanerebatesorincentives?
EnvironmentCanadaprovidesaGreenIncentives&RebatesAcrossCanadadatabaseavailableonitswebsite,
searchablebyregionandprogramtype:http://www.ec.gc.ca/financementfunding/default.asp?
lang=En&n=A730CEF31(http://www.ec.gc.ca/financementfunding/default.asp?lang=En&n=A730CEF31)
ThankyoutothePropaneEducationandResearchCouncil(PERC)(http://www.propanecouncil.org/)andthe
WorldLPGasAssociation(http://www.worldlpgas.com/)forcontributionstothispage.

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