Southern African Natural Gas Advisory Service Service

The natural gas industry continues to gain residential customers because it is generally the least cost energy alternative for space heating, water heating and cooking. Other reasons include the convenience, ease of use, reliability and controllability of natural gas once it is permanently supplied to a home. Also new generation of gas appliances are modern, sleek and greatly more efficient than older models. The gas industry also continues to innovate and develop ever more efficient and flexible gas technologies for the home.

The gas heat pump that both heats and cools is just such an example of the continuing strong gas competition with electrical systems. Compared with conventional electric heat pumps, those now powered by natural gas are claimed to provide a more uniform temperature distribution, warmer air outlet temperature in the heating mode and superior heating capacity. The major residential use of natural gas in northern hemisphere countries is for space heating in homes. There are a wide range of natural gas space heating appliances and equipment available.

They range from gas central heating boilers that drive central heating systems either with hot water radiator systems or warm air ducted systems. Modern natural gas central heating boilers are small, highly efficient and safe.

Natural Gas in the Home

In energy markets where natural gas is readily available, it is in the home where most people will have experienced the benefits and economy of natural gas. In some countries the residential use of natural represents the single largest sector of the energy market in terms of total share of total natural gas consumed. The reasons for this are readily visible.

In the last 30 years the number of residential users of natural gas has expanded dramatically. More than 65% of U.S. homes and some 75% of British homes are heated by natural gas and this trend is repeated in many high natural gas usage countries around the world. Natural gas also continues to win a larger share of heating in new homes, where it is available, than other alternatives. Electric space heating is the single major competitor to natural gas in most countries although in most cases it wins a lower share of new homes than gas.

There are also various types of individual gas room heaters that can be positioned on any outside wall of a dwelling. In many older homes with fireplaces there are also natural gas fuel effect fires with combined central heating boilers. There are also natural gas clothes dryers, refrigerators and a diverse range of household hot water appliances.