Fun Facts About Natural Gas Distribution

As we roll into fall and temperatures begin to drop, we’ll soon be firing up the gas heaters to keep things cozy. What better time for a fun blog post listing some interesting natural gas distribution facts and figures? So, grab your hot cocoa and keep reading!

1. Home is where the gas is

Almost 93% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is produced right here at home.
Domestic shale gas accounts for about 50% of the total gas production.
As of 2014, the estimated future supply of domestic natural gas was 2,884 trillion cubic feet—enough to power our nation for more than 100 years.

2. Natural gas costs less & is highly efficient

The average savings for households that use natural gas for space and water heating is $840 per year.
Natural gas directly used in U.S. homes and businesses achieves 92% energy efficiency.
Compared to 40 years ago, today’s average U.S. home consumes 40% less natural gas.
In 2014, natural gas efficiency programs led by natural gas utilities saved 175 trillion Btu of energy.
Those same programs offset 9.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide that year.

3. Natural gas is cleaner and green than you might think

Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel available today.
For the same amount of energy, natural gas emits 52–56% less greenhouse gasses than coal.
Only about 0.1% of natural gas was emitted from local distribution systems, based on a 2015 Washington State University study.

4. Natural Gas distribution is great for the economy

Number of jobs the natural gas industry supports in the United States: 3 million.
S. agricultural producers rely heavily on natural gas because it is a major component in the fertilizer used to grow crops.

5. Natural gas is a huge part of all our lives

There are more than 72 million natural gas customers in America.
Natural gas is used in:

7 million homes
4 million businesses
192,000 factories
1,900 electric generating units
On a normal day, the typical home in America uses 196 cubic feet of natural gas.

6. Natural gas distribution is safe & reliable

The U.S. Department of Transportation determined that pipelines are the safest form of energy transportation.
Natural gas pipelines span 2.5 million miles throughout the U.S.
Every year, natural gas utilities spend over $22 billion on programs to promote the safe operations of natural gas distribution and transmission systems.
As of 2014, the natural gas distribution system saw a 40% decline in serious pipeline incidents.
Over the past 10 years, gas utilities have updated old, leaky lines with plastic lines at a rate of 30,000 miles annually.

So, there you have it. Natural gas is bringing a whole lot of good to our nation. Now, next time you settle down with a good blog post, you can thank natural gas distribution for the cozy, hot cup of cocoa you’re drinking.