The natural gas system is extremely efficient as are most types of appliances and equiptment that operate on natural gas . Energy efficiency refers to the energy input per unit of useful energy output. In other words, energy efficiency measures how much energy is used or lost in providing such things as hot water, steam, warm or cool air. The higher the energy efficiency, the greater the conservation of energy and the lower the environmental impacts. Moreover, gas appliances and equipment are extremely efficient as evidenced by the fact that the residential use of gas per customer is about 16 percent less today than it was in 1980.
Natural gas is the most economical energy choice .
Natural gas is usually the most economical form of energy available regardless of which competing fuel it is measured against, the application involved or the geographical location of the consumer. For instance, using the 1999 average national energy prices published by the Department of Energy, heating an average-size house in a moderate climate costs 5 percent less to heat with gas than with heating oil and 33 percent less than with an electric heat pump. Similarly, using gas to heat household water is about half as expensive as using electricity. Even with the aggressive demand levels of the accelerated projection, gas will remain price-competitive. Natural gas is a highly reliable North American energy source .