As institutional and commercial facilities strive to reduce costs and meet sustainability goals, the search for practical solutions has never been more critical.
Enter propane — a cleaner, cost-effective alternative to traditional fuels that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances energy resilience.
Across hotels, hospitals, restaurants, manufacturers, schools, and data centers, propane keeps critical systems online while easing the strain on the electrical grid. In addition to fueling vehicles and equipment, propane is used by maintenance and engineering managers for water heating, power generation, and HVAC applications.
“Over the next 5-10 years, propane is likely to serve as a hybrid solution, connecting today’s infrastructure with emerging renewable technologies,” says Bert Warner, director of commercial business development for the educational Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “Propane’s scalability, performance, clean profile, and abundance in domestic availability make it an effective way for operations to reduce emissions, strengthen energy resilience and meet sustainability goals without compromising operational reliability.”
Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a gas that is typically compressed and stored as a liquid. It is nontoxic, colorless and virtually odorless. An identifying odor is added so it can be detected.
Propane is commonly used for space and water heating, cooking and as fuel for engine applications, such as forklifts, farm irrigation engines, fleet vehicles, and buses. However, its applications are rapidly growing due to new technological developments. When used as vehicle fuel, propane is known as propane autogas.
A byproduct of natural gas processing, propane is also produced from the refining of crude oil. United States propane supplies are becoming increasingly abundant, primarily due to the increased availability of natural gas.
From an emissions standpoint, propane offers facility and campus managers significant reductions compared to conventional fuels. Propane-fueled commercial mowers, for example, cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 17 percent compared with gasoline models, and reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 19 percent. Propane autogas vehicles can produce up to 22 percent fewer GHG emissions than gasoline over the full fuel cycle and 96 percent lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) than diesel buses.
Propane is listed as a clean alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act, is nontoxic, and vaporizes if released — avoiding the soil and groundwater contamination risks that come with liquid spills.
Warner adds important operational context: propane’s closed-loop fuel systems virtually eliminate contamination and spillage, the fuel has a very long shelf life and conversions from gasoline maintain equivalent power and fuel consumption while reducing carbon buildup and engine wear. For maintenance shops, that translates to fewer fuel-related tickets and less downtime.
Propane pricing is often at its lowest and most stable during summer because it is in higher demand as a winter heating fuel that seasonal inversion can cushion mowing budgets from summer gasoline spikes. Maintenance costs also decrease, as cleaner combustion and sealed fueling result in fewer clogged injectors, reduced oil contamination, and longer intervals between certain services.
On the vehicle side, propane autogas produces 96 percent less NOx than diesel and delivers the lowest total cost of ownership thanks to lower fuel and maintenance costs. Many public and private fleets report up to 50 percent lower operating costs versus diesel.
Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, manages a 90-acre campus with a largely student-run crew. To align operations with sustainability goals, the team worked with a local retailer to convert commercial mowers to propane and added a campus refueling station. The retailer also donated five propane-dedicated commercial mowers.
Beyond turf, the college converted Suzuki mini-trucks and later added seven- and 14-passenger vans to run on propane autogas for field trips and campus transport — leveraging a grant co-written with Alliance AutoGas that covered 50 percent of the conversion costs and included fueling equipment. The program earned Warren Wilson a 2019 Smart Fleet Champion designation from North Carolina Mobile CARE for reducing petroleum use and emissions.
Operationally, Warren Wilson’s trajectory highlights three replicable lessons for campuses:
Beyond mowers and utility vehicles, two of the most common pieces of equipment being converted to run on propane are water heaters and furnaces. Propane tankless water heaters are popular because they deliver more than twice the hot water per minute compared with electric tankless units, and commercial models can reach up to 99 percent efficiency. From an emissions standpoint, propane-fueled commercial storage tank water heaters produce up to 48 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electric models.
Warner points to Ruby’s Inn, a historic lodge outside Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, that replaced its outdated boiler system with 183 propane-fueled tankless water heaters, reducing emissions by 5,200 metric tons annually. Not only that, but Ruby’s Inn used to issue nearly $60,000 in annual guest refunds due to problems with their hot water. Since the tankless heaters have been installed, there have been no refunds for hot water issues.
Furnaces are another key area of adoption, particularly in colder climates where performance is most crucial. Propane furnaces last up to 50 percent longer than electric heat pumps, and when paired with a heat pump, can reduce carbon emissions by approximately two-thirds compared to an all-electric system.
To support the adoption of propane technologies, PERC offers incentive programs, such as the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program, to help offset costs and encourage wider adoption. This program, in particular, collects data on performance, emissions reductions, and lifecycle savings of combined heat and power units and propane-powered cooling systems. In return, qualifying commercial and industrial participants can receive up to $30,000 in compensation per project.
Warner says that the most significant barrier is familiarity: many teams haven’t seen modern propane grounds equipment or autogas. Education — ride-and-drives, operator trials, and total cost of ownership calculators — helps teams move past assumptions that propane is expensive or underpowered. In reality, pricing is competitive and seasonally favorable, and performance matches that of gasoline while reducing emissions and maintenance costs.
Another misconception is the possible environmental risk. Propane’s nontoxic, vaporizing behavior and closed-loop systems eliminate common liquid-fuel hazards.
Propane won’t solve every decarbonization challenge, but it offers significant energy savings for water heating, HVAC, power generation, and grounds maintenance applications. Managers can cut NOx and GHGs, simplify fueling, stabilize summer fuel budgets, and reduce maintenance without sacrificing power or runtime.
Warren Wilson College’s experience shows the pathway: start with mowers and utility vehicles, install right-sized fueling, leverage partners and grants, and expand from there into shuttles and building-side loads. As renewable propane scales, your existing assets and infrastructure will only get cleaner — no redesign required.
Joel Williams is a freelance writer based in Frankfort, Illinois.
