Throughout this summer, the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has continued its work to update the Energy Planning Analysis Tool (EPAT). Funding for these updates was secured through the APGA Research Foundation (RF), the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), and the American Gas Association (AGA). GTI recently met with staff from these groups to discuss the status. This tool supports APGA members in comparing the direct use of gas to all-electric residential applications.
It is known anecdotally that gas equipment, in place of traditional electric equipment, can provide energy, environmental, and economic benefits for space conditioning, water heating, cooking, and clothes dryers. The EPAT uses data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and other non-biased sources to factually show the direct use of gas in these applications demonstrates savings in energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in addition to reductions in annual consumer energy costs. There are a few updates needed, however, given new energy usage data available, as well as accounting for new forms of generation, like rooftop solar photovoltaics (PVs). A more robust life-cycle analysis capability will soon be included. Now, users will be able to show the comparison of the direct use of gas to electric in the past, present, and future, utilizing non-biased data on historic, current, and projected equipment cost, energy consumption, energy cost, and emissions. Another modification is the EPAT will soon account for the consumer impacts of PVs, specifically for their installed and operating cost, efficiency, climate sensitivity, and life expectancy.
These updates to the EPAT will be very valuable in telling the positive message of the direct use of natural gas to the public, and APGA staff will keep members updated as they progress.
For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA’s staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at ssaulters@apga.org.