How do you heat your home? Almost one-quarter of Americans use natural gas — a reliable, cost-effective energy source that is one of the cleanest fuels available. Many homeowners use natural gas to heat their spaces, but what do you really know about it? Here's a rundown of what you should know, why it matters, and how you can use it to your advantage.

Where Does Natural Gas Come From?

Natural gas was discovered in China around 500 BC, when village residents used underground vapor to cook food and boil seawater. In the Americas, natural gas was used to light street lamps at night, and was eventually adopted in the early 1800s as a household heating source. Natural gas is a fossil fuel found deep beneath layers of dirt, sand, and stone — created from hundreds of years of pressure — and drilling allows this natural resource to be gathered and refined.

What Is Natural Gas Made Of?

Natural gas is a combination of four naturally occurring gases. Methane makes up 70–90% of natural gas, alongside ethane, butane, and propane. An interesting fact: natural gas is actually odorless and colorless! That rotten egg smell commonly associated with gas is actually an additive specifically included to help detection — it signals to homeowners that there may be a potential leak nearby.

What Can You Use Natural Gas For?

Natural gas can be used in many parts of the home beyond just heating:

Kitchen — Cooking with natural gas is widely preferred by professional chefs around the world. Natural gas cooking is faster because heat surrounds the entire pan, and it's also safer since there are no leftover heat conductors that need time to cool down after use.

Laundry — Natural gas dryers have existed for years but aren't as widely used as their electric counterparts. Utilizing a competitive natural gas rate on your dryer doubles up on the savings.

What Kind of Gas Plans Are There?

Natural gas plan options depend heavily on the state in which you live. Michigan is a deregulated state, meaning you are not obligated to get your energy supply solely from the utility — it frees up your choice and makes the market competitive, leading to lower prices for consumers. Companies typically offer two plan structures: fixed and variable. Fixed rates stay the same every month throughout the year, while variable rate plans fluctuate with the market — lower in warmer months when demand is low, higher in colder months when demand rises. Kratos Gas & Power offers a variable rate plan that often saves households hundreds of dollars a year. Have you checked out our rates recently?

Natural gas is one of the cleanest fuels for household energy and provides millions of homes with a reliable source of heating, cooling, cooking, and more. Stay informed of clever ways to save money by checking back to our lifestyle blog!