In the Home
Flip the switch. Turn the knob. Set the dial. Chances are, the energy we take for granted everyday originates deep under the earth as natural gas. It heats our homes, cooks our meals, generates our electricity, and powers our lives in innovative ways that are still evolving.
Most households know natural gas as the most efficient and affordable means of safe home heating. But it is so much more. Natural gas is a vital component of the world’s supply of energy. Unlike other fossil fuels, natural gas is clean-burning and emits lower levels of byproducts into the air. In fact, natural gas appliances are often recommended as a part of new Green Building and standards.
Natural gas is found in reservoirs under the Earth. Once brought from underground, the natural gas is refined to remove impurities and a sulfur like scent is added to make the odorless gas detectable to aid in its safe distribution. The clean, pure natural gas is then ready for transmission through a network of pipelines, thousands of miles of which exist in the United States alone. From these pipelines, companies like Columbia Gas deliver natural gas to its point of use.