PERC updates energy cost calculator for construction professionals, propane marketers

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has upgraded its Heating Energy Cost and Carbon Calculator with more timely applications that give construction professionals and propane marketers a way to quickly conduct pricing comparisons, down to the county level, the council announced. Users can find the cost of operating a propane furnace or water heating system and measure it against a comparable system that uses heating oil or electricity. The calculator allows users to compare these prices for a one-year period, and it includes variables such as age of the system, energy efficiency rating and frequency of maintenance. For furnaces, the calculator automatically conducts a cost comparison with an Energy Star-qualified propane furnace, using the latest Environmental Protection Agency benchmark efficiency system for the northern United States. PERC says the calculator, which provides a searchable database of hundreds of propane products, is especially valuable in areas where emissions are carefully monitored. The calculator is one of five tools in the PERC Interactive Training Module found at www.buildwithpropane.com. The training module can be placed on company or client websites, PERC adds.