Asheville School Launches Clean Propane Mower Program With Blossman Gas

ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 14, 2010 (PRNewswire) -- Asheville School in North Carolina is greening its lawn care services with three propane-powered mowers, thanks in part to an alumnus and a unique propane supply program provided by Blossman Gas.

Harris Baker, an Asheville School Class of '74 alumnus and president of HBH Gas Systems of Austin, Texas, donated three new propane mowers to his alma mater. Blossman Gas – the nation's largest independent propane company – will provide the school a hassle-free, year-round mower fuel supply.

Propane-powered mowers are part of a growing range of sustainable lawn care products. Producing up to 80 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional mowers, propane mowers are also consistently less expensive to fuel and experience extended engine life.

"We're excited to work with Asheville School as they expand their environmental initiatives," says Blossman Gas President Stuart Weidie. "Propane-powered mowers offer significant benefits and Blossman's tailored fuel supply programs make it easy for schools, companies and organizations to make the switch to propane."

Founded in 1900, Asheville School is one of the country's leading boarding schools. With about 260 students enrolled annually, the school spans a 300-acre campus surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. "Asheville School is a special place to me, and it is an honor to be able to give back," says Baker. "It's great knowing the mowers will help keep the grounds beautiful and reduce the school's carbon footprint."

Three propane mowers and 12 tanks (each mower uses two at a time) were provided to the school. Blossman also supplied a cage to safely house the tank cylinders and will ensure a continual fuel supply.

"We couldn't be more pleased about Harris' generous donation and our partnership with Blossman Gas," says Bob Williams, the school's director of communications. "At Asheville School, we teach our students to be creative in finding better solutions; in adopting these green mowers, we are leading by example."

A founding partner of Alliance AutoGas, the national propane vehicle conversion and fueling network, Blossman has a robust fueling infrastructure and a nationwide network of fueling retail partners. Blossman is proud to offer its comprehensive fueling solutions to lawn care customers and is outfitted to provide a custom mower fuel solution to meet any company or organization's needs. Blossman's mower fuel services include:

• Cylinder exchange solutions for dealers and delivery solutions for large-scale programs
• Empty cylinder pick up with full tank replacement
• Clean fueling dispenser onsite at customer location
• Propane safety training in partnership with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC)

Blossman partners with lawn equipment dealers to create a hassle-free experience for customers interested in propane-powered mowers. To learn more about Blossman's mower program, visit www.propanemowerfueling.com.

About Asheville School

Since its founding more than a century ago, Asheville School (http://www.ashevilleschool.org/) has prepared high school students with an education for a lifetime. Asheville School provides students a nurturing, close-knit community with rigorous academics, an emphasis on truth and character, and a rich tradition of athletics.

About Blossman Gas

Blossman Gas was founded in 1951 with one truck and one Mississippi office and now serves 120,000 customers in nine southeast and mid-Atlantic states. Blossman is the largest independently owned propane company in the U.S. and has pioneered Alliance AutoGas, the nationwide network that has fleet managers across the country committing to use clean, domestically produced propane Autogas.

SOURCE Blossman Gas

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Propane more affordable, efficient than most think

Article in Tennessean

Energy's costs to consumers and the environment is a topic of national debate. "How do we provide the lowest-cost energy to consumers while still protecting the environment?" is a question that many in Congress ask.

Consumers, on the other hand, notice the price of energy in the form of their monthly bills and gas prices. What consumers and many in Congress don't know is that propane gas is an efficient, cost-effective and clean energy source that outperforms electricity on a variety of levels.

A major misconception is that propane is more expensive than electricity. Propane products like water heaters and furnaces are actually more efficient. They heat up faster and provide greater comfort than electric appliances. Prices for all energy sources fluctuate yearly, and in some cases electricity may be slightly less expensive than propane. However, with efficient propane appliances, consumers will continue to see savings during fluctuations of prices. Propane water heaters can be given an Energy Star rating — the government's measurement for energy-efficient appliances — electric water heaters cannot.

Additionally, current cost comparisons in Tennessee show that having a propane water heater instead of an electric water heater saves more than $200 over a three-year period including installation. That savings dramatically increases when high-efficiency propane water heaters or tankless propane water heaters are installed.

Electricity's heavy footprint

A study commissioned by the Tennessee Propane Gas Association and performed by ESP Insights showed that a disproportionate amount of consumers believe that electricity is less harmful to the environment than propane. The fact of the matter is that isn't the case.

Tennesseans know that fossil-fuel-eating systems such as propane or natural gas release greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 as a result of the combustion of the fuel, but they don't realize that electricity is actually more harmful to the environment. In Tennessee, electricity is produced from power plants that rely on fossil fuels to create thermal energy, which is converted into electrical energy. The power plants consume roughly three units of energy to produce one unit of electricity, so the resulting output emissions are significantly higher than those produced by propane.

Another seemingly unknown fact is that propane provides greater comfort than electricity. Propane furnaces put out air that is actually 25 degrees warmer than the output of electric furnaces. This makes the heat feel warm to the skin and eliminates drafts and cold spots. Propane water heaters are more efficient and heat up faster, providing hot water longer.

How many of us have experienced the inconvenience of power outages during storms? Whether for a few hours or a number of days, it can be frustrating and sometimes even downright scary. Propane gas is a reliable energy source that won't go out during storms.

While electricity may power the lights and electronics in your home, propane serves as a safe, clean and reliable energy source for other basic home appliances ranging from cooktops and ovens to furnaces, clothes dryers and water heaters. Homeowners should consider the efficient and clean fuel that propane provides when deciding to install new appliances or building a new home.

HBH Gas Systems Featured in Sustainable Development Video

Harris Baker, President of HBH Gas Systems, is featured in PERC's Sustainable Mixed-Use Communities video which highlights propane's increasing ability to help builders gain a competitive market advantage by achieving sustainable value with exceptional energy.

Click here to view video.