9/6/2020
 Home (/) / Learn About Natural Gas (/natural-gas/) / Cleaner Energy
What Is Natural Gas? (/natural-
gas/energy-education/)
Safe Natural Gas 
Natural Gas In Your Home 
Every-Day A ordability 
Good for Business 
Reliable Natural Gas (/natural-
gas/reliable/)
E cient Natural Gas 
Cleaner Energy (/natural-
gas/clean-energy/)
Renewable Natural Gas
(/natural-gas/renewable/)
Delivering Gas to You 
Expanding Access (/natural-
gas/access/)
Regulatory Oversight (/natural-
gas/oversight/)
Glossary (/natural-
gas/glossary/)
Understanding Updates to the EPA
Inventory of Greenhouse Gases
https://www.aga.org/natural-gas/clean-energy/
Cleaner Energy | American Gas Association
Cleaner Energy
Natural gas provides environmental bene ts: increased use gas can help address several environmental concerns
simultaneously, including smog, acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions.
Natural Gas Has Made the U.S. an Environmental Leader
Natural gas is an important tool in the suite of greenhouse gas emissions reduction options available to the
United States. Natural gas will continue to bene t our nation as states move to further reduce carbon dioxide
emissions created in electric power generation.
An Emissions Solution in Your Home
Greater direct use of natural gas for heating and cooling, water heating, cooking and clothes drying can cut
carbon emissions nearly in half. That is because natural gas appliances and the network that delivers the energy
to your home is extraordinarily e cient.
Electric system losses account for half the energy consumed in the U.S. residential sector. When you factor in
energy use and emissions along the full fuel cycle, households with natural gas versus all-electric appliances
produce 37 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Further, it's best to use natural gas directly, instead of converting it to electricity rst. When natural gas is used
directly, then from the place where it is extracted from the ground, to appliances in your home, natural gas
achieves 92 percent energy e ciency.
An Emissions Solution in Your City
Natural gas is the cleanest alternative transportation fuel available. Compared with diesel and gasoline, natural
gas can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 30 percent. The exhaust emissions of natural gas vehicles,
when compared to those of gasoline and diesel vehicles, o er reductions of common urban pollutants:
Carbon monoxide (CO): 70 to 90% reduction
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): 75 to 95% reduction
Non-methane organic gas (NMOG): 50 to 75% reduction
Carbon dioxide (CO2): 20 to 30% reduction
Learn more about natural gas eets (/natural-gas/good-for-business/natural-gas- eets/), and use our natural
gas eet calculator (/natural-gas/good-for-business/calculator/).
The Industry's Commitment to Reducing Emissions
Forty- ve AGA member companies representing 69 percent of the natural gas customers served in the United
States have joined the EPA's Methane Challenge Program. The program enables energy companies to make and
track commitments to reduce emissions and showcase their e orts to improve air quality.
An Increase in Safety Leads to a Energy E ciency and Natural Gas
Decrease in Emissions Utilities
1/2
9/6/2020 Cleaner Energy | American Gas Association
Report Fact Sheet Fact Sheet
(/link/d5fef0296fe942e59ccb842c78bcf8af.aspx? (/link/8619693283314b2b831a0ddcf3c9637d.aspx? (/link/d34ed48cd3a649a8a8fe8f9c90988004.aspx?
epslanguage=en) epslanguage=en) epslanguage=en)

https://www.aga.org/natural-gas/clean-energy/ 2/2