Cooking

• Some property owners use natural gas for cooking. Natural gas stoves release a small amount of gas that ignites and burns, creating nearly instant heat. These stoves can very quickly get the temperature to the necessary level so that homeowners don't have to wait for the electricity to heat up the heating element. Ovens also use natural gas, which burn natural gas through a pilot. These ovens tend to cost more than the electric ovens, but save owners money in the long run. Many of these ovens are combined with the stove so that property owners can reduce the lost space. These indoor gas grills must always have an exhaust system for the fumes.
  
  

Heating

• Natural gas furnaces burn gas to generate heat that fans then guide through ventilation shafts, which can guide the heat to various parts of the home. More recent natural gas furnaces use dual heat exchangers to increase the energy efficiency of the combustion.
  
  

Distributed Generation

• Natural gas can also power appliances that need electricity, such as televisions. The distributed generation process uses natural gas fuel cells and microturbines. This process allows property owners to have electricity even during a power outage. Normally, natural gas saves on fuel because electricity comes from power plants that usually burn fuels. Some of the energy from the fossil fuels is wasted in the process. In the case of distributed generation, the natural gas does not necessarily save more money because some of the energy contained in the fossil fuels is wasted in the process of converting the energy into electricity.
  
  

Safety

• Electricity can cause electrical shocks when electrical appliances aren't used correctly, which can lead to injury. However, gas appliances also have dangers. These appliances can sometimes develop leaks, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, property owners can purchase carbon monoxide detectors that can alert property owners when there is a gas leak. Also, to avoid leaks, property owners should have their natural gas appliances checked periodically.