Understanding the positive benefits of using natural gas in your home is the first step to enjoying the savings associated with powering your home with natural gas. Here are a few reasons to make your switch today:

• Natural gas produces fewer carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen emissions than coal and oil.


• Natural gas works during a power outage, and a pilot light is capable of heating water almost two times faster than an electric water heater. Even a gas stove can be lit using a match, allowing you and your family to continue daily routines without interruption.


• 84 percent of natural gas is produced in the United States according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), so your limiting the dependence on foreign resources.


• Natural gas appliances are energy efficient, saving you money and helping the environment.


• The excellent safety record of natural gas is due to its constant monitoring and federal regulations, so enjoying natural gas in your home doesn't mean sacrificing the safety of your family.

Whether a current electricity customer, or moving to a new residence, switching to a cleaner natural gas allows you to still enjoy the comforts of home, while managing to save money and possibly limit your impact on the ecosystem at the same time.

The South Georgia Division of the Clean Cities Coalition is encouraging residents in South Georgia to adopt alternative fuels at work and home. Offering the potential of propane, natural gas, ethanol and even fuels made from yeast waste, the options for switching from traditional fossil fuels are becoming more and more viable.

Natural gas is a unique way to power your vehicle, with many companies offering small converters that can be installed in existing vehicles. The tax incentives for purchasing a natural gas or ethanol-based vehicle are reason enough to consider the switch. All of these options are likely to be part of Clean Cities' push in Georgia for a reduction in petroleum consumption.

One additional possibility is producing biofuel from excess chicken fats, and considering Georgia is the chicken capital of the world, it to could be an alternative energy that is cost-effective to produce for commercial and consumer use.

Give the gift of green this holiday season, and skip the department store earrings this time around. Natural gas marketers are joining the fight against global warming, with MXenergy's Project GreenGift offering a unique way to both go green, and offer a friendly green gift for those who matter most.

The program allows you to purchase a tree to be planted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai (CSK) Tribes in the State of Montana, with the idea that said tree will offset a portion of carbon emissions. Your lucky recipient receives a certificate from Sustainable Forestry Management Ltd. (SFM) showing the environmental benefits associated with the tree's planting, specifically the carbon emissions offset for one year.

You can choose from four different options that include offsetting your energy bill and transportation. By planting a tree with MXenergy's Project GreenGift, you are helping the Earth's natural filtration system change harmful carbon dioxide to precious oxygen.