Energy

Other uses

Use in the commercial sector
The commercial use of gas includes cooling (conditioning and refrigeration), restaurant services (kitchen), motels and hotels (heating of interiors), hospitals, public building sites and retailing.
Thanks to their high energy-efficiency, natural gas air-conditioners represent the most valid alternative to traditional electric systems and are used both to guarantee high comfort levels in civil buildings (houses, hospitals, hotels, buildings, offices), as well as to satisfy the needs of the industrial sector (air-conditioning of the workplace, productive processes, food preservation, etc).
Gas cookers are very popular in the restaurant sector: thanks to them it is possible to measure the heat in the best way, by varying the flame intensity. Moreover, during oven cooking, the combustion of methane releases water vapour, which softens the food preventing it from drying. These characteristics, as well as guaranteeing supply continuity, convert the methane into the most appreciated source both for household and professional purposes.

Household purposes 
Natural gas is an excellent fuel used for both household purposes (gas ovens, heating, hot water), as not only is it the cleanest of all fossil fuels, but it is also the most convenient thanks to the relatively low costs of the equipment. Future estimates forecast an increase by 30% of the household consumption of gas in 2020. The main household use of natural gas is for heating. 35% of Italian families have central heating systems that supply heat to several houses.