Natural gas derives from animal and plant matter that was heated and pressurized in earth’s layers (hence why it is referred to as “fossil fuel”). It is generally made up of methane, ethane, hexane, propane, heptanes, butane, and pentane; however, gas companies purify it until only methane is left. That way the gas used for heating burns cleanly. Methane is considered a clean fuel because compared to coal and oil, it is less chemically complex, releasing only carbon dioxide and water vapor, when burned. Ways in which methane gas is used in your home are through furnaces, water heaters, stoves, and fireplaces. 
 
Advantages of methane heating are:
• Since it is a natural gas, it is readily available in most cities and towns. There is also no worry for the eyesore of an onsite supply tank because it is supplied through underground pipelines.
• It produces a relatively small amount of air pollution and essentially no smoke.
The limitations or disadvantages of methane heating are:
• Leaks can cause flash fires or explosions. Fortunately methane gas has an easily detectable artificial scent that can alert people of a possible gas leak. If you believe there is a gas leak of any sort within your home, evacuate the premises and call the fire department immediately.
• It is not easily outsourced to rural locations or less developed countries because gas pipelines are not available to be put in place.
• The world’s natural supply of methane gas is finite and not renewable. (However, methane can be derived from particular biological processes, and this source is renewable).
  
Overall methane heating is considered one of the cleanest heating methods. However, as scientists conduct more research they find that the unfiltered methane gas that leaks from the earth during the tapping process can be quite harmful to the environment. This is where the dispute begins.
Do we continue using methane heating because it burns cleanly and is more cost efficient than the alternatives? Or do we look for alternative ways to heat our homes, even though the may be costly, due to the risks of methane gas leakages? Leave a comment below telling us what you think!