While kerosene lanterns and wood-burning stoves are traditional staples of Amish domestic life, many modern Old Order homes utilize bottled propane and natural gas for refrigeration, cooking, and bright indoor lighting.
Gas-Mantle Lighting (Humphrey Lights)
Instead of flickering kerosene flames, many homes feature overhead gas-mantle lamps connected to copper gas lines running through the walls. These lights burn propane or natural gas to heat a ceramic mantle, producing a bright white glow comparable to a standard 75-watt incandescent bulb.
Propane-Powered Refrigeration
Standard electric refrigerators rely on motor compressors. Amish homes use absorption refrigerators powered by a tiny propane flame that heats a chemical solution (ammonia and water) to circulate coolant, keeping food fresh off-grid without electrical wiring.