System and method to reduce standby energy loss in a gas burning appliance and components for use therewith

A dual safety relay valve, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for receiving gas and an outlet for discharging gas received at the inlet;
• a first and a second main controlling valves positioned in series between the inlet and outlet but oriented anti-parallel to one another to control a flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet, the first and the second main controlling valves each including a valve control shaft drivably coupled to a diaphragm positioned in a diaphragm control chamber, wherein each of the valve control shafts is driven by movement of its respective diaphragm, wherein the housing further defines a first connection port in fluid communication with the inlet and a second connection port in fluid communication with at least one of the diaphragm control chambers, wherein each of the diaphragm control chambers are in fluid communication with the second connection port such that an opening of the first and the second main controlling valves occurs at approximately the same time.