Written on: June 27, 2022
Bioheat® fuel is an affordable home energy source that’s making an impact right now on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for our climate. Its efficiency and cleanliness are leading us on a bright path to a carbon-neutral future that is not too far away.
Here’s just one example of how Bioheat fuel is making an impact. Just two heating oil retailers in New England displaced nearly 1.5 million gallons of heating oil with approved Bioheat fuel in the first half of 2020. Doing this resulted in an 80% reduction in GHG emissions, compared to traditional heating oil.
For the heating oil industry to achieve its stated 2023 goal of 15% fewer emissions, the standard Bioheat fuel blend will need to be in the 20% range. There are already many heating oil companies in the Northeast that are delivering Bioheat fuel at this level. Some are even delivering blends as high as 50% (B50 Bioheat SuperPlus™ fuel)
Thanks to research and development being spearheaded by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), heating oil is being made more cleanly and efficiently than before.
The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce the carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
During a meeting at the Northeast Industry Summit in 2019, the entire Northeast heating oil industry resolved to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The biodiesel that’s blended with ultra-low sulfur heating oil to create Bioheat fuel is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels, which have a higher carbon intensity. By 2030, it’s estimated that biodiesel will displace 529 million gallons of heating oil.
Biodiesel, a non-toxic, degradable renewable liquid fuel, is generally produced from agricultural byproducts, including used cooking oil, animal fats, inedible corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil.
This puts excess oil and fats to good use. Food is never sacrificed for fuel in the production of Bioheat fuel. Bioheat fuel is also sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies.
Bioheat fuel is readily available now through local retail oil companies and it requires no modifications to your existing system.
The bottom line: in the Hudson Valley, we are well on our way along the road to a carbon-neutral future!
To learn more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel, please go here.