Written on: August 29, 2023
Heating oil companies in the Hudson Valley continue with a proven pathway to reduce carbon emissions (CO2) because of their embrace of Bioheat® fuel.
This is a clean-burning blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel — also known as biofuel — that is produced with recycled and organic materials such as animal fats, used cooking oil, and vegetable oils. This renewable liquid fuel is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and it’s produced under rigid specifications.
A gallon-for-gallon substitute for traditional petroleum, biodiesel is a “decarbonizing-now” solution that makes Bioheat fuel a drop-in fuel that’s more than ready for prime time.
It’s estimated that widespread regional use of Bioheat fuel already prevents more than 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from polluting our atmosphere every year. Those emissions will shrink even further as the ratio of biofuel blends increase in the years ahead.
Bioheat fuel’s already low carbon emissions are considered recycled carbon since that carbon becomes fully absorbed by the plant materials contained in biodiesel.
In contrast, when traditional fossil fuels that do not contain biodiesel are burned, they take carbon that was originally stored in the ground and release 100% of that carbon into the atmosphere, where it will remain for decades.
The endgame is to transition to B100 Bioheat fuel (100% renewable biofuel). Recently, the country’s largest producer of heating oil burners, the R.W. Beckett Corporation, announced it had begun production of the first fully warranted burners with B100-compliant components.
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) continues to pursue research with other partners on making B100 Bioheat fuel a reality.
NORA has been a leader in the transition to low carbon liquid fuels in the home heating sector for decades through testing and promoting the use of the advanced biofuel that’s combined with traditional heating oil. NORA’s liquid fuels research laboratory in Plainview, NY is among the leading facilities in the U.S. conducting this type of research.
As an example, NORA has demonstrated that a home heated with 100% biodiesel and using solar panels to produce electricity can reach net-zero carbon emissions quickly — and at an economically viable cost. The Energy Kinetics System 2000® heating oil boiler is used in the NORA Net-Zero Home with the new Beckett B100 burner.
Bioheat fuel is now being produced at more than 75 production plants around the country. Today, these facilities produce about 3.2 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable liquid fuels each year. Biofuel production isn’t just about achieving a cleaner environment. It is about building a stronger economy too. The industry supports more than 60,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in gross domestic product, household income and tax revenues.
Learn how heating oil companies in the Hudson Valley are fueling the future with every heating oil delivery.
Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allows homeowners to claim a federal tax credit of $600 for installing ENERGY STAR-certified heating oil systems that use renewable fuel blends of at least 20% biodiesel.
Since many full-service heating oil companies in the Hudson Valley install high-efficiency heating oil systems compatible with Bioheat fuel, there is a good chance you can qualify for this tax credit! (Please reach out to your heating oil company to get started).
There are long-term savings too. A new heating oil system should help you save 20% or more on your annual heating costs.
The inclusion of tax credits for heating equipment powered by liquid renewable fuels provides validation by Congress that advanced biofuel (biodiesel) can reliably eliminate carbon emissions from homes.
Read more about a new boiler or furnace installation.