Unless produced through renewable processing, natural gas simply cannot adjust its carbon score downward, which makes Bioheat fuel the common-sense choice for 21st-century home comfort.
Studies show that Bioheat fuel blends of 2% or more produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas when evaluated over a 20-year period.*
Bioheat fuel is a blend of biodiesel and traditional petroleum-based heating oil with an ultra-low sulfur content. Biodiesel, which is commonly made from vegetable oils or animal fats, is considered a biogenic fuel that reduces carbon 100% compared to burning fossil fuels like natural gas. Fossil fuels like natural gas take carbon stored in the ground and put 100% of that carbon into the atmosphere.
In comparison, the combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources actually recycle carbon dioxide emissions through renewable plant materials and other biomass feedstocks. That’s why you’ll be hearing a lot about net-zero carbon emissions in the years ahead.
The Path to Net-Zero Emissions
As efforts to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions remain a top priority in the heating oil industry, more and more households and businesses are also gaining an understanding of what it all means—and the great importance of this progress.
In 2019, hundreds of leaders from the industry passed a resolution that laid out what heating oil’s progress needs to look like over the next 30 years.
Here’s a breakdown of what they established:
- By 2023: Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 15% (based on 1990 levels)
- By 2030: Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 40%
- By 2050: We achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Making It Possible With Bioheat® Fuel
In New Jersey, many gallons of heating oil are classified as Bioheat fuel. While most of the Bioheat fuel is still in the B5 range (95% heating oil and 5% biofuel blend), it’s expected that B20 will soon be the norm with even higher blends to follow. The higher blends will lead to an even cleaner, greener, more renewable liquid fuel.
Right now, Bioheat fuel is making an immediate impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for our climate. The heating oil industry’s embrace of renewable Bioheat fuel is transforming home heating and helping to create a better future.
Today’s heating equipment regularly achieves efficiency levels of 85% or better. With the introduction of higher blends of Bioheat fuel, we will start to see super high-efficiency systems available in the U.S. These systems will achieve efficiency levels of 90% or more! See how much you can save with a new heating oil system.
Read more about Bioheat fuel.
*Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance, “Developing a Renewable Biofuel Option for the Home Heating Sector,” 2015.