Bioheat is the industry’s official registered name for the fuel that consists of a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with renewable biodiesel that’s made from organic and recycled products. These products can include everything from soybean oil, used cooking oils, inedible corn oil, canola, tallow, fats and algae. And that’s just a partial list.
These renewable products are defined as feedstocks for producing biodiesel. Blends of biodiesel in heating oil are designated in percentages. For example, a 5% blend of biodiesel is defined as B5. B10 refers to a 10% blend, while B20 is a 20% blend.
Biofuel vs. Bioheat
Many people confuse biofuel with Bioheat so it’s important to point out how these two fuels differ. Biofuel is a broad term that can include various products including biodiesel, ethanol, renewable hydrocarbon diesel, and raw vegetable oil known as RVO or LR100. Please note that raw vegetable oil does not meet industry specifications; it is not biodiesel or Bioheat and it is not suitable for home heating oil use.
Bioheat pricing and cost savings for oil heat consumers
Bioheat’s costs are similar to those of traditional heating oil; the difference in price is typically only fractions of a penny per gallon. Using Bioheat to warm New Jersey homes saves money because it burns more cleanly than regular heating oil, which means a heating system will not only burn fuel more efficiently, it will also last longer and require fewer repairs. Bioheat is kinder to the environment because it generates fewer emissions than conventional heating oil.
Lastly, much of the heating oil in New Jersey includes Bioheat. Because Bioheat integrates seamlessly with all heating oil systems, no changes or modifications are necessary. Most major heating system manufacturers accept Bioheat as covered under their warranties for use. Performance standards for Bioheat have been approved by ASTM International, an organization that sets industry standards for fuels and lubricants.
Interested in learning more about the evolution of oil heat? Read 10 facts about today’s oil heat.