As the country – and the rest of the world – looks for ways to cut carbon emissions, Net-Zero Heroes™ are already reducing their carbon footprints with every drop of Bioheat® fuel they use!
The Bioheat® fuel in their heating systems is made by blending home heating oil with renewable biodiesel. The amount of biodiesel in Bioheat® fuel is identified as a “B” number: B5 has 5 percent biodiesel; B20 has 20 percent, and so on. According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by an average of 80 percent compared to traditional fuel oil.
The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that a gallon of traditional heating oil produces approximately 23 lbs of CO2 when used for home heating, and the average home in the Northeast uses approximately 800 gallons of heating oil per year. A home using B20 can cut emissions by a whopping 2,981 lbs a year. That’s a heroic feat!
In the years ahead, things are going to get even better. The home heating industry has pledged to deliver B20 to all homeowners by 2023, B50 by 2030, and a fully 100 percent renewable, net-zero carbon emissions fuel by 2050. In New York City, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk, every heating oil dealer is delivering B5 and many are providing blends up to B20. Homeowners using B6 to B20 Bioheat® fuel can also get a credit on their New York State tax returns.
You can save energy and reduce your carbon emissions in other ways, too! Choose ENERGY STAR® rated equipment whenever you need to upgrade your washer, dryer, refrigerator or other home appliances; have your heating system tuned up each year; lower your water heater temperature; install a smart thermostat; and seal and caulk around windows and doors. Together, we can all make a difference. Together, we can all be Net-Zero Heroes™!
