What Is Bioheat® Fuel?

If you’ve been in New Jersey for a while and use oilheat to keep your home warm, you probably know something about Bioheat® fuel. If you’re new to our state or you are using oilheat for the first time, you can count on hearing about Bioheat fuel a lot in the years ahead.

That’s because in recognizing the benefits of this revolutionary fuel and making it available to consumers, the Garden State has been ahead of the national curve, establishing itself as one of the leaders in the adoption of this ultra-clean-burning fuel.

Bioheat Fuel, Explained

Bioheat fuel is made up of a blend of renewable biodiesel and ultra-low-sulfur heating oil (ULSHO). Renewable biodiesel is made from organic and recycled components, called feedstocks, which can include used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, fats, algae, canola, tallow and soybean oil.

What’s the difference between B20 Bioheat fuel and B10 Bioheat fuel?

When a biodiesel blend (Bioheat fuel) is established, its name comes from the percentage of biodiesel it includes. B10 means that the fuel has a 10% blend of biodiesel; the rest is ULSHO heating oil. B20 means you have a 20% blend of biodiesel.

Do I need new equipment to use Bioheat fuel?

As long as you have a working, up-to-date system, you should be able to use Bioheat without feeling any transition at all. In most cases, furnace, boiler and storage tank manufacturers will cover Bioheat fuel under their warranties. Bioheat fuel’s performance standards are approved by ASTM International, which is the organization that establishes industry standards for lubricants and fuels.

Bioheat Fuel And The Environment: 5 Facts*

1. Bioheat fuel mixes low-carbon renewable liquids like biodiesel with conventional heating oil.
2. Biodiesel is a gallon-for gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels, which have a higher carbon intensity.
3. By 2030, it’s estimated that biodiesel will displace 529 million gallons of heating oil.
4. The Northeast’s use of Bioheat fuel annually avoids more than 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
5. 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions–or 3 billion pounds–is equivalent to removing 320,000 vehicles from the road—-or the equivalent of the emissions from the annual energy use in 180,000 homes.

Read more about Bioheat fuel and then contact your full-service New Jersey heating oil company if you have questions about Bioheat fuel.

*Source: Biodiesel.org