The Difference Between Heating Oil & Biofuels

Written on: February 14, 2022

A cleaner way to keep your home warm and comfortable

bioheat new yorkBy this summer, all the heating oil that Mazzola Oil delivers will be at Bioheat® fuel, thanks to a new state law signed recently by New York Governor Kathy Hochul that requires that all heating oil delivered in the state contains biofuels.

Right now, our customers have the option of Bioheat fuel delivery.

You may be wondering how this new law and the changes that come with it affect you and your oil-fired heating system, and the difference between the heating oil you know and fuels like Bioheat fuel, which is made from biofuels. Read on and learn more.

What is Bioheat fuel?

Bioheat fuel is a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil and biodiesel.

Ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) is very different than the heating oil of a few decades ago. ULSHO removed 99% of the sulfur from traditional heating oil. By virtually eliminating the sulfur, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced more than 70% when compared to traditional heating oil.

Biodiesels are created by sustainable, renewable resources including plant oils (sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and corn), algae, animal fats, and recycled restaurant cooking oils.

Right now, the state law mandates that all heating oil contain at least 5% biofuels by July 1. By 2030, the mandate will be 20% biofuels.

The benefits of Bioheat fuel

While there are some differences between traditional No. 2 heating oil and Bioheat fuel, there’s one thing they have in common. They can both be used in your home’s heating system and heating oil tank without any need for replacement or adjustments.

Speaking of your heating system, it will love Bioheat! Between the removal of sulfur and the clean burning of biodiesels, Bioheat fuel leaves fewer deposits in your heating system. There’s less wear and tear on your equipment. Your heating system operates more efficiently, saving you money on heating costs. Not only that, Bioheat fuel’s cleaner combustion reduces the number of breakdowns and extends the life of your home heating system!

The move towards biofuels is also good news for our economy. There are about 10 biodiesel producers here in the Northeastern United States that supply the biodiesel used to make Bioheat fuel. Those producers support nearly 5,000 full-time, good-paying jobs with $175 million in annual wages. They also create $1.2 billion in annual economic activity.

Become a Mazzola Oil customer and get dependable heating oil delivery with the option of environmentally friendly Bioheat fuel!