Six questions about Bioheat®

We all want to keep our families safe and warm through the long New England winter, and most of us want to do it while having as little environmental impact as possible. In the past, that would have probably meant swapping your oil-fired heating system for one powered by natural gas or propane – but thanks to Bioheat®, you have your (warm-house) cake and heat it too (sorry, we couldn’t resist).

If you’re not familiar Bioheat, here are some common questions about this clean, green alternative to common No. 2 heating oil.

1. What is Bioheat? Bioheat is a fuel made by blending ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) with biodiesel – a renewable energy resource made in America from soy other vegetable oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant oils and other natural sources.
2. What do the “B” numbers mean? Since Bioheat is a blend of fuels, it is named by the percentage of biodiesel it contains – for example, B5 is five percent Biodiesel. Typical blends range from two to twenty percent biodiesel per gallon, although some higher percentages are manufactured.
3. Does Bioheat cost more than common heating oil? The price of Bioheat tracks very closely with traditional heating oil, the difference typically being only fractions of a penny per gallon. However, when you consider the total cost of the two fuels, Bioheat comes out on top by a substantial margin (see below).
4. Can Bioheat save me money? Biofuel is more cost-effective in the long run because it burns cleaner than regular heating oil – which means your heating system will probably last longer and require fewer repairs.
5. How does Bioheat reduce my carbon footprint? Bioheat burns cleaner than common heating oil, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of Sulfur, Nitrogen Oxides and Carbon Dioxide. By burning cleaner, Bioheat typically also extends the life of heating equipment, which means that fewer furnaces and boilers will find their way into the landfill.
6. Can I use Bioheat with my existing heating oil equipment? Yes – in fact, if you are getting your heating oil deliveries from Holden Oil, you already are! Most major heating system manufacturers accept Bioheat as covered under their warranties for use, and you won’t need to make any changes to your furnace, boiler or storage tank to use it. In fact, your equipment will be glad you made the switch (see fact #4 above).

Holden offers Bioheat delivery to customers anywhere in our North Shore MA service area. Contact us today to make the switch and join the Holden family of customers!