Posted: February 4, 2019
Winter 2018-2019 is an important one for the heating oil industry – and for all the homes in New England that use oil-fired heating equipment.
That’s because this will be the first winter where virtually every gallon of heating oil sold in Maine, New Hampshire, and elsewhere on the east coast will have its sulfur content standardized to 15 ppm (parts per million) – down from 500 ppm since 2014 and 3,000 ppm before that.
That’s good for the environment: ULSHO (Ultra-Low Sulfur Heating Oil) cuts 99 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions (a major contributor to acid rain and haze), 97 percent of airborne emissions, and 30 percent of Nitrogen Oxide emissions compared to regular heating oil, according to the Brookhaven National Laboratory. It’s also great news for you: because it is cleaner burning, you will see less ash and soot in your chimney – a sign of better efficiency. You will also get fewer visits from our repair crews, since cleaner fuel also means fewer deposits on heat exchangers.
But today’s ULSHO improvements only scratch the surface of the heating oil breakthroughs to come here in Maine: through pilot projects, biofuels made from wood waste (something we have plenty of) have already been successfully tested for heating homes. Similar biofuels were also tried at Bates College in Lewiston, with good results. Imagine locally sourced renewable heating oil that benefits the forest industry!
Meanwhile, the heating oil industry is on a path to make an equal blend of advanced biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel the standard within the next 25 years. According to the National Oilheat Research Alliance, the resulting fuel would yield carbon-free heating.
On our end, the heating oil that we deliver typically includes Bioheat®, a renewable blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil and biodiesel that produces nearly zero particulates. It also burns more efficiently, helping you keep heating costs down.
The bottom line: You can feel good knowing we’re here for you, delivering clean, efficient fuel when you need it, no matter what the season brings.
P.Gagnon & Son: your Seacoast-area source for clean, green, reliable heating oil (and propane, too!). Contact us today to schedule a heating oil delivery or to join the P. Gagnon & Son family of customers.