Bioheat is the industry’s official registered name for a fuel that consists of a blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) and renewable biodiesel that’s made from organic and recycled products, including soybean oil, used cooking oils, inedible corn oil, canola oil, tallow, fats and algae.
These renewable products are defined as feedstocks for producing biodiesel. Blends of biodiesel in heating oil are designated in percentages. For example, a blend that’s 5% biodiesel is defined as B5. B10 refers to a 10% blend, while B20 is a 20% blend.
No. “Biofuel” is a broad term that can include various products, including biodiesel, ethanol, renewable hydrocarbon diesel and raw vegetable oil (known as RVO or LR100). It’s important to note that raw vegetable oil does not meet industry specifications; it is not biodiesel or Bioheat, and it is not suitable for home heating-oil use.
Bioheat’s costs are similar to those of traditional heating oil; the difference in price is typically only fractions of a penny per gallon.
Bioheat burns more cleanly than regular heating oil, which means that a heating system will not only burn fuel more efficiently, it will also last longer and require fewer repairs.
When people use Bioheat, they will reduce emissions. By burning more cleanly, Bioheat also extends the life of heating equipment, which means that fewer furnaces and boilers will find their way into a landfill.
No. Most major heating-system manufacturers accept Bioheat as covered under their warranties for use, and an oilheat user won’t need to make any changes to their furnace, boiler or storage tank to use it. Performance standards for Bioheat have been approved by ASTM International, an organization that sets industry standards for fuels and lubricants.
