How to Prepare Your Heating Oil System for a Hurricane
Hurricane Earl at it strongest at 2 am on September 2, when winds speeds reached up to 159 mph. (image: NASA via WSJ.com)
Although Hurricane Earl was downgraded to a category 3 storm on Thursday afternoon, it’s still a whopper of the storm whose effects could soon be felt in much of the Northeast. According to a report by the Washington Post released at 2:30 pm Eastern time on Thursday,
Forecasters were trying to determine whether the storm would stay offshore as it headed up the Northeast coast or bring hurricane-force winds to Long Island and the New England coastal area.
If the storm does move closer to the East Coast as it moves north, coastal areas of the Northeast will get most of Earl’s intense wind and rain, while inland areas may see few effects. At the moment, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Long Island are most likely to see serious tropical storm conditions over the next two days or so.
Those areas are home to many heating oil users, and to help them prepare for Earl’s arrival, the Energy Communications Council (which is funded by the National Oilheat Research Alliance) issued a press release offering tips on how to prepare and check up on oil-fired heating systems before and after flooding:
Preparation before a flood
• If you must evacuate, turn off the heating oil supply valve at the tank before flood waters rise.
• If you must evacuate, turn off furnace or boiler emergency switch.
• Properly installed heating oil tanks are bolted to the ground/floor to ensure they will not move during a flood.After a flood
• If oilheat equipment has been flooded, be sure to shut off the tank service valve if you did not do so before evacuating.
• Look for any visible structural damage. If the tank has shifted, lines are bent or damaged, or you notice anything else unusual, contact your heating oil retailer immediately.
• Damage to pumps, filters, and electronic controls is a significant problem caused by flooding. Heating oil appliances and equipment that have been underwater should be inspected by your professional retailer before being placed back into service.
Hopefully, no one will have to worry about flooding from Earl’s heavy rain. But if heating oil users anywhere in the Northeast are forced to evacuate their homes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
HeatingOil.com Helps Thousands of Heating Oil Users Find New Heating Oil Suppliers Every Month
A lot of our readers already know that HeatingOil.com is the authoritative voice on issues facing heating oil consumers. But many don’t know that it is also the number one destination for consumers looking for a new heating oil supplier.
With tens of thousands of consumers coming to our site every month to read our heating oil articles, more and more of our readers are trying out HeatingOil.com’s Dealer Locator. With over 200 HeatingOil.com Approved Dealers to choose from and thousands of buying inquiries a month, we’re revolutionizing the process of how consumers find a new heating oil company. HeatingOil.com’s Heating Oil Equipment service has also helped hundreds of heating oil users find the best equipment to fit their needs at the best prices available.
Choosing a new heating oil or equipment supplier is an important decision- it isn’t something you can do by just looking in the yellow pages. You need to know the dealer you select is going to be dependable, financially stable, and provide great service. With HeatingOil.com all our participating dealers have been vetted and approved to ensure they meet our standards. You’ll know that if you choose a dealer from HeatingOil.com, you’re working with one of the best in the industry.
For consumers, all you need to do is provide your contact info and HeatingOil.com will connect you with an Approved Dealer in your area.
For heating oil dealers, it’s just as easy. Applying to become an Approved Dealer is simple and fast, and if approved you’ll begin to receive consumer leads on a free trial basis immediately.
If you’re looking for a new heating oil company, give HeatingOil.com’s Dealer Finder a try here. And if you’re a high quality heating oil supplier looking for some new customers, you can apply for our free trial here.
The Heating Oil System Cleaning and Tune Up: What it is and Why it’s Important
Tom Piano of Hilltop Fuel performs a boiler inspection as part of an annual cleaning and tune-up. (image: Nicholas Whitaker for HeatingOil.com)
If you’ve visited HeatingOil.com before, there’s a good chance that you’ve read about annual cleanings and tune-ups of oil-fired heating systems. Once-a-year cleanings and tune-ups are the single most important ways to keep heating systems running at maximum efficiency, which means burning less heating oil in cold weather and lower heating oil bills. They also help catch problems (like tank leaks and clogged filters) before they turn into BIG problems (like an expensive cleanup of spilled oil or a broken burner). Heating systems are pretty complex, which means a lot of different parts can wear out or have small animals living inside them (see the video for details on that). Cleanings and tune-ups find and replace worn-out parts and clear out anything in your system that’s not supposed to be there.
So what exactly goes into a cleaning and tune-up? What is the technician in your basement doing that improves the quality of your heating system and reduces wear-and-tear? Instead of writing out the answers to those questions, we decided to show them. HeatingOil.com video producer Nicholas Whitaker recently joined Tom Piano of Hilltop Fuel in New Jersey on a cleaning and tune-up call and documented the process. At Hilltop, the annual cleaning and tune-up of a heating system is called Preventative Maintenance Service, or PMS.
Whatever you call it, servicing your heating system with an annual cleaning and tune-up is the best way to keep your system in top condition and running at maximum efficiency. Even if you don’t have a service contract or if your contract doesn’t include an annual cleaning and tune-up, they are well worth the investment—the long-term savings that come from heating oil conservation, less frequent service calls, and reduced risk of system breakdown are too big to ignore.
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Rhode Island Reopens Heating Equipment Rebate Program
Rhode Islanders have a second chance at a $500 rebate on the purchase of an energy-efficient oil boiler like this Weil McLain Ultra Oil Boiler. (image: wetheadmedia.com)
When Rhode Island opened its rebate program for energy-efficient heating equipment and appliances on March 25, rebate funds lasted all of one day. Now the program is relaunching, giving Rhode Islanders another chance to save up to $500 on the purchase of Energy Star-approved heating equipment or appliances.
Rebates range from $100 to $500, with the $500 rebates reserved for oil and gas boilers. Oil and gas furnaces are eligible for $100 rebates. Select dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and gas-fired water heaters also qualify for a rebate.
Purchases made on or after March 25 are eligible for the rebate, which Rhode Island residents can apply for at the website of the Rhode Island Energy Efficient Rebate Program. But Rhode Islanders should act fast if they want to secure their rebate. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the program only has about half the money that it had in March—$442,000 instead of $882,000.
There is still $430,950 left, but that amount is dwindling. If you want some help to upgrade your heating system, apply for your rebate now!
Massachusetts Postpones Required Heating Oil System Upgrade
Massachusetts heating oil users will have more time to upgrade their fuel delivery lines (number 4 above), which can be susceptible to oil leaks. (image: allaroundthehouse.com)
Massachusetts homeowners will be responsible for making sure their home heating systems are in compliance with new leak prevention guidelines, including paying for any upgrades to their heating system that may be necessary, but on Thursday the state legislature gave them an extra 14 months to do it, reports TheBostonChannel.com. The law was initially supposed to go into effect this coming Thursday, July 1, but now it has been postponed until September 2011.
The Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law required all heating tanks to have a protective sleeve on the fuel delivery line to safeguard the lines from corrosion that could lead to an oil leak. Such sleeves have been mandatory since 1990, so heating systems installed in the last twenty years should already be in compliance. Additionally, the law mandated insurance coverage for all heating systems compliant with the new regulations. The new insurance requirement will still go into effect on July 1.
Homeowners will have to pay for the upgrades themselves, which has irked some Massachusetts residents. Roslyn Scott spoke with TheBostonChannel.com after getting a quote for $99 to upgrade her heating system: “It’s not a major issue. It’s a safety issue, and I understand that but the time frame [for upgrading the system] and the $99—that’s what really angered me.”
The legislature’s decision to postpone the new requirement may console Scott, and will delay the expense to homeowners, but heating systems will eventually have to be upgraded. Some heating oil users may also find themselves paying significantly more than Scott; earlier estimates put the typical cost at $150–$300.
While the upfront cost may be burdensome, it pales in comparison to the cost of cleaning up a heating oil leak. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection estimates that the average cost to clean up a heating oil leak is between $20,000 and $50,000. If a $300 investment can save $50,000, it will be money well spent.
Heating oil users won’t need to undertake the leak prevention upgrades until September of next year, but homeowners who want insurance to protect themselves in the case of an oil leak will need to have their systems inspected and authorized by their heating oil dealer. Homeowners may have to pay for a service call to have their system authorized, cautioned Mike Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Oilheat Council, so they should check with their dealer first to see whether they will be charged for the inspection.
Every penny counts in this economy, but the consequences of an oil leak are serious and seriously expensive. The Massachusetts law offers heating oil users some protection against the catastrophic costs of cleaning up an oil leak. As with any upgrade or maintenance of equipment, installing a protective sleeve and insuring your heating system will cost some money now but may end up saving you money in the long run.
Man With Arm Stuck in Furnace for Two Days Survives, Gets New Furnace
Jonathan Metz, shown here at a news conference in Hartford, managed to save his own life by sacrificing his left arm. (image: Child/AP via nydailynews.com)
In an unusual story that’s both tragic and inspiring, a man in West Hartford, CT lost an arm after it became stuck in his furnace.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Jonathan Metz decided to give his furnace a cleaning on the night of June 7. He opened up the unit in his basement and began vacuuming. When a piece of equipment fell into the furnace, he reached his left hand between two fins to retrieve it. When he tried to pull his arm out, it became firmly stuck.
He struggled and shouted for help, but was not heard; his movements only worsened the serious injuries to his arm. After being stuck in the basement with his arm in the furnace for six hours, he began to smell rotting flesh and knew that the lacerations in his arm had brought on a life-threatening infection.
Determined to survive, Metz fashioned a tourniquet for his left arm and began to mentally prepare for what he had to do: cut off his own arm to save his life. Using a hacksaw, Metz undertook this gruesome task, periodically losing consciousness as the pain and bleeding got worse.
When concerned friends prompted a rescue team to arrive at Metz’s home, he had not yet finished the job. Paramedics completed the amputation and rushed him to the hospital, where his was treated and fitted for a prosthetic limb. According to doctors, Metz’s partial amputation succeeded in saving his life. “He did enough to isolate the toxins and to protect himself from the systemic effects of a gangrenous limb,” Dr. Steven Herman, chief of thoracic surgery at Long Island College Hospital, told the New York Daily News.
The Associated Press reported on Monday that Metz has received a new furnace, donated by local energy company Automatic TLC Energy.
Thanks to his courage and determination, Metz survived his harrowing event, leaving a simple lesson for the rest of us: when going to work on your heating system (or any other heavy machinery) by yourself, be sure to have a working phone within reach.
HeatingOil.com at AREE: RW Beckett’s Aquasmart Boiler Temperature Control
Beckett's Aquasmart boiler temperature control. (image: beckettcorp.com)
Every heating oil user wants to use less oil. A gallon of heating oil saved is a dollar (or two or three) saved. In addition to weatherization and utilization of a programmable thermostat, adjusting oil heat systems to burn oil at the lowest possible temperature saves fuel and helps lower heating oil bills.
At the AREE trade show, Jonathan Beckett of RW Beckett walked HeatingOil.com through a product that does just that. Beckett’s Aquasmart boiler temperature control measures the demand on the heating system as it rises and falls with the seasons. In the winter, the control raises the boiler temperature to ensure enough heat is produced to make hot water and keep the home warm. In the summer, the system detects lower demand and reduces the internal boiler temperature to a level that’s adequate to heat water without burning additional fuel to heat the home. The Beckett Aquasmart is available for purchase and installation through heating oil dealers.
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HeatingOil.com at AREE: Weil McLain’s U-04 Oil Boiler
The Weil McLain U-04 oil boiler. (image: pexsupply.com)
On the floor of the AREE trade show in Atlantic City last month, Bill Price of Weil McLain gave HeatingOil.com a quick tour of the U-04 oil boiler. Mr. Price pointed out the different features of the U-04 on a demo model that exposed the inner workings of the boiler. Its three-pass design ensures that the heat generated by oil combustion is fully utilized for home heating, allowing for higher efficiency and fuel conservation. The U-04 carries an AFUE efficiency rating of 86.5 and retails for around $2,000.
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Rebates for Heating Equipment Still Available in PA
Rebates are still available for Pennsylvania’s heating oil users who buy an oil-fired boiler or furnace. (image: paheatingrebates.com)
Energy efficiency rebate programs, funded by the federal government’s stimulus package but administered by the states, have sparked intense interest from consumers who have snatched up rebate opportunities as soon as they became available. In Rhode Island, for example, residents claimed all $822,000 available in rebates the first day they were offered.
But Pennsylvania’s rebate program, which opened on April 21, handed out less than 10 percent of its available $11 million in its first two weeks, reported The Morning Call. In other states, high demand for Energy Star-rated refrigerators, washing machines, and other so-called white goods drove consumer demand, but Pennsylvania limited its rebate program to oil and gas boilers, oil and gas furnaces, and gas-fired water heaters. Though upgrading these appliances can lead to considerable energy savings, so far only 3,000 Pennsylvanians have applied for rebates.
While some consumers were disappointed by the programs restrictions, it’s good news for Pennsylvania’s heating oil users. With all $11 million in rebates aimed at home heating and hot water systems, there are more opportunities for heating oil users to take advantage of the program. A spokesman for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, John Repetz, said that heat and hot water were responsible for more than half of the average household’s energy budget—far more than a refrigerator, washing machine, or air conditioner in the cold weather state. Said Repetz:
We felt if you went after those types of equipment as opposed to those “white goods,” you’d see larger energy savings and larger financial savings for the consumer.
Pennsylvania residents can receive a rebate of up to $500 for an energy-efficient oil boiler and up to $300 for a similarly efficient oil furnace. Upgrading to an energy-efficient boiler or furnace can pay for itself through lower heating bills in just a few years. Adding a rebate to that only makes it a smarter investment.
There’s still time to apply for a rebate in Pennsylvania, but eventually this opportunity will end. To find out more and to apply for a rebate, visit the website of Pennsylvania’s Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program.
HeatingOil.com at AREE: Buderus Boilers
(image: klimatrol.com)
From the 2010 Atlantic Region Energy Expo Trade Show in Atlantic City, NJ, HeatingOil.com brings you a closer look at Buderus oil-fired boilers.
Jim French of Buderus gives a brief description of two cast iron oil-fired boilers, the G115 and G125. Mr. French points out that the G125 is one of just a handful of heating oil boilers on the market that qualifies for a $1,500 federal tax credit, making it a great investment in energy savings.
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HeatingOil.com at the AREE Trade Show: A Sneak Peek
(image: industry-publications.com)
Last week, HeatingOil.com headed to Atlantic City for the Atlantic Region Energy Expo, one of the largest meetings of energy industry and heating oil professionals in the country. We spent the day at the expo’s trade show, where heating oil equipment manufacturers and service providers showcase their products and services for heating oil dealers. We conducted short interviews with dozens of salespeople and executives to get a feel for what’s new and what’s useful in the heating oil industry.
We’ve put together a brief sampling of some sights and sounds from the trade show floor that you can watch below, and will be posting short videos of our conversations with different exhibitors from the show in the coming weeks. So if you’re looking for rundowns on the most cutting-edge heating oil equipment, technologies, and services from the AREE trade show, check back with HeatingOil.com daily!
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CT Company Uses Everyday Ingredients to Clean Up Oil Spills, Toxic Sites
VeruTEK’s soil remediation technology could make scenes like the one above, in which a heating oil tank and contaminated soil had to be removed, a thing of the past. (image: luzoninc.com)
A leak in a home heating oil tank can be a nightmare for a homeowner, and an expensive one at that. If the oil seeps into soil or groundwater the homeowner may be responsible for removing tons of contaminated soil along with the leaking tank. But a company in Connecticut has developed an environmentally friendly technology that can remediate soil without removing it, all by using natural ingredients that remove pollutants like oil from soil and groundwater.
VeruTEK Technologies, Inc. of Bloomfield, CT uses biodegradable extracts derived from sources such as oranges, tea leaves, red wine grapes, soybeans, and others that decontaminate soil or water that has been polluted by oil or toxins, reported the Hartford Business Journal on Monday. “Using simple material, we have a series of remediations,” said an EPA scientist collaborating with VeruTEK, Dr. Raj Varma. “Nature does it all the time.” ExxonMobil, Pfizer, and Dow Chemical are among the companies that have used VeruTEK products or services.
Douglas Anderson, the CFO of VeruTEK, says his company’s technology is more effective and considerably cheaper than traditional remediation. As with a technology that uses bacteria to aid soil remediation, VeruTEK’s product can be injected into affected soil in at least some cases and would not require anyone to leave their home while VeruTEK’s biodegradable product does its work, according to the company’s website.
Cleaning up a home heating spill could take as little as two days, VeruTEK claims. By lowering costs and shortening cleaning times, cutting-edge remediation technologies like VeruTEK’s could be heating oil users first choice in case of a leak.
Hallowell Develops Cold-Climate Air-Source Heat Pump
Hallowell’s Acadia could bring air-source heat pumps to cold-weather climates. (image: gotohallowell.com)
Air-source heat pumps have gained some popularity as heating systems in warmer regions in the US, since they are powered by electricity, are reliable down to about 30°F, and double as air conditioners when the weather heats up. Now Hallowell International says it has developed an air-source heat pump that can work even in consistently cold weather (as cold as -30°F), making it an option for residents in New England and Canada.
In an interview with the blog Blue Planet Green Living, Duane Hallowell, president of Hallowell International, makes the case for his new air-source heat pump, the Acadia.
The Acadia is targeted primarily at heating oil and propane users, and according to Hallowell it is more efficient, less expensive, and greener than heating with propane or heating oil. The efficiency comes from the air-source heat pump’s similarity to geothermal heating systems. As with geothermal systems, heat pumps use energy to transfer heat—in this case, from the outside air rather than the ground—into homes, rather than using energy to create heat. Hallowell says his Acadia is more than 3 times more efficient than oil or gas furnaces or boilers.
Illegal Heating Oil Dump Carries $25,000 Fine
Hoping to make a buck by selling an aboveground heating oil tank, two men must now pay a hefty penalty to the state of Massachusetts. (image: maine.gov)
Two guys had a plan to make a little extra money selling an aboveground heating oil tank for scrap metal. The only problem was that the tank still had some heating oil left in it, so they went to an old drive-in in Bellingham, MA to dump the heating oil out. Police and fire department officials caught the men in the act, and now the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has fined the men $25,000 each, reported the Milford Daily News on Thursday.
The illegal dumping occurred in February 2008, and according to a MassDEP press release Bellingham officials stopped the dumping while it was in progress, but not before approximately 30 gallons of heating oil had been dumped on the ground. The MassDEP release did not say how much oil the two men had intended to dump, but the tank was capable of holding as much as 275 gallons.
Owners of the site where the dumping occurred had to hire a licensed hazardous waste cleanup contractor to clean the contaminated ground. Remediation of an oil spill can be an expensive endeavor, costing tens of thousands of dollars; because this dumping was noticed immediately (some oil tanks can leak for years before homeowners notice), the spread of the oil spill, and resulting cleanup costs, may have been mitigated.
Heating oil is a hazardous material, and its handling and transport is restricted to licensed professionals. If you’re disposing of a heating oil tank, contact your heating oil dealer or your state department of environmental protection to be sure you’re in compliance with local regulations. Common sense helps, too, as the two men caught dumping heating oil in Bellingham might now be able to tell you. Whatever payoff they might have gotten for their heating oil tank would have been far less than the $25,000 they now owe the state of Massachusetts.
Generous Incentives Make Purchase of Efficient Heating Equipment More Attractive Than Ever
Right now, every state is flush with tax credits and rebates for energy efficiency upgrades. (image: dsireusa.org)
Despite the recession’s effect on many people’s disposable income, it may still be a good idea to buy that more efficient refrigerator—or oil heater. The year 2010 is a golden age of energy efficiency incentives.
In addition to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the known more generally as “the stimulus”), which in 2009 renewed a federal personal tax credit for home energy efficiency improvements, state-level credits of the same type are also available and are meant to be used concurrently with federal perks. On top of these existing tax credits are the much-anticipated rebates through HomeStar, a proposal put forth by President Obama. Once known as “Cash for Caulkers,” the program plans to offer up to $3,000 to homeowners for upgrades and retrofits.
And on top of THIS is the Energy Star appliance rebate program offered through state energy offices and funded by the Department of Energy. We first reported on this program in Pennsylvania, where the state will soon offer $500 rebates for upgrades that include home heating oil equipment like furnaces and boilers. Under Energy Star, every state receives funding based on their population and decides on their own which appliances to make eligible for the program.
ICPA Calls For Conservation Funding Over Heating Oil Assistance
Expanding usage of high-efficiency heating oil systems not only achieves federal home energy conservation initatives; it also alleviates need for federal heating assistance, says the ICPA. (image: factoidz.com)
Last week, the New Britain Herald published quotes from Gene Guilford, president of the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association, proposing that the heating oil-focused nonprofit known as the Connecticut Fuel Oil Conservation Board is optimally positioned to implement the green job and home efficiency improvement initiatives awaiting Congress approval. The article is a rewritten version of a press release posted on the ICPA website last Monday.
In the ICPA’s press release, Guilford emphasizes—with bold and underlined text—that oil heat conservation programs are not only a highly fruitful means of saving energy and creating jobs; they also reduce demand for federal heating oil assistance.
The oil heat industry is leading the nation with efforts to reduce energy consumption through energy conservation programs. For every $1 that is invested in energy conservation, taxpayers save $3 in government programs that help the neediest in our society pay their heating bills - we have the Green Collar jobs right here, right now.
The Connecticut Fuel Oil Conservation Board is a nonprofit founded in large part by the ICPA that promotes energy conservation by paying for the heating system upgrades of eligible low-income fuel oil users. Because high-efficiency burners are as much as twice as efficient as older burners, their installation alone can halve a user’s annual oil consumption and heating bill. Because installations require the expertise of contractors, they create jobs in the same manner as weatherization projects recently touted by President Obama. These facts alone make a compelling case for increased federal attention to the role of the heating oil industry in conservation efforts.
Obama to Unveil New Rebate Program for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Pictured, Obama discussing weatherization at a Home Depot in Virginia in December. Today Obama will announce a revised version of his energy rebate program.
President Obama will revive his plan to boost employment, reduce energy costs, and cut emissions by offering rebates to homeowners for energy-efficiency improvements in his visit to Savannah, GA on Tuesday, reports Politico. The Home Star program, also known as “cash for caulkers” despite the objections of one of the program’s creators, was left out of a House jobs bill in December. The administration hopes that Congress will include the program in a future job creation bill.
The $6 billion proposal would offer homeowners up to $3,000 in rebates for energy-efficiency renovations. Consumers would receive the rebates immediately, and the government would then reimburse businesses’ rebate payouts. The program would operate for a limited time, but the administration expects that up to 3 million households would take advantage of the rebates.
By creating the incentive for homeowners to make upgrades or renovations, Obama hopes to boost employment among construction workers, contractors, and companies that make insulation and other materials that would be covered by the rebates. Energy-efficiency upgrades would also save homeowners money on energy costs, which would give households more money to spend for years to come—something Obama memorably called “sexy.” Although the program is being pitched as a vehicle to create jobs and save on energy bills, there are environmental benefits, as well; by consuming less energy, efficient homes produce fewer carbon emissions. Read More »
PA Program to Offer $500 Rebate on New Oil Furnaces, Boilers
In addition to the fuel savings that come with upgrading an old oil boiler, like the one pictured above, Pennsylvania will begin offering homeowners a rebate of up to $500. (image: clarkhvacllc.com)
Thinking about upgrading your old furnace or boiler? If you’re a Pennsylvania resident, you’ve picked the right time. Starting in April, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin a program that will offer rebates of up to $500 for homeowners replacing non-electric heaters, boilers, or furnaces with new energy-efficient models, reports the Scranton Times-Tribune.
While not all details of the program have been finalized, John Repetz of the DEP said the state planned to give out $11.9 million that it received from the federal stimulus package and that rebates would be between $250 and $500. The program will open in April and continue until all funds have been used.
Because electric utility providers in the state are already offering rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades, the state decided to offer rebates on non-electric heating equipment in kind, including oil boilers and furnaces, gas boilers and furnaces, gas storage water heaters, and gas tankless water heaters. “It will actually make more Pennsylvanians eligible for some sort of rebate,” said Repetz.
Appliances must be Energy Star qualified, which means an AFUE rating of 85 percent for boilers and furnaces. These will require a substantial investment even with a rebate; a new furnace or boiler carries a price tag of $4,000-$5,000, or higher for some high-efficiency models. However, if you have an older furnace or boiler the gains in efficiency could save you over $1000 a year on heating oil bills, enough to earn your investment back in only a few years.
New Mass. Law Requires Heating Oil System Upgrade
Underground heating oil tanks and pipes in Massachusetts will have to be outfitted with protective casing. (image: westmorefuel.com)
On Friday, the New England Business Bulletin reported on the Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law, a law directed at Massachusetts heating oil users which goes into effect July 1. Residential fuel oil spills and leaks require colossal and expensive clean-ups that homeowners must pay for. In response to this risk, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection mandated that all heating oil users outside of certain exemptions install a safety sleeve on either the tank valve or furnace pipe.
A corresponding law, also effective July 1, will make coverage for heating oil spills a mandatory addition to homeowner insurance offered in the state.
Buried oil storage tanks and piping are particularly prone to leakages because of the corrosive affects that water and either soil or cement have on unprotected metal. Perforation from material weakening and cracks from changes in the ground environment (like soil settling or foundation shifting) make underground tanks vulnerable to leaks that can develop for years without detection.
Washington College Tests 100% Biofuel in Heating Oil Boiler
It only looks like milk measured out for baking—that beaker is filled with biofuel. (image: washcoll.edu)
Washington College in Chestertown, MD recently announced that they had tested 100-percent biofuel in one of the school’s boilers in preparation for a possible switch to biofuel heat, in keeping with a trend seen in school districts and municipalities around the country. Just one boiler at the college currently consumes 100,000 gallons of no. 2 heating oil a year. Using straight biofuel—not a biofuel blend (such as Bioheat), which would be much more common—would reduce the school’s carbon footprint massively. The test indicated a 51-percent drop in nitrous oxide emissions, and the fuel contains no carbon material or sulfur.
This preliminary test was intended to see if the benefits of burning the 100-percent biofuel are what they were purported to be; after seeing the results, a switch in fuels will likely figure into Washington College’s plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to pre-2000 levels through the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. “If it were up to me, we’d make the switch tomorrow,” said Briggs Cunningham, Climate Action Coordinator at the Center for Environment & Society at the college. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed—I see only advantages and no disadvantages.”
Switching to 100-percent biofuel wouldn’t require any mechanical adjustments to the heating system, only a thorough scrubbing of the tanks. The cost per BTU is expected to be the same as for no. 2 heating oil, although a greater volume of the biofuel would be needed to achieve that output.
