Fast Facts: Bioheat & the Environment
You’re not the only one who thinks about climate change and the environment! In fact, reducing greenhouse gases is a major mission for our industry. As Connecticut continues to adopt higher blends of renewable Bioheat, here are some fast facts that should answer your questions about its impact on the environment.
Every gallon of Bioheat reduces greenhouse gas emissions on average 79%.
The carbon emissions from producing biodiesel are considered recycled carbon since it’s reabsorbed by the plants that are used to create biodiesel. Traditional carbon produced from petroleum does not get reabsorbed for decades.
The industry adoption of Bioheat significantly reduces the amount of petroleum used in CT.
Biodiesel is made from discarded renewable organic sources and uses the byproducts from the processing of soybeans and canola.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Air Resource Board, biodiesel reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions by up to 69 to 88% compared to traditional heating oil or diesel fuel.
Bioheat is the only fuel currently on the market that will continue to reduce its carbon footprint annually as it evolves to a B100 blend.
The average Bioheat blend in CT is 7% - what does this mean: The state’s carbon emissions are reduced by over 365,000 metric tons which is like removing 80,000 cars from the road.
The carbon footprint of a home that uses heating oil decreases as Bioheat blends increase, so much so that converting to electric heat will lead to an increase in that home’s carbon footprint.