Knowing more about today’s oilheat in Maine will make you feel good about how you heat your home—now and well into the future. That’s why it’s important for you to know that with every passing year, heating oil continues its evolvement into a newer, cleaner and more efficient fuel. Here are some fast facts about today’s oilheat.
As of July 1, all oilheat dealers in Maine, as well as the rest of New England, will be required to deliver heating oil that contains an ultra-low-sulfur blend.
Ultra-low-sulfur heating oil (ULSHO) has 99% less sulfur in it than standard heating oil.
The changeover to ULSHO results in a reduction in emissions of over 70%, compared with the emissions produced by traditional heating fuel.
A buildup of sulfur in the heating system can lead to system maintenance issues. The drastic reduction of sulfur means that there will be far fewer system issues, which will result in lower maintenance costs for Maine oilheat consumers.
Because there is virtually no sulfur in the heating system thanks to ULSHO, your oilheat system can burn the fuel more efficiently, leading to lower heating bills.
ULSHO opens the door for the introduction of super-efficient heating systems, which are already being used with great results in other countries that already use ULSHO.
While regular heating oil has been very clean for decades, ULSHO is even cleaner, producing near-zero particulate emissions.
Many gallons of heating oil in Maine also include Bioheat®, a blend of ULSHO and renewable materials like vegetable oils. Because Bioheat® integrates seamlessly with all heating oil systems, no changes to your heating system are necessary!
Looking ahead
The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) continues to research and develop oilheat equipment and biofuel that’s cleaner and more efficient than before. The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat® fuel that can be matched to highly efficient, groundbreaking equipment.
The oil heat industry is excited by these new opportunities because they will positively influence the long-term future of the industry and the environment while uplifting the oilheat experience for millions of customers, including the 400,000 Maine households that rely on oilheat to stay warm and cozy during our long New England winters.
Knowing more about today’s oilheat in Maine will make you feel good about how you heat your home—now and well into the future. That’s why it’s important for you to know that with every passing year, heating oil continues its evolvement into a newer, cleaner and more efficient fuel. Here are some fast facts about today’s oilheat.