Bioheat Fuel Defined: Heating Oil + Biodiesel
Bioheat fuel is the industry’s term for a blend of traditional heating oil with renewable biodiesel. In practical terms, Bioheat is ultra-low-sulfur No.2 heating oil (the same oil most furnaces use) mixed with a certain percentage of biodiesel, which is a fuel made from renewable resources. Biodiesel can be produced from plant oils (like soybean oil), animal fats, or even recycled cooking grease. When it’s blended into heating oil, the product is Bioheat. You’ll often see designations like B5, B10, or B20 – those numbers indicate the percentage of biodiesel in the mix. For example, B5 Bioheat is 5% biodiesel and 95% traditional heating oil.
New York has been a leader in adopting Bioheat. All heating oil sold in the state must contain at least 5% biodiesel now. In fact, New York City established a Bioheat requirement back in 2012, initially mandating a 2% blend, and has steadily increased the required biodiesel content over time. As of 2025, NYC is moving to a B10 standard (10% biodiesel), with plans to go up to B20 by 2030. This means whenever you get a heating oil delivery in NYC, you’re already receiving Bioheat fuel by law – the difference is some suppliers stick to the minimum 5% blend, while others may provide a higher blend for extra environmental benefit.
One important thing to note: Bioheat is compatible with existing oil heating systems. You do not need to modify your furnace or boiler to use Bioheat, especially at the common blend levels (B5, B10, B20). In nearly all cases, equipment that runs on regular heating oil can seamlessly use Bioheat without any issues. The transition over the last decade has been so smooth that many homeowners might not have even realized they’ve been using Bioheat! It’s essentially a drop-in replacement for standard heating oil – just cleaner and greener. Now that we know what Bioheat is, let’s look at why it’s considered a clean heating oil and how it benefits both you and the environment.
How Bioheat Makes Heating Oil Cleaner
The big appeal of Bioheat fuel is that it’s significantly cleaner-burning than traditional heating oil. By introducing renewable biodiesel into the fuel, Bioheat produces fewer harmful emissions when burned. Biodiesel contains oxygen and has virtually zero sulfur. As a result, Bioheat combustion results in lower sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions (a contributor to acid rain and soot) and less particulate matter compared to the older high-sulfur oil. In fact, ever since New York moved to ultra-low sulfur (15 ppm) heating oil and added biodiesel, the city’s heating oil has become the cleanest it’s ever been.
Environmental agencies have quantified Bioheat’s advantages. According to NYC officials, biodiesel can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to regular petroleum heating oil, and particulate (soot) emissions by up to 10x less. Even a modest blend like B5 makes a difference – the city noted that raising the biodiesel blend from 2% to 5% had the equivalent air quality benefit of removing 45,000 cars from the road. When the blend increases to B20, it will be like taking 175,000 cars off the road in terms of emissions reduction. That’s a major impact on urban air quality and carbon footprint.
For homeowners, a practical benefit of this cleaner burn is improved heating system performance. Less sulfur and soot in the fuel means your furnace or boiler stays cleaner internally. Fuel nozzles, heat exchangers and chimneys accumulate fewer deposits, which can translate to better efficiency (more heat from the same amount of fuel) and less frequent maintenance. Your annual tune-up may go easier, and your equipment might even last longer because it’s not getting gunked up as much. Bioheat also tends to have slightly higher combustion efficiency due to the oxygen content in biodiesel, helping it burn more completely.
Another plus: Bioheat fuel is renewable. The biodiesel portion is made from renewable resources like plant oils and recycled fats, not crude oil. This means that by using Bioheat, you’re reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Much of the biodiesel in the Northeast U.S. is produced from soybean oil (a byproduct of farming) and used cooking oil collected from restaurants. Rather than waste grease being dumped, it’s recycled into fuel to heat homes. This not only reduces waste but also supports domestic energy production – biodiesel is typically produced in the USA, so it’s a homegrown fuel.
In summary, Bioheat transforms heating oil from being viewed as a “dirty” fuel to a cleaner, sustainable energy source. It dramatically cuts emissions, helps heating systems run better, and leverages renewable feedstocks. This makes Bioheat a key part of NYC’s strategy to cut pollution and greenhouse gases. It’s also why NYC now requires Bioheat for all oil-heated buildings – it’s a win-win for public health and consumers alike.
Bioheat vs. Traditional Heating Oil: What’s the Difference?
You might be wondering, aside from the emissions and composition, how does Bioheat really differ from the heating oil we used in the past? Here’s a quick comparison:
- Fuel Composition: Traditional heating oil was purely distilled petroleum (#2 fuel oil). Bioheat is a blend – part petroleum, part biodiesel. The presence of biodiesel is the key differentiator. For instance, B20 Bioheat contains 20% renewable content, whereas old-fashioned heating oil contained 0%.
- Sulfur Content: Historically, heating oil could have high sulfur (thousands of ppm). New York now mandates ultra-low sulfur levels (15 ppm max) for all heating oil, which Bioheat meets. Low sulfur means less corrosion and pollution. So even the petroleum portion of Bioheat is much cleaner than old heating oil.
- Performance: In terms of heat output, Bioheat has a similar BTU value to traditional heating oil, especially at blends of B20 or lower – so you get comparable heating performance. Some studies indicate slightly higher efficiency with Bioheat because it burns more completely. Most users notice no difference in how their furnace runs day-to-day, except for potentially less soot and odor.
- Equipment Compatibility: As noted, Bioheat (up to B20 and even higher in many cases) works in standard oil-fired heating systems without modification. Traditional oil also obviously worked fine; the point here is Bioheat is a drop-in replacement. The heating industry and boiler manufacturers generally approve blends at least up to B20 with no issues. Always consult your equipment’s guidelines, but Bioheat has been used in NYC for years safely.
- Cost: What about price? Historically, biodiesel can be slightly more expensive to produce than petroleum diesel. However, Bioheat blends have been very competitively priced. In New York, the cost of Bioheat fuel has typically been on par with or even lower than straight heating oil, thanks in part to state incentives. For example, New York offers a tax credit to homeowners using B6 to B20 Bioheat (currently $0.01 per percent of biodiesel, up to $0.20 per gallon for B20). This can offset any minor cost difference. Many consumers find they pay roughly the same or slightly less overall, especially when factoring in the equipment benefits.
In essence, Bioheat feels the same to the consumer – you order it like normal heating oil, it gets delivered to your tank, and burns in your furnace to heat your home – but it’s cleaner and greener behind the scenes. There’s really no downside from a homeowner’s perspective, which is why it’s been embraced as the new normal in our region. You still get reliable, steady heat, but with a smaller environmental impact. And as biodiesel production expands, we may see even higher blends becoming standard (who knows, maybe one day 50% or 100% renewable fuel). Right now, though, even B5 or B10 Bioheat is making a significant positive difference compared to the heating oil of yesteryear.
How Can I Get Bioheat Fuel for My Home?
The great news is that if you’re in NYC, you likely already receive Bioheat with each oil delivery due to local laws. But there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re getting the full benefits of Bioheat and to support the transition to cleaner fuel:
- Choose a Bioheat Supplier: Virtually all of the best heating oil companies in NYC in the city supply the mandated B5 blend. Some even supply expanded variations as well.
- Ensure Your Tank is Ready: Bioheat is safe for all modern tanks. If you have a very old heating oil tank with decades of sludge built up from the old high-sulfur fuel, biodiesel’s solvent properties could loosen deposits. It’s a rare issue, but as a best practice, keep your tank and filter maintained (which you should do anyway). Most NYC customers switched to Bioheat years ago without any problems. Regular tune-ups will catch any filter clogs, which are uncommon.
- Enjoy the Same Service (Just Greener): Using Bioheat doesn’t require any special action on your part in terms of heating usage. You set your thermostat and enjoy heat as always. You might notice slightly less of that “oil smell” on delivery day since biodiesel has a different odor (some say it’s even a bit like french fries!). Overall, it’s a seamless improvement.
- Stay Informed: The Bioheat fuel industry is evolving. New York is pushing toward B20 by 2030, and research is ongoing into even more advanced biofuels (like renewable diesel) that could further lower carbon emissions. Keep an eye out for any communications from your fuel provider about changes or improvements. By staying informed, you’ll be ready to take advantage of upgrades – for instance, if a B50 (50% bio) fuel becomes commercially available and approved, you might be among the first to try it. The future of oil heat is increasingly green, and NYC homeowners are at the forefront.
Bioheat builds on today’s ultra-low-sulfur heating oil to deliver an even cleaner, more sustainable energy source. It reduces emissions, helps heating systems run more efficiently, and makes use of renewable resources produced right here in the U.S. That’s why New York requires Bioheat in every oil delivery — and why more homeowners are asking for higher blends like B10 or B20.
At Energo, we deliver Bioheat fuel to all of our residential customers across NYC, Westchester, and Nassau counties. It’s one of the ways we’re making home heating more sustainable while still providing the reliable warmth you expect. When you’re ready to experience the benefits of Bioheat, request a heating oil quote or give us a call — we’ll keep your home comfortable while helping build a cleaner New York.
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