Myths vs. Facts
Heating Oil — Greater Efficiency and a Greener, Brighter Future
This information was compiled by the Energy Communications Council (ECC).
Now, more than ever before, there is an ongoing and vigorous debate over the use of various energy resources and their potential impact on the environment. As part of this debate, much is being written about the United States’ reliance on foreign oil, the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, and the need to continually improve energy efficiency.
Energy consumers, business leaders, policy makers, and the news media do not need more rhetoric; they need to ensure a balanced dialogue on the economic and environmental benefits of all fuels. As such, it’s important to understand and separate commonly held myths about heating oil from the facts:
Myth Oilheat is expensive.
Facts Heating oil actually costs less than it did in 1980, when adjusted for inflation, and serves about 23 million Americans in 8.6 million households. Sources: Oillheat America
Myth Oilheat does not produce as much energy as other fuel sources.
Facts Each gallon of heating oil contains approximately 139,000 units of thermal energy (BTUs), making it an economically competitive energy source. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Myth Oilheat today is inefficient.
Facts Oilheating systems in use today use substantially less fuel than they did just 20 years ago. For example, an average home that used more than 1,200 gallons of heating oil in 1989 now uses only 900 gallons, or 25% less. This decrease in usage is attributable to advances in equipment efficiency and household conservation. New heating oil systems boast energy efficiency ratings from 83 to 94 percent. Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance, America Petroleum Institute
Myth Oilheat produces many harmful air emissions.
Facts Heating oil burns almost 95% cleaner than it did in 1970. Today, residential oil burners produce less than one-third of one percent of total U.S. particulate emissions. Sources: Oilheat America , American Petroleum Institute
To gain even greater efficiency and lower emissions, the industry in coordination with state environmental agencies is working to cut the sulfur content of heating oil from 1,500 parts per million to 15 parts per million by 2018. Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance
Myth Oilheat has not responded to concerns about global warming.
Facts Since 1970, the heating oil industry has cut its total greenhouse gas emissions by approximately one third. Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance
Myth Oilheat is not renewable.
Facts In addition to its sulfur reductions, the heating oil industry is moving toward zero emissions with new fuel blends, called Bioheat®, which contain between 2 and 20 percent renewable fuel. When combined with Bioheat® Oilheat has the potential to reduce emissions to the lowest level of any fossil fuel. Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance
In fact, if just 5 percent of Americans heated their homes with today’s Bioheat®, it would be equivalent to taking 700,000 cars and trucks off the road. Source: Oillheat America
Myth The heating oil industry does not contribute to the local economy.
Facts Each year, the heating oil industry accounts for $20 billion in sales and $1.9 billion in payroll for 49,000 Americans. The fact that half of the U.S. energy workforce is expected to retire in the next 10 years, when combined with the heating oil industry’s commitment to renewable fuels, means that there will be thousands of good-paying jobs available for highly trained technicians, engineers, researchers, oil field workers, and others. Source: Center for Energy Workforce Development
Myth The heating oil industry is dependent on foreign energy from hostile suppliers.
Facts This “myth” is complete nonsense. The United States produces the vast majority of its heating oil and imports 10 to 15 percent from Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Canada and Mexico also provide the United States with a significant amount of its crude oil. Advances such as Bioheat® mean more heating oil can be produced in the Midwest instead of the Middle East. And new exploration technologies such as horizontal drilling also mean the United States can responsibly produce more oil at home.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Myth Heating oil is not safe.
Facts It takes an advanced high-tech burner to ignite heating oil. If you drop a match into heating oil it will go out as if dropped into water. Heating oil must be vaporized before it will ignite or burn. Source: Oilheat America
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