CBS: Heat USA Does Get You Cheaper Oil
Dee Lee: Certified Financial Planner, author, educator and member of the Financial Planning Association. She has been featured as a resource in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, New York Sunday Times, USA Today, CBS, Smart Money, Worth, and more. (image: babajidesalu.wordpress.com)
In a recent feature on ways to save more on your fixed expenses, CBS Boston gave a shout out to Heat USA, spreading the word on what you already know: using the collective buying power of tens of thousands of homeowners, we work with heating oil suppliers to successfully bring you cheaper fuel.
The radio broadcast featured nationally renown Certified Financial Planner Dee Lee dishing out budgeting tips on everything from rent to auto insurance. So what did she have to say about Heat USA?
“Utilities are going to continue to increase because the price of oil is so unstable. I did find a source for cheaper fuel oil,” Lee said. “There is an oil buying network, Heat USA. A $25 membership does get you cheaper oil.”
She went on to divulge some more energy and utility bill saving tidbits that Heat USA followers will certainly recognize: insulate attics and basements, plant shade trees, close blinds and curtains in the summer, and invest in a home energy audit.
In doing these things, “I can see the savings in each and every bill,” Lee said.
To hear the radio clip for yourself, check out CBS Boston online here. And as always, if you’re interested in joining Heat USA or just want to learn more about our program, give one of our membership service representatives a call at 1-800-660-4328.
Manhattan Borough President Speaks Out Against Toxic Apartment Boilers
Stringer is working to pass time-limited tax abatements and grants for landlords and building owners who switch to cleaner boilers. (image: therealdeal.com)
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer released a report this week entitled “Tenants and Toxins: Converting Dirty Boilers in New York City’s Affordable Housing Stock,” which identifies the 12 zip codes in the city with the highest concentration of “dirty boilers,” those that run on No. 4 or No. 6 heating oil. “The Dirty Dozen” zip codes are all in the Bronx and Manhattan, with the inefficient boilers mostly being found in rent-regulated apartment buildings.
Most homes in the United States heated by oil use No. 2 heating oil, a fairly efficient fuel. No. 4 and No. 6 burn less efficiently, and are slowly being phased out of the city as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC sustainability plan. However, Stringer voiced concern that the action plan will take too long and is “riddled with vague ‘financial hardship’ loopholes.” The current timeline for replacing dirty boilers is 2015 for those using No. 6 and 2030 for those using No. 4.
“Toxic Boilers that burn No. 6 and No. 4 oil should be considered public health enemy No. 1 in this city. The City needs to get more aggressive, and more creative about the way we address this crisis,” Stringer said. “We know roughly two-thirds of these dirty boilers are located in rent regulated buildings, which are already severely limited in paying for capital improvements. We need policies that recognize this fact, or we’ll never tackle the problem.”
City officials estimate that air pollution from old, toxic boilers and other sources cause over 3,00 deaths and around 6,000 asthma-related emergency room visits every year.
Last month, Bloomberg announced that a $37 million loan fund would be partially available for apartment boiler conversions. Stringer suggested building owners also participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a state program dedicated to funding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and proposed state lawmakers allow for time-limited tax abatement for landlords converting their systems.
Specialist Invention to Improve Central Systems, Cut Heating Oil Consumption
The Oxyvent System received good consumer reviews in Ireland, where it first became available and is now installed in thousands of homes. (image: cambridgefirst.co.uk)
Oxyvent, an Irish heating equipment specialist company, has devised an energy-saving system they believe will drastically improve performance in central home heating systems, conserving fuel and saving consumers money on energy bills, according to a report from OilFiredUp.com.
Company administrators claim the Oxyvent System eliminates recurring problems and fundamental flaws of central heating systems: poor flow rates, air in the system, and imbalances in water temperature. These issues contribute to decreased system efficiency, and often, repair bills.
How does it work? Basically, Oxyvent speeds up the rate water flows through radiators. Since the water is moving faster, it cuts the difference between radiator inlets and outlets to just 2 degrees Celsius (down from 11 degrees Celsius) – all radiators in the house will operate at the same temperature, instead of the hottest ones being closest to the boiler. By eliminating that pump cavitation, there’s no need for radiator balancing.
The system effectively removes air from heating systems at the source. That means less corrosion and a longer life for your equipment, with no more need to bleed the radiators. Plus, consistent water temperatures will cut down on problems that occur in the boiler from warm water mixing with cold return water.
If you’re having an understandably rough time with the HVAC jargon, check out Heat USA’s brief synopsis on how home heating systems work! All this adds up to your central heating system working more efficiently: less heating oil consumption with better performance.
Tim Cremin with an Oxyvent System, which he says can save homeowners up to 50% on hot water bills. (image. oxyvent.com)
Tim Cremin, a plumber and inventor of the Oxyvent System, said he was inspired by frustrations on the job.
“As a plumber I was tired of fixing heating systems because of recurring and unavoidable issues such as poor flow rate, the need to balance the system, pump cavitation, thermal shock and of course the presence of air in the system,” said Cremin. “The Oxyvent System has addressed all these and our clients know they won’t have to fix central heating problems because the Oxyvent System addresses the cause of these problems.”
Chu Talks Heating Oil in New Hampshire
Secretary Chu and New Hampshire Governor John Lynch visiting EnerTrac in south Hudson. (image: enertrac.com)
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited New Hampshire late last week to bring awareness to consumer energy choices and award six companies with honors from the state’s Green Launching Pad program, which provides grants and expertise to clean technology firms, the Telegraph reported.
The companies were honored for their good energy ideas, ranging from ways to reactivate old hydropower dams to new techniques for storing energy. The Green Launching Pad seeks to help produce jobs and energy innovation.
Chu announced winners at EnerTrac, a small startup company that created wireless gauges that send hourly updates to heating oil suppliers through the Internet. The tool has been helpful in indicating when consumer’s oil tanks are empty, allowing delivery workers to better schedule their routes and save significant energy on transportation. Chu praised the technological development, but noted that it doesn’t go far enough in bringing homeowners hour-by-hour feedback about their own fuel usage.
“They’re not going to want to log on (to a website) to see the details,” the tech-savvy Secretary said. “You need to get an app written.”
Governor Lynch also commented on the challenges of cleaner energy, acknowledging that science- and technology-based companies springing up in the clean energy market often needs some help with the business side of things.
“It’s very, very difficult to start a small business, to grow a small business,” Lynch said. “But we know there are a few Googles out there.”
At Heat USA, we’ve already investigated some helpful apps for energy consumers – click here to check out BlackGold, the new heating oil smartphone app, which will give you access to fuel prices as soon as they’re available. And, if you heat with propane, we’ve got that covered too. Here’s our list of the top 5 apps for propane users!
NYC Celebrates Earth Day with ‘Clean Heat’ Sustainability Plan
It's Earth Day! At Heat USA, we're celebrating by continuing keep you updated on energy efficient home heating and cooling products. (image: mycommentcodes.com)
In honor of Earth Day and the 4-year anniversary of the PlaNYC sustainability plan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg outlined new details of New York’s environmental initiative yesterday at a press conference in Harlem, CNET News reported. The new plan is a product of “48 public meetings with 220 groups, yielding almost 1,000 ideas, suggestions, and feedback,” the mayor’s office announced.
The updated initiative features a Clean Heat heating fuel campaign that seeks to curb usage of the two least efficient types of heating oil through financial incentives and consumer education programs. Most households heated by oil use #2 heating oil, a fairly efficient fuel, but some energy users could be affected by the change in regulation.
“Just 1 percent of all buildings in the city produce 86 percent of the total soot pollution from buildings – more than all the cars and trucks in New York City combined,” Bloomberg’s report states. “They do this by burning the dirtiest grades of heating fuel available, known as residual oil, or #6 and #4 heating oil.”
The PlaNYC initiative seeks to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. Since the program was launched in 2007, emissions have dropped 13%. PlaNYC also pursues programs aimed at improving the city’s air quality, electricity consumption, land use, and water quality. The updated plan includes loans for green energy upgrades for homeowners, and a solar panel/landfill project that will turn part of the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island into a solar energy farm.
To get involved in some environmental activism in your area, check out the Earth Day Network’s schedule of events – there’s something going on in almost every major U.S. city! And with some information on home energy audits from Heat USA, we can help you do your part to conserve as much energy as possible.
Environment Agency to Heating Oil Users: Protect Yourself from Theft, Leaks
Criminals tampering with tanks can cause oil leaks, a dangerous environmental hazard and an eyesore to boot. (image: nassauoiltank.com)
Criminals who steal heating oil don’t just hurt the homeowners they’re ripping off, they also often cause serious contamination to the environment through leaks and sloppy tank handling. So, the Environment Agency, part of the UK’s Government Agency Intelligence Network, has issued a theft warning and some general advice to heating oil users, OilFiredUp.com reported today.
“The one thing that is often overlooked, particularly where the theft of oil has resulted in damage to a tank, is the potential environmental impact. A leaking oil tank can contaminate surface water and groundwater and the cost of investigating and clean up can run into thousands of pounds,” said Shaun Rowson, Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team Leader.
Heating oil theft and consequent spill pollution is a problem in the United States as well. While theft of an entire tank remains rare, incidents involving siphoning have become more frequent in the Northeastern states where heating oil is used most. Law enforcement officials have said they see the problem as a sign of the times, with unemployment rates and fuel prices still relatively high.
“Being able to act quickly is vital to stop oil pollution spreading and, potentially, reaching important underground water supplies. We would therefore urge people to contact us as quickly as possible if they think there is any risk of pollution as a result of oil theft,” Rowson said. “This will help to minimize the potential impact on the environment, the public and the homeowner.”
Tank locks can go a long way in preventing heating oil thievery. (image: emergencyheatingoil.co.uk)
So what can you do to protect your tank and yard? The EA suggests installing tanks as far as possible from drains and water sources like ponds and streams. Notify police and environmental authorities immediately if you suspect your tank has been tampered with or may be leaking. Get yourself a lock specifically fitted for oil tanks. And like we’re always reminding you at Heat USA, have your entire heating system inspected regularly! Especially tanks and underground feed lines.
Heat USA Director Makes TV Debut on MLB Network!
Check out that sweet Heat USA jacket! (image: MLB Network)
Heat USA Director Mark Kohan and son Ben, 6, made an exciting television appearance last week on an MLB Network special on baseball cards. “Cardboard Treasure” detailed highlights of the baseball card industry’s 60 year history, from how they were first created as a marketing scheme to sell everything from gum to gasoline, to how today’s top players felt when they first saw their own face on a card.
Kohan, a lifelong New York Mets fan, has been collecting baseball cards since he was Ben’s age and now owns about 300,000 of them! Besides being a fun hobby, collecting cards has taught Kohan some valuable life skills he intends to pass on to his sons.
“Baseball cards allowed me to read earlier and better than my friends. They also made me very comfortable learning about numbers and statistics, which has undoubtedly helped me in the heating oil industry since I deal with fluctuating numbers every day,” he said. “The ever-changing oil prices are a bit like the back of a baseball card.”
“Cardboard Treasure” will air again on April 22 on the MLB Network at 1:00pm. Here’s a short preview – don’t blink and you’ll see Mark at the very beginning!
New ‘Burner Booster’ Cuts Heating Bills by Turning Oil into a Mist
Early testing has shown that the Burner Booster can cut carbon monoxide emissions by 90%. (image: theburnerbooster.com)
Massachusetts entrepreneur Eric Lavoie’s innovative new heating system, the Burner Booster, is generating quite a buzz for its potential to slash heating bills and perhaps even revolutionize the heating oil industry. According to the Boston Globe, Lavoie’s invention turns heating oil into a fine mist, providing more surface area to burn and therefore combusting oil more efficiently.
All of you wonderful Heat USA followers already know that generally, the more efficient a heating system is, the less money you need to spend on fuel. That’s why the Burner Booster is a big deal – preliminary testing showed that furnaces equipped with the system used as much as 35% less oil to create the same amount of heat! Even better, the mist is cleaner burning. The system produced far less soot and 30% less harmful greenhouse gas emissions than the standard system.
Lavoie believes the Burner Booster could make heating oil competitive with natural gas – a claim that made the Department of Energy Resources sit up and take notice. While awaiting more extensive performance results, officials are taking action to set up Burner Booster demonstration sites and install the system in government buildings. It’s already getting positive reviews from consumers.
The Burner Booster works well because it produces an even finer mist than conventional heating oil systems. (image: theburnerbooster.com)
“My house is kind of a sieve, and when it’s cold outside you’d think my old chugalug furnace would have to work harder. [But] we’ve used less oil than last year,” said Tom McColl, who installed a Burner Booster over three months ago and has already cut his fuel use by 20%. That would translate to $800 in savings every year.
Almost 40% of households in Lavoie’s home state of Massachusetts rely on heating oil to warm their homes; it’s the most used heating fuel in most of New England. Heating oil users have long suffered through erratic price changes, the result of a volatile market. The current heating season has been the most expensive ever on record, leaving many homeowners struggling to put oil in their tanks. Hopefully, this new technology could be a huge step in the right direction.
The systems can be purchased from Energy Efficiency Solutions LLC, starting at $5,900. If that sounds a bit steep to you, check out the company’s breakdown of how the system will pay for itself in two to four years.
Heat USA February Heating Oil Price Survey
(image: biggreenoil.us)
In this second edition of the Heat USA price survey we have pulled data for the month of February 2011, which actually surpassed January as one of the most erratic and unstable months we can recall in the heating oil industry. Below we’ve described the methodology of our survey.
Regions
We have broken the price survey into two regions, the Mid-Atlantic and New England. The Mid-Atlantic is an average of prices we’ve seen in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Southern New York. New England is derived from Upstate New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
High and Low Prices
Prices can vary wildly from region to region and dealer to dealer. We’ve created a high/low/average price survey to provide a better picture of what’s happening in the marketplace. The data you see below is pulled from hundreds of conversations we have with heating oil consumers and heating oil dealers about the price of heating oil. It isn’t perfectly scientific but it might be the most accurate representation of average prices in these regions.
Full-Service and COD
We’re also displaying prices based on full-service and COD prices. To be clear, COD prices are for delivery only and there is no added value provided. In many cases, ordering oil by this method is inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst.
Heat USA is best compared to full-service companies, who maintain their own emergency service staff who take responsibility for keeping your system in good shape and your heat on even at night, weekends or holidays.
Adjusted Price
We’ve also created two HEAT prices- the actual HEAT average price for the region during the month and the adjusted price which accounts for the value of the free service contract most of our members receive. Remember that the prices below are an average over the entire month.
Here are the results:
Full Service Pricing February 2011 New England Region (Average)
Low Price -$3.69
High Price -$4.02
Average -$3.86
Cash On Delivery Pricing February 2011 New England Region (Average)
Low Price -$3.34
High Price -$3.59
Average -$3.47
Heat USA Pricing February 2011 New England Region (Average)
Average Heat USA Price -$3.66
Adjusted Heat USA Price -$3.39•
Full Service Pricing February 2011 Mid-Atlantic Region (Average)
Low Price -$3.39
High Price -$4.17
Average -$3.78
Cash On Delivery Pricing February 2011 Mid-Atlantic Region (Average)
Low Price -$3.19
High Price -$3.39
Average -$3.29
Heat USA Pricing February 2011 Mid-Atlantic Region (Average)
Average Heat USA Price -$3.70
Adjusted Heat USA Price -$3.37••
• Adjusted Heat USA Price for New England Region assumes an average value of $199 for the Heat USA service contract and an average annual consumption of 750 gallons.
•• Adjusted Heat USA Price for Mid-Atlantic Region assumes an average value of $229 for the Heat USA service contract and an average annual consumption of 700 gallons.
MA Bishops to Boehner, Pelosi: Cutting LIHEAP Would Be Devastating
Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston (image: cardinalseansblog.org)
Massachusetts’ four Roman Catholic bishops collaborated last week on a letter to congressional leaders, asking the lawmakers to spare cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Worcester’s Telegram & Gazette reported. The federal program helps low-income families, especially those with disabled and elderly members, pay their heating and cooling bills.
Worcester Bishop Robert McManus penned the letter with input from Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, Bishop Timothy McDonnell of Springfield, and Bishop George Coleman of Fall River. They sent the letter to an array of bipartisan policy makers, including House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Like so many other groups and private citizens lobbying for LIHEAP’s continued funding, the bishops believe cutting the program would “be nothing short of devastating, especially in the Northeast, to these families and their communities.” And, like other protesters, they reasoned that the rising cost of home heating fuels and severely harsh winter weather would make gutting LIHEAP a particularly irresponsible and ill-timed move.
“Our plea is that, when considering how to navigate through this difficult budgeting process, Congress preserve a special place and regard for the most vulnerable of our citizens, particularly those whose precarious economic circumstances force them to choose between shelter and clothing or between heat and food,” the bishops wrote. “The recent economic downturn has created a punishing intersection of rising human needs and declining resources. This situation threatens the dignity of the human person and the stability of family life.”
The bishops also noted that while Catholic social service agencies are directly trying to address the problem, their efforts simply can’t meet the rising demand for heating assistance. Social service groups of other religious denominations across the United States have also been trying to prepare for the impending consequences if LIHEAP funding is reduced.
