Dear Friends,
We are firmly committed to green energy solutions that not only protect the environment but also enhance comfort and convenience for our customers and save money over the long term.
That’s why we now deliver Bioheat® fuel instead of traditional heating oil, to all of our customers. Bioheat is a heating fuel made by mixing ultra-low-sulfur heating oil with biodiesel — a renewable energy resource produced in America that’s often made from the fatty acids found in soy, corn and other vegetable oils.
This year, we increased the percentage of biodiesel in our Bioheat blend to 20%. This is called B20 Bioheat and it burns cleaner than natural gas because it generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions.*
On the propane front, more of our service and delivery vehicles run on propane autogas than ever before. They produce far fewer emissions than the gasoline and diesel vehicles they have replaced.
We also set up a propane autogas fuel station for the Bristol Township School District. Its entire bus fleet relies on propane autogas, with an annual volume of 225,000 gallons.
In addition to Bristol, we deliver propane autogas to the Haverford Township School District, the Radnor Township School District, the Norristown Area School District, the Phoenixville Area School District and Temple University.
We know that offering fuels that are clean, efficient and easy to use is in the long-term interest of both our customers and the communities we serve. You can feel good that you’re putting your trust in a company that cares about our community, cares about our environment and cares about our customers.
Warmly,
David and Betsy O’Connell
*Source: National Oilheat Research Alliance.
You could qualify for tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements, including any upgrades made this year or since December 31, 2017.
Federal tax credits of up to $300 are available for highefficiency central A/C systems, air-source heat pumps and water heaters. You can also get a $150 tax credit for qualifying boilers and furnaces.
Visit EnergyStar.gov to learn more, then give us a call. We’ll assess your needs and help you find the best system for your home.
We lost a valuable member of the Wilson family on February 10, 2020. Gerri Hash joined us in 2003 as a customer service representative. Her talents and dedication soon resulted in her moving up to office manager.
Gerri trained every customer service representative who has worked here in the past 15 years. She came in early, stayed late and did whatever was necessary to help us provide the best customer service possible.
Over the years, many of you have spoken with Gerri on the phone, visited her in the office and formed friendships with her. She will be missed by all of us.
To read more about Gerri, please visit our website and choose the links for About Us/Meet the Staff and then click on her photo.
We take pride in delivering two safe, reliable, highly efficient and environmentally friendly fuels to our customers. You can feel good about propane and heating oil — here’s why.
Propane helps fuel your lifestyle, saves you money, keeps your home comfortable and adds convenience to your daily life. But did you know that it is also considered one of the greenest fuels?
Please contact us if you would like to help the environment by expanding your use of propane.
Did you know that propane water heaters cost 30% to 60% less to operate than electric water heaters? A propane water heater has a lower cost of maintenance and lasts years longer than its electric counterparts. If you want an easy way to raise the value of your home, switch to a propane water heater! A tankless model especially is highly desirable to home buyers, as it will improve your LEED and home energy rating scores (HERS).
Did you know that propane grills are a much healthier and more environmentally friendly way to cook your food? Research shows that cooking on a charcoal grill can lead to as much as 105 times more carbon monoxide being produced than with a propane grill.
A typical charcoal grill also produces an astonishing 11 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour, or twice as much as a propane grill. (An electric grill does even worse, producing 15 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour).*
Besides producing much lower emissions levels, propane grills greatly reduce your exposure to carcinogens that end up in your food when grilling. Charcoal grills create more smoke and burn hotter, leading to the formation of toxins that have been linked to some cancers.
* When tested at 35,000 BTUs per hour, based on a study by Tristram West, a researcher with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Many states, including ours, have been adopting alternative-energy incentive programs, resulting in more school districts purchasing propane autogas buses.
According to a recent study by West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions, propane autogas is a proven way to dramatically decrease oxides of nitrogen emissions in communities.* The positive effects become especially powerful when propane-powered school buses replace old diesel-powered buses.
School districts have gained enormous fuel savings by using propane autogas instead of more expensive diesel fuel. Kids are also benefitting from a healthier ride to and from school, because buses fueled by propane autogas emit far fewer emissions.
In terms of fuel and maintenance costs, schools can save an average of $3,000 to $5,000 per bus.
The Propane Education and Research Council estimates that if all diesel school buses across the United States were switched over to propane-fueled buses, the savings would be enough to cover the cost of hiring 23,000 teachers.
Forward-thinking industry leaders have embraced an impressive vision for oil heat. They are driving the engines of progress and creating a brighter future for the industry — and for oil heat customers too. Stay with oil heat and enjoy the ride!
Here’s a great example. More than 300 leaders from the heating oil industry unanimously passed a resolution to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal was established at the Northeast Industry Summit last September.
The resolution calls for:
Net-zero emissions will make heating oil a carbon-neutral energy source, with a carbon footprint of zero. The recently passed resolution means that is the expectation for the entire heating oil industry within 30 years.
To achieve the targets adopted by the Northeast Industry Summit resolution, every heating oil retailer in the region must do its part to provide adequate blends of Bioheat with clean, ultra-low-sulfur fuel.
Bioheat is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels, including the heating oil you use to keep your home warm. It’s a nontoxic, biodegradable, renewable fuel, produced from agricultural byproducts, including used cooking oil, animal fats, inedible corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil. Bioheat reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly — by 52% to 86% — and no modifications to your existing heating system are necessary.
Scheduling your annual heating and cooling tune-ups early gives you plenty of options for an appointment. Plus, we’ll have enough time to address any issues with your system before the weather gets too hot or too cold.
Even if your equipment is new or running just fine, you don’t want to skip your tune-up. For starters, every manufacturer requires annual maintenance to keep your warranty valid. It’s that important!
A tune-up prevents most of the problems that can lead to expensive repairs. Regular maintenance also ensures that your system runs at peak efficiency. That means it will keep your home more comfortable while using less energy — and that translates to savings on your annual heating and cooling expenses.
Please call or contact us through our website soon to request a tune-up. If you’re covered by our heating and cooling service plans, your tune-ups are already paid for! And don’t worry about getting your tune-up early — it won’t wear off.
The average person inhales about 15,000 quarts of air per day and spends about 90% of their time indoors. This is important to know, because indoor air can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outside air. The good news is that by taking some simple precautions and making smart buying choices, you can greatly improve your indoor air quality (IAQ). Here are five ways to accomplish this at home:
