The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is constantly evolving as the technology and resources used in it do as well. One of the recent innovations has been the advent of Bioheat fuel, a more environmentally-friendly option to traditional oil.
The appeal of this fuel has grown so considerably that the New York Oil Heating Association (NYOHA) has started helping the Bronx Design and Construction Academy with teaching current students the details and importance of the new option, according to BiodieselMagazine.com.
The technical Bronx academy is also receiving generous donations of 150 gallons of pure B100 Bioheat fuel and equipment from Amerigreen Energy and Schildwachter Oil Co., arranged by the NYOHA. NYOHA’s CEO and current member on the school’s HVAC Advisory Board, Rocco Lacertosa, even visited the classroom of instructor Peter Gonzalez to speak to students learning about the HVAC industry.
“New York City has mandated a 2% biodiesel blend, and one of the things I’m trying to do is educate the students on Bioheat fuel and the importance of the industry going green,” Gonzalez said. “The transition to Bioheat fuel is helping New York City reduce emissions and create a healthier environment. If my students can learn about this fuel, they can help make New York a greener city.”
Bioheat fuel is a blend of renewable biodiesel and traditional oilheat; it burns and costs the same as traditional oil but is much cleaner and more renewable and environmentally friendly.
Alternative fuels such as these are helping move the HVAC industry forward. Other recent advances include efficiency standards for new gas furnaces; although the minimum allowed by law is 78% efficiency, some new models are even achieving 97% energy efficiency.
One of the biggest points of emphasis in Gonzalez’s curriculum is in experimentation and exploration. He encourages students to play around with the ratios of biodiesel and heating oil in small quantities to test and report back on the results of different blends. It’s a practice that could end up helping to pioneer a new standard in the industry, as the New York City Council is currently considering a proposal to raise the required biodiesel blend from 2 to 5% next year and to 20% by 2030.
“It is important that the blend level goes higher to make the emissions cleaner,” Gonzalez said. “Our work here parallels what the city is doing to be an environmental leader.”
