NEFI, Others, Issue ‘Principles on Environmental Performance of Oil Heat’

Saying that they recognize ‘the compelling need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while ensuring that heating needs are met cost-effectively and reliably,” the New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) and other oil heat and trade groups issued a statement called ‘Principles for Improving the Environmental Performance of the Oil Heat Sector.”

Here is the rest of the statement:

Residential use of energy accounts for approximately 1/5 of the energy consumed in America and thus is a significant part of this nation’s energy consumption. Increasing our investments in energy efficiency and lowering the carbon intensity (average carbon emissions per unit of energy) of our fuels are two critical ways to address GHG emissions in our built environment.

The heating oil industry and environmental stakeholders believe that while energy efficiency in homes has increased significantly over time, there are still many available technologies that have not been widely adopted, and there are still opportunities for new technological advances that will improve energy efficiency. Additionally, new sources of energy including solar, wind and low carbon biofuels provide an opportunity to lower the emissions of each energy unit delivered. Thus, the home residential sector provides a unique opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce costs to consumers, improve the nation’s energy security, and improve the comfort of American households.

To this end, the groups have agreed to the following principles:

Besides NEFI, groups that signed the statement include the National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers, National Oilheat Research Alliance, Oilheat Manufacturers Association, the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.