Quit no. 6! Use cleaner heating fuel - and less of it - to save money

Over 1,500 lives will be saved in the next two decades as a result of regulations issued by the city of New York requiring buildings to transition from highly polluting No. 6 and No. 4 heating oils to the cleanest fuels. Designed in phases to balance near-term pollution reduction while minimizing costs for buildings, the regulations require buildings to convert from No. 6 to a cleaner fuel at the time of their next boiler operating permit renewal, beginning in July of 2012. The city of New York in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund launched the N.Y.C. Clean Heat program in April of 2011 to help buildings through the process of converting to the cleanest fuels in order to achieve the health benefits of these regulations much sooner. A team of professionals can assist buildings in evaluating fuel conversion options, assembling financing and working with utilities, fuel providers and other buildings to make the conversion process as cost-effective and inexpensive as possible. Converting to the cleanest fuels reduces soot buildup in boilers, which can raise building maintenance and operating costs. Conducting an energy audit can identify efficiency measures that can be incorporated into a fuel conversion to help building owners save additional money. Case studies by Heat Timer and U.S. Energy show that buildings waste between 10-30% in heating fuel by overheating - meaning thousands of dollars lost every year. A heat management system is a sound investment, as upfront costs are often recouped within six to 12 months. Other measures that will lend to savings include fine-tuning of the heating system and pipe and boiler insulation. The conversion process requires planning in advance, so reach out to the NYC Clean Heat team today! Contact NYC Clean Heat: To learn more, dial 311 and ask for NYC Clean Heat. To reach the NYC Clean Heat technical director to discuss converting your building, call 212-656-9202 or [email protected]. Isabelle Silverman is an attorney at Environmental Defense Fund, New York, N.Y.