NYOHA Blog

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (or Any of the Other Boroughs)

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:10:08 -0400

A little shade can go a long way - when you plant a tree, shrub or bush this spring. In addition to providing a beautiful way to "frame" a home and property - no matter if it's an apartment building or a detached home - a well-placed tree, bush or vine can deliver effective shade, and can result in savings off cooling bills.

Planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of a house can help reduce cooling costs. Selectively placed, the trees protect the house from the hot sun, and provide an excellent source of shade (during the winter, these trees shed their leaves and allow the sun to warm the home). When choosing trees, you should keep in mind the height, growth rate, branch spread and shape.

You can feel "vine" about saving energy.
Another way to shade a home is to grow vines on trellises, which can shade a whole side of a house or windows. Also, planting small shrubs or bushes so that the ground near the home is shaded causes less heat to be reflected to windows and walls.

Welcomed shade from trees, vines and shrubs will not only cool a home - it will also cool the area surrounding the home by 9 degrees Fahrenheit. By taking the time to ensure that your landscaping is energy-efficient, you will be rewarded with up to 25% off your cooling costs.

Make sure you follow the rules.
If you are planting your own street tree, you must submit a free permit application to the NYC Parks Department's Central Forestry & Horticulture division. If the sidewalk must be broken in order to create a tree pit, you must also apply to the Department of Transportation for a permit. Here is the application and guidelines for planting your own NYC street tree.

Can't plant a tree? Install an awning.
Ensuring that "a tree grows in Brooklyn" - or anywhere else in New York City - may not be feasible at your home. Instead, try installing window awnings. According to the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association, depending on the region a home is in, awnings can save homeowners more than $100 annually.

Check out 3 more ways to conserve this spring and summer!

Seal leaks around windows, doors, and even electrical outlets, with caulk, weather-stripping and foam insulation.
Close curtains and blinds to keep the hot sun out of your home.
Enter and leave your home quickly every time an outside door opens and closes, there's a 21-square-foot hole in the wall to let in the hot air from the outside.

For more conservation tips from NYOHA, click here.

"May" We Suggest a Tune-up?

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:44:01 -0400

It's May - time for Mother's Day, Memorial Day and Must Get a Heating System Tune-up Day.

Wait ... what was that last one?

You read right - Must Get a Heating System Tune-up Day. Your heating system worked hard all winter long, and now is the best time to schedule your annual tune-up.

Why get a tune-up?

Tuningup your heating system will let you rest assured that it will run optimally during the heating season. There are many benefits to a tune-up:

Your heating system operates more efficiently: A tune-up means making sure that your heating system is working efficiently, providing the same satisfying warmth by burning less fuel. A heating system working at its highest efficiency conserves energy and helps the environment.
You'll save money on energy bills: By reducing the amount of fuel your heating system uses to heat the home, you'll be saving money as well! A tune-up could help you save as much as 10% OFF your annual fuel bill.
You'll save money on service calls: Regular service can minimize breakdowns and uncover the need for parts that should be replaced. In other words, a tune-up can help you to avoid an emergency service call in the middle of a cold winter night!

What does a tune-up typically consist of?
Your Oilheat technician will:

Visually inspect the entire heating system
Vacuum clean all heating surfaces
Check the flue pipe and chimney flue to be sure it's clear and in good condition
Clean all burner parts including the air fan and housing, ignition electrodes, and burner head
Replace fuel and air filters and bleed all the air from the fuel system
Seal air leaks around the burner and heat exchanger
Use combustion test equipment to measure efficiency
Adjust the burner for high efficiency
Record final combustion efficiency for the tuned system
Start and stop the burner several times to ensure satisfactory operations
Inspect the oil tank

Why do we suggest a tune-up in May?

Now that the warm weather is here, folks aren't thinking about their heating systems as much as they would in the fall - when everyone calls to arrange for their tune-up. Also, when the fall comes around, Oilheat technicians get busy with emergency service calls.

This is also a good time to look into pre-season deals on a new boiler or furnace - just in case your service technician asks you to consider replacing your equipment.

To read more about tune-ups, Oilheat equipment, upgrading and energy conservation, visit the Oilheat America website.

April 22 is Earth Day ... and Oilheat Is Getting Greener Every Day

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:24:22 -0400

Earth Day is April 22^nd. And there's no better way to celebrate than to talk about Oilheat - which is getting greener every day!

Oilheat Is a Green Fuel - and It's Getting Greener All the Time!

Home heating oil is biodegradable.
Today's Oilheat systems produce "near-zero" emissions into the atmosphere.
In fact, Oilheat burns so cleanly that residential emissions aren't even regulated by the Federal Clean Air Act.
With Oilheat, your "environmental footprint" is smaller than ever: New high-efficiency systems consistently produce more heat with less fuel. In fact, homes today use approximately 40% less fuel than in the 1970s.

Ultra-Low Sulfur Oilheat: Taking Green to a New Level

Oilheat is already a clean-burning fuel. In fact, it burns nearly 95% more cleanly than it did in 1970. And it's getting cleaner: The industry is voluntarily adopting low and ultra-low sulfur Oilheat standards across the country.

You may have heard that beginning on July 1, all heating oil in New York City must have a sulfur content limited to 15 parts per million. This will reduce the sulfur content in Oilheat by up to 99% as well as greatly benefit the environment and help Oilheat systems to work more efficiently.

Bioheat®: New York City's Green Fuel

Bioheat is standard heating oil blended with biodegradable, organic materials such as soybean oil, vegetable oil, corn or even algae. Containing between 2% and 20% renewable fuel, Bioheat is kind to heating systems as well as the environment.

By October of this year, all grades of heating oil in New York City will be Bioheat blends containing at least 2% biodiesel.

There are many benefits to using Bioheat:

The biomass products (soy, corn, peanuts) to produce Bioheat can be grown in the United States and the fuel produced domestically - supporting our nation's farmers and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Bioheat is extremely clean-burning and environmentally-friendly. Testing conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) found that a Bioheat blend of 80% low-sulfur heating oil and 20% biodiesel (B20) reduced sulfur oxide emissions by as much as 80% or more; nitrogen oxide emissions by about 20%; carbon dioxide emissions by 20%.
Bioheat has the highest BTU content of any alternative fuel - for extremely satisfying warmth.
Bioheat costs approximately the same as "regular Oilheat."
You don't have to make any modifications to your burner or tank when using Bioheat; and you don't have to change your budget plan, payment plan, service contract or warranties.

To learn more about Bioheat, click here.

To find out about Earth Day celebrations in New York, click here.

Your Bioheat® Questions Answered

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:48:45 -0400

Now that New York City will require all grades of heating oil to contain at least 2% biodiesel by October of this year, we want to present answers to some frequently asked questions about Bioheat^®.

Q. WHAT IS BIOHEAT?
A. Bioheat is made by combining Oilheat with biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from sustainable resources such as soybean oil, recycled grease and other fats and oils. To be called Bioheat, the fuel must contain at least 2% biodiesel.

Q. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BIOHEAT?
A.

Bioheat improves your heating system's overall efficiency.
Bioheat reduces emissions, improving New York City's air quality.
Bioheat reduces our nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Bioheat promotes new, green economic opportunities to foster the biofuel industry in our city.

Q. HOW MUCH IS BIOHEAT GOING TO COST ME?
A. Bioheat is cost-competitive with conventional heating oil. You will now get far greater performance and system benefits from using Bioheat than conventional heating oil for the same price.

Q. DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO MY HEATING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO USE BIOHEAT?
A. Bioheat is completely compatible with conventional oil burners, boilers, furnaces and tanks. No modifications are necessary. Bioheat is blended with conventional petroleum so it can be mixed with the fuel already in your tank. In addition, you won't need to change your service contract, warranties or automatic delivery schedule.

Your local New York City Oilheat dealer is looking forward to helping you go green starting this October. Read more about Bioheat now by clicking here.

Why Oil Prices Are What They Are (and What You Can Do about It)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:06:51 -0500

We won't beat around the bush; energy prices are higher this year than last. If there is good news, it is that, due to a warmer winter, average household heating oil expenditures are now expected to be lower than originally forecasted.

Why are oil prices so volatile? There are several reasons:

Changes in the cost of crude oil: Since crude oil is a major price component of heating oil, changes in the price of crude will generally affect the price of Oilheat. Crude oil prices are determined by: worldwide supply and demand, which can vary with worldwide political conflicts and weather; fears about possible disruptions in worldwide supply; increasing energy demands from developing nations; reduced refinery output from recessionary slow-downs; Wall Street speculators using the energy futures markets as a profit source; and the weakened U.S. dollar.
Regional operating costs: Prices also are impacted by costs of doing business in a particular area, including wages and salaries, benefits, equipment, lease/rent, insurance, overhead, and state and local fees.

What can you do to control your energy costs? You have several options:
As your local Oilheat dealer, we offer a variety of full-service conveniences* to help you manage and lower your energy bills:

Consider investing in new, high-efficiency equipment. You could lower your energy costs by up to 30% or more.
Get your boiler or furnace tuned up annually. According to NORA (the National Oilheat Research Alliance), an annual spring or fall tune-up can shave up to 5% off your fuel bill.
Enroll in a service plan. It will protect you against costly equipment repairs or even breakdowns.
Take our (conservation) advice. We really care about your comfort - and we are always here to offer simple steps to lower your energy bills. Try these out, and call us for more great ideas:
- Lower your thermostat by 5-10 degrees, especially when everyone's asleep or out of the house
- Install a programmable or set-back thermostat so you don't have to remember to reset the thermostat
- Seal up gaps around windows and doors with caulk
- Open your window treatments during the daytime to let the sun warm the room
- Wrap your hot water heater with a hot water heater blanket
- Wrap your hot water pipes with pipe insulation

You'll find more valuable conservation tips here.

No matter where energy prices go, we want to make it clear that we are your conservation partner, helping you find ways to cut energy consumption and save some much-needed cash.

*Please consult your local Oilheat dealer as to specific full-service features offered.

New York City Oilheat Dealers ♥ Their Customers with Value-Added Full Service

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:52:19 -0500

Valentine's Day is coming soon, and we want all our customers (and potential customers) to know how much we care.

How? By offering real value through full service features AND warm, personal attention you simply won't find anywhere else.*

High-quality heating equipment for both homes and businesses
Exceptional installations by our own professional, highly-trained technicians
Rapid around-the-clock emergency response
Comprehensive service contracts to ensure maximum equipment efficiency
Convenient budget plans, so you can keep energy costs under control
Helpful conservation advice to help you save energy and cash

We appreciate your patronage and we thank you for using safe, clean, economical, efficient Oilheat.

*Not all New York City Oilheat dealers offer all these services. Please check with your individual dealer as to specific services offered.

Martin Luther King Day (January 16) a Day of Service

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:31:33 -0500

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.

The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. Join the hundreds of thousands of people who serve on MLK Day and throughout the year. Find a project in your community or register your own project so that volunteers can find it. Perhaps you would like to volunteer and "green" your community!

NYOHA, the New York Oil Heating Association - the folks who bring you this blog - is rooted in service. The Association is a tireless advocate, constantly monitoring and steering the policies, regulations and issues that affect our members and their customers. We can say that we "have a dream" for a greener and cleaner New York City, and through our actions, are seeing it through.

Why 2012 Is an Important Year for Going Green in New York City

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:39:53 -0500

In 2012, two deadlines will occur that will usher in a cleaner, greener era for the Big Apple:

July 1, 2012 marks the date that heating oil in New York must have a sulfur content limited to 15 parts per million. This will reduce the sulfur content in Oilheat by up to 99%, benefit the environment, and make Oilheating systems work more efficiently. This mandate is the result of a direct initiative by the industry.

By October 2012, all grades of heating oil in New York City are to contain at least 2% biodiesel. This legislation, known as "Intro. 194," embraced by the oil industry, was passed by the New York City Council in July 2010.

Both laws are significant because they will lead to:

Improved overall air quality in New York City
More energy-efficient heating systems in large buildings
Increased use of renewable fuels
New, green economic opportunities to foster the biofuel industry in the city
Reduced dependence on foreign energy sources

HAPPY GREEN 2012, NEW YORK!

During the Holiday Season, Great Customer Service Makes All the Difference

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:33:26 -0500

Holiday gifts are wonderful to give, but to shop for ... not so wonderful! Especially during the rush to buy presents, customer service at many stores may be lacking.

Want to know where you can always get great customer service? With us! As your local Oilheat dealer, we believe that great customer service means having the people, the products and the services to ensure true comfort ... real peace of mind ... and terrific value.

People:
We think we have the best team there is - Not only do our technicians know their stuff, they're also the most courteous people around. And our caring customer service representatives give it their all to resolve every issue to your complete satisfaction.

Products:
We offer you top-of-the-line heating equipment that can help you save energy and cash - and contribute to a clean and green planet.

Services:
We do so much more than deliver your oil - we are your full service home comfort company, providing emergency service, expert installations and repairs, comprehensive service plans and convenient payment plans.*

Above all, we feel that great customer service isn't about account numbers ... house numbers ... or equipment model and serial numbers ... but about finding custom solutions for each individual's real-life needs.

Great customer service, however, depends on having great customers - and we couldn't have done it without YOU!

Thank you for your business - and Happy Holidays!

*Not all Oilheat dealers offer these specific services. Please check with your local dealer.

Don't Make that Emergency Service Call Just Yet!

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:58:54 -0500

"I have no heat. Could you please come over? It's an emergency!"

We receive phone calls like this quite often during the heating season. And before we make what might be an emergency service visit, we always advise the customer to follow some simple steps to see if they can get their heating equipment up and running again on their own.

Checklist for Restoring Heat in Your Home
Check the emergency oil burner switch (usually a red switch plate at the top of the basement stairs or at the side of the furnace or boiler) and make sure it is in the "on" position.
Check the thermostat and make sure it is set above the room temperature. * Check for a blown fuse or circuit breaker.
Check the oil tank to ensure that there is oil. (If you are on our automatic delivery service this shouldn't be an issue.)
If the home has a boiler, check the water level and refill if necessary.
If all the steps above have been completed successfully and the system remains off, you should press the red reset button on the burner relay ONCE ONLY!

If the burner does not start or fails to stay running at that point, give us a call, and we'll take care of the problem! We're always there to restore your comfort, thanks to our prompt emergency service.

What Is an Emergency?*
Typically, a heating emergency is defined as:

No heat
No hot water
Smoke
Serious fuel leaks
Dangerous situations

* Emergency definitions differ from dealer to dealer. Please consult with your dealer.

We think that the "cool" thing about Oilheat is that full-service dealers offer 24-hour emergency service. And because New York is a 24-hour city, you can be sure we will be there for you when you need us most. Learn more about the benefits of Oilheat here.