An “All of the Above” Approach for NJ Families
The right solution involves a range of green energy options and efficient home equipment
Today, New Jersey residents have access to a host of low and zero-carbon energy options for staying warm, fueling our vehicles and powering essential systems and appliances. Responsible diversification of New Jersey’s heating and fuel sources will allow families in the Garden State to enjoy affordable home comfort while contributing meaningfully to a zero-carbon-emissions future. An “all of the above” approach can do this without compromising our comfort, our financial situations or our commitment to a cleaner, greener planet.
Reliable, efficient heating for NJ
Electric heat pumps can work effectively in certain circumstances — for example, for air conditioning and supplemental heat in milder months — but they are not a solution to decarbonizing our buildings. These systems have been known to struggle during periods of sustained freezing weather, and the cost to convert a whole home to electric heat pumps is well outside most household budgets. There’s nothing wrong with the right electric heat pump system, but there is something wrong with “electric heat pumps only” when other systems might be a better fit for New Jersey families.
Our state’s residents would be well served to have multiple heating and fuel options available to minimize or altogether avoid unnecessary strain on the grid. Today’s furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other traditionally fueled equipment are more energy efficient than ever before. Homeowners can significantly shrink their energy usage and carbon footprints by upgrading outdated systems to new high-efficiency models. This can be done for a fraction of the cost of a home heating conversion to electricity — especially if our lawmakers invest in rebates and tax incentives for these energy-saving purchases.
And let’s not forget the amazing strides traditional fuels are making right now.
Today’s eco-friendly home heating oil
Bioheat® fuel, a blend of biodiesel and ultra-low-sulfur heating oil, can also be used in current home heating systems. The percentage of biodiesel in the blend determines how the blend itself is described. For example, a blend that’s 5% biodiesel is referred to as B5.
Today’s Bioheat fuel blends are already slashing emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide, mercury and particulate matter! These cost- and energy-efficient options are made from organic and recycled products, which include used cooking oils, inedible corn oil, canola, tallow, fats and algae.
The goal is to get to B100 by 2050.
Renewable propane — an emerging game-changer
Renewable propane is gaining momentum and becoming more widely available each year. It is chemically identical to conventional propane but produced from recycled natural feedstocks such as animal and vegetable oils, biomass and other triglycerides. Renewable propane has an extremely low carbon intensity while also emitting zero methane and virtually no particulate matter (the same is true of conventional propane). It’s carbon neutral at the point of combustion!
Renewable propane can be used in the same equipment that traditional propane uses while maintaining propane’s reputation as a highly efficient, clean-burning fuel. Ongoing research into blending the biogas dimethyl ether (DME) could even enable renewable propane to achieve negative carbon intensity in the future.
Renewable natural gas seamlessly blends with conventional NG
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a carbon-neutral energy source made from organic waste like manure, landfills, and food scraps. Using anaerobic digestion, biogas is captured, purified and added to the natural gas network, working smoothly with existing systems. RNG offers the same performance as conventional natural gas while reducing methane emissions. By 2030, the United States could produce up to 10 trillion cubic feet of RNG annually — nearly one-third of current domestic natural gas output.
Natural Gas
Heating Oil
Propane
Solar
Wind
Electricity
We want to hear your thoughts on protecting energy choice and keeping home energy affordable in New Jersey through an “all of the above” approach. Contact us to share your concerns or ask questions about heating alternatives available in your part of the state.