Soybeans debut in Suffolk home heating oils

A new, cleaner home heating oil has made its debut in Suffolk County. Engelmann Energy began delivering bio heat oil, a blend that contains 5 percent soybean oil. It can burn in any oil furnace and environmentalists

News 12 Staff

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Oct 23, 2007, 1:06 AM

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Updated 6,398 days ago

A new, cleaner home heating oil has made its debut in Suffolk County.

Engelmann Energy began delivering bio heat oil, a blend that contains 5 percent soybean oil. It can burn in any oil furnace and environmentalists say the soybean blend reduces emissions.

"It burns a little more efficiently, burns cleaner," says owner Pete Engelmann. "Five percent doesn't sound like a lot, but you reap more than a 5 percent return on it."

Currently, bio heat oil costs the same as regular home heating oil, but Engelmann believes that will change.

"I think if we get some people buying it, we are going to see those prices coming back down again where it will be cheaper than home heating oil," he says.

East Northport homeowner Eric Gusew switched to the bio heat oil for political reasons.

"It is something that is produced in our country and it reduces our dependence on foreign oil, and that's great," Gusew says.

Critics say the 5 percent soybean content is too small an amount to make a difference. However, Engelmann says that number will likely increase in time.

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