U.S Enviromental Protection Agency Affirms That Oil Is Clean Fuel
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently acknowledged that modern oil burners are much cleaner burning than older models. The new USEPA emission factor for particulates from oil burners is now 7-1/2 times lower than the previous rating. The Oil Heat Manufacturers Association (OMA) submitted tests by Brookhaven National Laboratory and other sources to the USEPA and requested an update to the oil emission standard. This is an important revision. The new USEPA emission ratings affirm that oil burners are now one of the cleanest combustion sources in the U.S.The accompanying chart shows that the USEPA emission rating for oil burners has been reduced from 3.0 to 0.4 pounds of particulates per 1000 gallons of fuel burned. This is approaching near zero levels. Oil burners now emit particulates at a rate that is similar to the levels produced by natural gas burners over the past 10 years (USEPA Publication AP-42-4th Edition).
This revision is important because it refutes the misconception that oil burners are "dirty." In fact, properly adjusted oil equipment produces about 10-20 times less particulates than some older burners.
While oil burners' emissions have been lower for many years, this fact is now fully supported by a USEPA publication.
