On The Fast Track To Electrification?

Think Twice…!

Recent legislation across the country – including here in N.Y. State – would drastically change the way families heat their homes, with the seemingly worthwhile goal of eliminating fossil fuels to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

While we here at Bottini Fuel recognize the need to combat climate change, the rollout of this bill and others like it across the country would force drastic, costly changes for you and your family, with little chance of achieving the plan’s emissions-savings goals.

Consider these problems with all-out electrification:

• The bill, and others like it, aims to replace oil- and propane-fired boilers and furnaces with electric-powered heat pumps. However, more than 40 percent of the electricity generated in New York comes from burning natural gas, which is mostly methane – a gas that is more than 80 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. That will leave little change in New York’s carbon footprint – in fact, it could actually expand it, especially when you consider that somewhere between eight and fifteen percent of the electricity produced by plants is lost en route to your home.
• The energy grid is already fragile and prone to brownouts during hot summer days. How can it be expected to handle the demands of a bitterly cold Hudson Valley winter?
• Electric heat pumps are now fairly common as secondary sources of heat. However, their efficiency drops dramatically in cold weather – a problem propane and oil-fired systems don’t have. With electric heat pumps, be prepared for cold nights!
• According to regional data, the average cost to install a heat pump could be more than $20,000 – about double the replacement cost of today’s oil- and propane-fired boilers and furnaces.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the best change is the change you don’t make. Don’t rush to electrification – get the facts. Improvements in oil and propane equipment efficiency and oil and propane emissions profiles make both fuels prime candidates for a seat at the clean energy table. Don’t count them out!

For reliable delivery of today’s cleaner, greener propane and heating oil, trust the pros at Bottini. Contact us today to learn more about heating oil and propane deliveries in the Hudson Valley!