...one 275-gallon tank of Bioheat® fuel
contains 10,670 kilowatt hours of energy.
Every day, the electrification story is
told in a favorable light. The messenger
paints a wonderful picture of life without
oil, life with extension cords and
unlimited power without the need to
await delivery of heating oil, which sits
inside that tank stealing valuable real
estate in the basement—space that could
be repurposed for a home office or room
for the kids to play with their friends as
moms and dads enjoy their coffee while
being kept comfortable throughout the
four seasons. I use the reference about
the storage tank because, to many, it
is viewed as an eyesore—a hazardous,
prehistoric relic.
Alternatively, you can begin now to
transition that antiquated mindset to
help people realize that Bioheat® fuel
is stored, renewable energy in one of its
densest forms, meaning, quite literally,
that once it is purchased and delivered
to customers’ homes, this clean, powerpacked
energy phenomenon is stored
on-site in their fuel tank. It is tangible
liquid renewable fuel that does not require
a power plant to generate and distribute
energy to their home or business.
Instead, their renewable heatingfuel
supply is right there and ready to
reliably supply fulfilling warmth on
the coldest nights and, for some, hot
water whenever they need it. Sure,
everyone needs a little power to run
their oilheat system, but what a benefit
it is to the customer for them to know
that their renewable home comfort is
safely stored in a physical fuel tank
on their property, ready and available
whenever they need it and independent
of external generation.
The next time a customer expresses
concern about that storage tank, redirect
them by sharing the following: “Did
you know that one 275-gallon tank of
Bioheat® fuel contains 10,670 kilowatt
hours of energy? That’s equivalent to
the energy contained within 109 fully
charged Ford F-150 electric pickup
trucks. However, unlike the nearly 10
hours it would take to recharge one
electric pickup, a Bioheat® fuel storage
tank can be completely refilled in less
than six minutes.” This calculation
showcases only the tip of the iceberg
when it comes to conceptualizing the
security that stored energy like Bioheat®
fuel provides.
My point is that it’s time to start having
these discussions with customers to
explain the countless benefits associated
with this low-carbon fuel, which the
industry has voluntarily introduced
into the markets in order to protect
the oilheat sector and those it serves.
The intent of this article is to motivate
reasonable fuel dealers to take charge
of their own space and build their own
company vision. The rewards of doing
so are running a sustainable business
and securing the chance to stand out
from what will always be a fragmented
industry of suppliers unwilling to
commit to this much-needed change.
Companies that ultimately achieve
success have created a core purpose
and values that remain fixed, while
their strategies and practices endlessly
evolve to meet the needs of a changing
marketplace.
The vision has been established. The
heavy lifting needed to provide a fuel
that can and will successfully compete
against the predictable expansion of
electrification is done. Winter is coming,
as the now-famous saying goes,
and historically high prices are likely
to follow—along with frustration and
fear of consumer disdain for their next
delivery.
Now is the best time to have that
conversation with customers and suppliers
and begin to take ownership of
the collective efforts needed to prepare
fuel businesses for the next decade.
Now is the time to let customers
know dealers cannot control the price
of their home comfort. However, what
can be controlled are the quality and
performance of the products they sell,
which will help customers reduce their
energy spending by relying on this 21st
Century heating fuel that delivers
uncompromised system efficiencies
and performance—something certainly
worth feeling good about.
For more information, visit
mybioheat.com. Take a tour. Build your
story on the site’s messaging. Link
to it. Share it with your customers
and get them involved, educated and
knowledgeable about your 21st Century
product: Bioheat® fuel. ICM
14 ICM/September/October 2022