Brooklyn, NY — November 1, 2009 – Boro Fuel Oil Co., Inc., a Brooklyn fuel and energy services dealer for 80 years, is going green.

      On November 1^st the company will introduce BioGreen™ – a new premium biofuel that’s kind to both heating systems and Mother Nature. Boro Fuel Oil is the first heating oil dealer in New York City to offer BioGreen™.  A blend of traditional heating oil and 10% soybean oil, eco-friendly BioGreen™ premium biofuel is clean, renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic. BioGreen™ is also kind to the American economy: Domestically produced from soybeans grown in the U.S.A., BioGreen™ helps to support American agriculture and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.

     BioGreen™ also offers heating oil customers the following benefits:

• BioGreen™ burns cleaner than conventional heating oil – it contains almost no sulfur, and significantly reduces emissions that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
• BioGreen™ has the highest BTU content of any alternative fuel, for satisfying warmth.
• BioGreen™ lubricates heating system parts more thoroughly and efficiently – resulting in fewer service calls and a longer heating system lifespan.
• BioGreen™ costs the same as conventional heating oil – and consumers don’t need to modify their heating equipment or change their warranties.

      BioGreen™ users will also be rewarded financially, thanks to New York State’s Bioheat^® Tax Credit, which allows Boro Fuel Oil customers a direct tax credit of 10 cents for each gallon of BioGreen™ they buy through 2011.

     “We are proud to be at the forefront of the green energy revolution with our eco-friendly BioGreen™,” says Jeff Cohn, President of Boro Fuel Oil.  “And, of course, we’re proud to be the first heating oil dealer in Brooklyn to offer this breakthrough product. Not every fuel company out there offers a green, clean fuel like BioGreen™. It’s one more way we’re helping our customers save energy … which also saves them money.”

     “BioGreen™ is just another way Boro Fuel Oil has been going green,” continues Cohn.  “For decades, we’ve been helping our customers save energy – whether by installing the latest high-efficiency comfort equipment, performing annual tune-ups to keep their heating systems working at top condition, or offering conservation advice to help them reduce their carbon footprint.”

     “With the introduction of BioGreen™, we’re making New York City a greener place to live,” says Cohn.

     Boro Fuel Oil is particularly pleased to enter the exciting world of biofuels. Available to residential and commercial customers, the company is rolling out its BioGreen™ brand with a dedicated Web site, www.BioGreenNY.com and phone number, (888) OK-BIOGREEN, as well as a promotional campaign that includes newspaper, radio and television advertising.  For additional information on BioGreen™, contact Jeff Cohn at (718) 854-7500 or (888) OK-BIOGREEN.

     Founded by Joseph Cohn in 1929 with offices in Borough Park, Brooklyn, Boro Fuel Oil is a family-owned and operated energy company serving Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. In addition to heating oil and diesel fuel delivery, Boro Fuel Oil installs and services oil- and gas-fired boilers and furnaces, hot water heaters and oil tanks for its residential and commercial customers. Jeff Cohn is also a principal in Great Eastern Energy, providing discounted natural gas in seven states and from twenty different utilities.

CONTACT:

Jeff Cohn, President
Boro Fuel Oil Co., Inc.

(718) 854-7500 or (888) OK-BIOGREEN

www.borofueloil.com ? www.BioGreenNY.com

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It’s no secret that in general, money is a little bit tight these days. Everyone is doing what they can to save money. Reducing your energy bills not only saves you money, it’s good for the environment as well. But how can you do this without sacrificing the A/C or heat you may need to get through the extreme temperatures of the summer and winter? The answer is in how you select your window treatments.

Let’s say you live in a region where it is cold most of the year and your biggest concern is losing heat. If correctly installed, window shades can be one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent heat loss. Shades that are mounted as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade close to the wall create a sealed air space, making it difficult for the heat to escape. During the winter, shades should be raised on the south side of the house in the daytime to let in the heat from the sunlight and then lowered at night. Dual shades are even more effective for insulating as they are reflective on one side and heat absorbent on the other. These types of shades must be drawn all day to be effective and the reflective side should always face the warmest side.

Draperies are a very common form of window treatment, but it is difficult to generalize about their energy efficiency as it relies on many factors. Draperies can reduce heat gain by up to 33% if they are medium-colored and have white plastic backings. They are also perfect for summer weather as their pleats and folds lose heat through convection. Unfortunately, most conventional draperies can only reduce heat loss by 10%. However, if they are hung as close to the window as possible with a cornice installed at the top and the drapery is sealed at both sides and overlapped in the center, you can push it to about 25%.

If heat gain is your primary concern, it might be best to go with blinds. Because of the numerous openings between the slats, blinds are much more effective at reducing heat gain in the summer than heat loss in the winter. But, the advantage blinds have over shades is that these slats and be adjusted to control light and ventilation. Heat gain can be reduced by around 45% when highly reflective blinds are completely closed and lowered on a sunny window.

There is no single type of window treatment that can be energy efficient if applied to every home. Your home’s specific insulation needs are the biggest factor, but the type, color and fabric of your treatment all play a part as well. But, with this information you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about which treatment is best for you, your wallet and the environment.

GIFT LOCAL, ”the gift of giving back…”. Holiday Design Market in the Flatbush Farm Bar(n) this Saturday, December 12th, 12-6PM

Message from a reader/farmer Heather Sandford from upstate:

Hi!

We own a small farm in Upstate NY and raise heritage breed pigs on pasture. We then handcraft our pork into a variety of fresh charcuterie treats like specialty sausage, fresh cuts, pates, lard, terrines, confit, lunch meat, bacon and more.

We have a winter meat CSA up in Ithaca, but we’re thinking of starting a small version of a meat CSA this winter in Brooklyn.  We were wondering if anyone could recommend some good places that would host a distribution for our farm?

Heather Sandford

The Piggery
“Local, old-world style charcuterie”

I bet GBK readers can hook Heather up with some spots in Brooklyn. Contact her at The Piggery (www.thepiggery.net).