Biodiesel: 7 Uses and Benefits

Biodiesel's Potential Not Fully Undestood By the General Public

Biodiesel is gaining popularity due to growing environmental awareness and sky rocketing prices of gas in recent times.

Perhaps, Biodiesel is the most underused fuel in today’s society as its full potential is not fully understood by the general public. Below are the seven different ways in which Biodiesel is being used.

1. Domestic Heating Fuel: Although you always hear about Biodiesel being used as a vehicle fuel, more people in recent times are looking at Biodiesel for domestic heating purposes. B20 is a popular Biodiesel which can be successfully used in oil fired or boiler furnaces. B20 fuel is made of 20 percent Biodiesel and 80 percent traditional oil.

B100 is another Biodiesel fuel, which is gaining popularity in this segment as it burns much cleaner than traditional diesel oil.

2. Agriculture: Biodiesel is increasingly being used in this sector as an alternative fuel. Many types of agricultural equipment such as generators, conveyors, tractors, irrigation systems, pickers, pumps and tillers now use these fuels to complete their work.

3. Biodiesel as Lubricating Additive and Parts Cleaner: In order to enhance engine performance, right additives need to be used so as to make the engine last longer. Many different types of fuel pumps and fuel injectors rely on Biodiesel fuel for lubrication. It’s a better lubricant than current low sulfur petroleum.

Biodiesel is also used as a safe part cleaner due to its superior solvent properties thereby reducing skin and eye irritation associated with other cleaners.

4. Biodiesel in Trucks: There is a recent trend in truckers to shift from diesel to Biodiesel fuel. The benefits of this shift are far and large in addition to simply being environment friendly. Many truckers have experienced a significant leap in their mileage while saving dollars on ever rising diesel prices. This also reduces our dependency on foreign oil.

5. Biodiesel Car Rental: Although this comes as a surprise to many, car rental agencies that run on Biodiesel are in operation for more than 5 years now. A Maui and Los Angeles car rental are some such examples. These Biodiesel fuel driven cars easily deliver between 400 to 800 miles per tank. 

6. Tax Incentive: In an effort to reduce green house gas emissions, the IRS is offering tax incentives to anyone producing and using biodiesel fuels. By lowering the cost of the fuel bill, this tax incentive helps the tax paying “average Joe” customers. The US government is also considering funding the biodiesel fuel manufacturers.

7. Cleaner Environment: This is a no brainer, as biodiesel is manufactured from purely renewable sources and it reduces carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by up to 80 percent. Moreover, the solid residual left after using biodiesel easily degrades into natural organic residues, without polluting the environment.

Cumulatively, biodiesel has a huge potential to reduce life threatening and cancer causing compounds in addition to eliminating the air polluting toxic emissions.