We will pursue multiple strategies to reduce heating fuel usage and enforce stricter emission standards in buildings
Our energy strategy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating fuel by 17% through promoting efficiency and improving building insulation. This will also lead to significant reduction in SO2, NOX, and PM 2.5 emissions. But we can reduce these emissions further by improving the environmental performance of the fuels we use. (See chart above: Comparison of Heating Fuel Emissions)

Heating oil is classified into six types, numbered one through six, based on its boiling temperature, composition, and purpose. The higher numbers are heavier, more viscous, and tend to emit more pollutants when burned. They are also the least expensive. Fuel oils No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 tend to burn more cleanly and are more costly to purchase. Each of these fuels can have higher or lower concentrations of sulfur, which also impacts the pollution they produce.

Currently, buildings have the option of using either a standard home heating oil-No. 2 fuel with 2,000 sulfur parts per million (ppm)-or a heavier No. 6 fuel. Other cleaner fuel options exist, including natural gas bio-diesel, and cleaner grades of heating oil.

We will lower the maximum sulfur content in heating fuel from 2,000 ppm to 500 ppm
Currently the sulfur content in No. 2 heating oil-the most commonly used heating oil in the city-is capped at 2,000 ppm. Lowering that cap to 500 ppm, a grade also known as "low-sulfur" that until recently was used for on-road diesel, would result in significant reductions in criteria emissions, with little impact on fuel cost. The City will work with the State to lower the maximum sulfur content permitted in No. 2 fuel used for heating buildings to 500 ppm, creating significant air quality improvements with a modest increase in fuel cost. This grade is readily available and is the current standard in much of New England.

This reduction in the maximum sulfur content in No. 2 heating oil will result in 85% reductions of SO2 and roughly 50% reductions in PM 2.5. This alone will reduce overall PM 2.5 emissions in the city by 5%. This change will also improve burner efficiency, thereby reducing the amount of fuel consumed. In addition, furnaces burning cleaner fuel do not have to be serviced as frequently. This will reduce operating costs for the customer, generating savings that outweigh the increased cost of the fuel.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
The City met with industry and community stakeholders to evaluate local and statewide air code changes that will ensure an adequate and affordable supply of heating oil. On June 11, the City announced a commitment to introduce a B5 biodiesel blend into City boilers. The City released a contract for the purchase of B5 blends of heating oil in its No. 2 oil burners, and is planning to conduct pilots of biodiesel blends in its No. 4 and No. 6 boilers. We will assist and complement the regulatory efforts by the State and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management network; the NYS DEC's recent regulatory calendar commits the State to promulgate a sulfur cap this year, and the City will support that rulemaking. The City developed a bioheating oil blends study and testified on it in a City Council hearing. Based on concerns raised on potential harmful effects of biofuels, the City is assessing the timeline; particularly in light of the expected publication of sustainability guidelines by the California Air Resources Board and the EPA. The City is formulating a broader policy to reduce harmful air pollution from heating fuel, by analyzing other cost-effective methods for reducing pollution from that sector.

We will reduce emissions from boilers in 100 city public schools
Currently, 478 city schools burn No. 4 or No. 6 heating oil; many of these are in neighborhoods where the asthma rates are over three times higher than the national average. By 2017, the City will modify the boiler systems of 100 of these schools, to enable the boilers to burn a cleaner fuel. Schools located in neighborhoods with the highest asthma hospitalization rates-generally rates greater than seven per 1000-will be prioritized in order to achieve the maximum local benefits.

These neighborhoods are concentrated in the Bronx, Harlem, Central Brooklyn, and along Jamaica Bay. On average, boiler replacement will cost $5.7 million per school. The cleaner burning boilers will emit 44% less PM 2.5 emissions. Additional benefits will be lower maintenance expenses and CO2 reductions in the range of 50% because of fuel switching and increased efficiencies, as well as reduced maintenance expenses.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
With the PlaNYC funds, the School Construction Authority (SCA) has begun boiler conversions at two schools. Three other projects have been put out to bid, three are in design phase and nine are in scope development phase. The SCA is working with the City to develop a strategy to target schools in high asthma neighborhoods across the City for burner replacements or boiler conversions.