As machines get bigger on the farm, there’s a lot more used oil and hydraulic fluid to discard, which could be costly. Shop heaters that run on waste oil offer a disposal method that is not only free, but also better for the environment. And then there’s the benefit of free heating oil!

Clean Energy is a waste-oil furnace manufacturer that “pushes the limits of technology” and builds high-quality heaters, according to the company.

Some of features and benefits of Clean Energy furnaces are:

  • Stainless-steel heat exchanger to eliminate rust
  • Longer service intervals
  • High-velocity, air-swept heat exchanger produces more heat
  • Easy cleaning (over center latches on doors)
  • Dependable, easy-to-install metering pump
  • Digital, programmable burner control

The company sells furnaces that heat a variety of space sizes (in square footage) — 4,000, 5,000, 7,000 and 9,000.

Here’s Clean Energy’s comparison of waste oil to the cost of other sources of heat:*

Waste Oil vs. Propane
BTU per gallon: 91,502
Cost per gallon: $3.30
1 gallon of waste oil = 1.53 gallons of propane
Save $5.05 in propane costs for every gallon of waste oil burned.

Waste Oil vs. Fuel Oil
BTU per gallon: 140,000
Cost per gallon: $4.22
1 gallon of waste oil = 1 gallon of fuel oil
Save $4.22 in fuel oil costs for every gallon of waste oil burned.

Waste Oil vs. Natural Gas
BTU per cubic foot: 1,000
Cost per cubic foot: $.02
1 gallon of waste oil = 141 cubic feet of natural gas
Save $2.82 in natural gas costs for every gallon of waste oil burned.

Waste Oil vs. Electric
BTU per kWh: 3,412
Cost per kWh: $.117
1 gallon of waste oil = 41.2 kWh
Save $4.82 in electric costs for every gallon of waste oil burned.

* Please note that calculations may be subject to change, and are based on estimated fuel costs in the Mid-Atlantic region in March 2014.