10 February 2009
Households in Norfolk have been taking part in a new trial that sees them heat their homes with used cooking oil.
The renewable fuel - made from vegetable oil and animal fat - can be used in existing boilers and researchers claim it could play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from homes that use heating oil.
It is being tested by residents in the market town of Reepham, as well as local schools, to see whether renewable heating oil can be a viable solution.
Andrew Robertson of the Clean Energy Consultancy told the Times that it is "preferable" to use biofuels to heat homes rather than to power vehicles.
"About a third of the energy from biofuel goes towards pushing the car forward - the other two-thirds are wasted as heat and noise. In a boiler, 90% is used in heating and only 10% goes up the flue," he explained.
In December, the BBC reported that the commission for rural communities was urging the government to do more to help households with oil-based heating systems, who are paying higher prices than those using gas and electricity.