Category Archives: NORA

21Mar/17

Q & A with Dr. Butcher about NORA Research & Education Center

NORA, Research, technology, Uncategorized

In 2016, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), in collaboration with the New York Oil Heating Association (NYOHA) and Oil Heat Comfort Corp., opened a research and training facility the—NORA Research & Education Center, in Plainview, NY, under the direction of Dr. Thomas Butcher.

Indoor Comfort Marketing’s publisher, Don Farrell, spoke to Dr. Butcher about the lab, its funding, its staffing, its projects and its goals.

Don Farrell: What is the official name of the research center and what is its mission?

Tom Butcher: The official name is NORA Research & Education Center. The mission of the research part is to support the development of advanced technologies that lead to improved efficiency, increased integration of renewable fuels and enhanced reliability of liquid fuels heating systems. Liquid fuels are traditional petroleum-based fuels and also biofuels such as biodiesel and other wood-derived liquid fuels.

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20Jan/17

NORA adds two new online Video Courses

Education, NORA

NORA has added two new online video courses at its education website, Learning.NORAweb.org.

The courses come to NORA through two of the leading manufacturers of heating System components; Taco, Cranston, RI and Honeywell, Golden Valley, MN.

  • The Taco course is titled: How and Why to Use Outdoor Reset
  • The Honeywell course is titled: Universal Oil Burner Primary Control R7284U

The courses each carry 2 continuing education credits (CEUs) that can be used for NORA Oilheat Technician Certification Program re-certification.

27Sep/16

Fuel Savings Analysis 2.0 Now Available

NORA, Research, technology

The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) has released the new version of its Fuel Savings Analysis Calculator, which uses test data on oil-fired boilers to demonstrate the value of equipment upgrades with consumer-friendly metrics.

The FSA calculator can help Oilheat salespeople overcome the limitations of the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) metric. AFUE is a measure of how efficient an appliance is in converting the energy in its fuel to heat over the course of a typical year, and the Federal Trade Commission requires all new furnaces or boilers to display their AFUE for the benefit of consumers.

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15Sep/16

NORA Technical Workshshop

NORA, Research, technology

A varied assembly of 50 industry professionals met in Newport, RI to hear about the latest in oilheat technology advances. The workshop, hosted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) and crafted by NORA’s Director of Research, Dr. Thomas Butcher, featured 21 presenters covering topics under four major categories: Advanced Burner Concepts, Ultra Low Sulfur Heating Oil and Premium Fuels, Biofuels and Advanced Equipment. Continue reading →

18May/16

Coming Soon…FSA 2.0. Reserve yours.

NORA

One of NORA’s most useful and helpful tools, the Fuel Savings Analysis Calculator is currently in the final stages of a major update. The new and improved FSA Calculator 2.0 will provide a number of never-before-seen features, as well as powerful and streamlined enhancements to the existing platform.

  • Cloud Based. Can Be Accessed on any Internet Enabled Device
  • Responsive Design Auto Scales to Desktop, Laptop, Tablet or Smart Phone
  • Mobile Friendly Interface for Improved Use in the Field
  • Users Set Up Individual Password-Protected Accounts
  • Choose from Four Existing Equipment Presets and Six New Equipment Presets
  • Users Can Modify and Save any Equipment Presets
  • Simple Mode for Consumers and Laymen
  • Advanced Mode for Skilled Technicians
  • New Expanded Location/Temperature Data
  • Consumers See Multiple Upgrade Options at 5, 15 & 20 Year ROI
  • Results and Recommendations Can Be Saved and Shared
  • Mobile Apps for iOS and Android Currently in Developmen

Register here to receive an email update when FSA 2.0 is available.

29Mar/16

NORA Releases Product Development Program Opportunity Notice

NORA
[ezcol_1half]The National Oilheat Research Alliance Board of Directors in its budgets for 2015 and 2016, has authorized funds to be spent on the project areas listed below.

Successful research, development and demonstrations grants in the past ranged from $20,000 to $350,000. All projects will be managed by NORA’s Liquid Fuels Research Center (LFRC).

NORA PON No. 2016-001 seeks proposals to support the development,demonstration,and commercialization of Oilheat
technologies and systems in the following categories:
Category A: System Level Controls
Category B: New Appliances
Category C: Other New Ideas[/ezcol_1half]

Under PON No.2016-001, NORA plans to award multiple cost-shared contracts in Categories A through C up to a total of $350,000 for each award.

This funding allocation may be adjusted based upon the quantity and quality of the proposals received.

There is no minimum project funding amount per project award.

Proposals are due June 27, 2016 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Open full notice here. 

04Jan/16

NORA embarks on a $1 million consumer outreach program

NORA
Using the internet and social media to bring a half-million visitors to its consumer website 

The decade from 2004 through 2014 was one of the most challenging ever for the oilheating industry. Warm winters, high and volatile fuel prices and strong political and environmental movements against hydrocarbon fuels all converged to make a difficult time for both heating oil suppliers and consumers.

Fortunately, the industry has been rewarded with a collapse in fuel prices- currently the lowest crude prices in 11 years. Additionally, through the leadership of NORA and numerous state and regional associations working with NORA, the industry has begun to transition to low-carbon and renewable fuels.

The next step is to make sure oilheat customers aware of these important positive changes so they will know their loyalty to oilheat has been rewarded.

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07Oct/15

Oilheated homes can expect low fuel costs.

NORA
[ezcol_1half]

Homeowners can expect lower heating prices both short and long-term.

Homeowners who heat their houses with heating oil will see lower prices this winter and for the foreseeable future.  Dramatic increases in production combined with ample and increasing inventories have driven the price of home heating oil down to levels not seen in years.

Prices have dropped across the entire heating oil marketing footprint. Heating oil closed on the NYMEX this past Friday, October 2 approximately 15% lower than the same time last year and almost half the price at the close of October 4, 2013—just two years ago. Continue reading →