There are many good reasons why biodiesel is a good fuel alternative to gasoline. Primarily, it is safer to the environment because it completely comes from renewable sources, is non-toxic, burns clean, and is totally biodegradable.  Secondly, it is a renewable fuel and can easily be sourced out from natural, safe resources such as vegetable oils, soybean oils, canola oils, recycled cooking oils, sunflower oils, and animal fats.

Used as an alternative fuel, biodiesel has more benefits compared to petroleum.  Its engine performance is either equal or even better than that of petroleum and it is readily available for people’s automobile use as it can be found in around 800 locations around the United States with 600 fleets currently using biodiesel blends.  In 2005, an estimated 75 million gallons of biodiesel were sold, according a website of the US Environmental Protection Act.

Because of its safety and environmental-friendly components, biodiesel passed the standards of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and has subsequently been tested for all other environmental safety standard requirements by the government and passed them all compared to other alternative fuels which had some harmful components.  As an alternative fuel, biodiesel also cuts greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by over 50 percent compared to petroleum diesel which only reduces GHG emissions by 10 percent, according to a report by the US Department of Energy.  With people becoming more aware about the protection of the natural environment and making individual contributions to stop the global warming, the use of biodiesel in everyday personal automobile use is seen as one big step in this endeavor.  Environmental groups are also seen to push for greater efforts toward achieving this universal goal.

Converting to biodiesel is easy as it works with most current diesel engines.  While it is presently more expensive than the regular gasoline sold for automobile use, the price is expected to go down in the coming years as more people convert to it and the demand increases.  Since it can be made from natural resources which are readily available within the country, responding to an increasing demand is expected to be met without so much as a problem from the levels of production, marketing, and distribution.  The expected increase in the people’s need for a more safe and environmental-friendly fuel in biodiesel is seen as a positive response to the growing concern in global warming.  A study revealed that an estimated 33 percent of vehicle harmful emissions contribute to the global warming phenomena.

While touted as the best alternative fuel of the new future, biodiesel is not only highly recommended for daily automobile use, but is also being pushed as another alternative energy source for both generating and heating purposes.  A test conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) revealed that 80 percent low-sulfur heating oil and a 20 percent biodiesel (B20) decreased emissions of sulfur oxide by almost 80 percent or even more.  Emissions of nitrogen oxide decreased by around 20 percent while carbon dioxide similarly lowered by 20 percent.

Going “green” in everything that people do is the new way to doing things.  From recycling to reusing to reducing to making use of renewable and alternative sources of energy such as biodiesel, solar heat, water, and wind lead to better earth preservation and living in harmony with nature.  Biodiesel is the future in alternative fuel, knowing that already people must do their share in saving our environment and start using what is only the best and safest for both man and the earth.