EnvironmentalBenefits of E15
A Greener,
Cleaner Fuel
Biofuels have helped to reduce both greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions in the U.S. transportation sector, but we are just getting started. E15 can do more.
Bioethanol's environmental edge: Study Shows Significant Emission Reductions
The most recent scientific findings demonstrate that bioethanol offers a reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the rate of improvement is increasing with time. A study conducted by Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc., a multi-disciplinary team of environmental health scientists and engineers from Harvard and Tufts Universities, found that corn ethanol has a 46% lower carbon intensity on average compared to traditional gasoline.
From E10 to E15: Nationwide Shift Cuts 17.62 Million Tons of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
These results align with recent studies conducted by the Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture, which have consistently shown that bioethanol leads to a 40-43% reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to gasoline. Air Improvement, Inc. conducted another study indicating that transitioning from E10 to E15 nationwide would result in a noteworthy reduction of 17.62 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction is equivalent to removing more than 3.85 million vehicles from the road each year.
Why your fuel choice matters
Biothanol serves as a substitute for benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene (BTEX) in gasoline. Both bioethanol and BTEX are interchangeable fuel additives that enhance the octane rating of fuel, but BTEX poses significant risks to human health, including negative impacts on developmental, reproductive, immunological, and the cardiopulmonary system.
By shifting away from petroleum-based BTEX, to a renewable biofuel comprising 15% bioethanol, we can make a positive impact on air quality in densely populated urban areas that have been disproportionately affected by air pollution and associated health hazards.
E15 improves Air Quality
Lead researcher and principal economist, Dr. Steffen Mueller from the University of Illinois at Chicago, highlights the potential benefits of adopting higher bioethanol blends, such as E15, in reducing the emissions of toxic and carcinogenic particulate matter. These blends also minimize the release of compounds with high ozone-forming potential, thereby protecting the immune, nervous, and respiratory systems.
The use of bioethanol, a pure compound containing 35% oxygen, promotes cleaner and more complete combustion compared to gasoline, which can contain as many as 1,000 unique compounds. Reducing these emissions means fewer cases of respiratory illnesses, asthma, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and even fewer premature deaths.
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