An author's implication that diesel auto drivers are selfishly contaminating our planet just to take advantage of paying 10 cents less per gallon of fuel is interesting. Pledging to buy a hybrid vehicle someday and recommending that others as well as city and state agencies do the same is fine.

But, when the author then claims that the use of home heating oil (diesel) is justified because it "is necessary for survival at this point" the soft green underbelly is exposed. That statement is downright ridiculous, hypocritical and untrue. The use of diesel for heat is almost always a conscious decision but it is reversible.

There are several alternatives to home heating oil that offer equal or superior comfort and convenience. HEA offers a very clean energy source. Their product is derived from 15 percent hydroelectric operations and 85 percent clean burning natural gas turbines. Electricity is clean and versatile, it offers the homeowner a good source of energy the best choice for the green minded, in my opinion.

Another relatively clean alternative is propane. Propane is by far cleaner to burn than diesel and equally convenient.

So why then do folks or organizations (Keeper etc.) striving or claiming to be "earth friendly" continue to heat with diesel? Does the author consider this a selfish act? Are they compromising our air and risking spills just to save a buck? Do they realize that the modern boiler of furnace has no significant environmental or emissions controls?

Modern diesel vehicles, to the contrary, are extremely efficient and loaded with technology to reduce emissions.

Many of them are equipped with oxygen sensors, radium or palladium converters, exhaust gas recirculation features and sophisticated digital control systems. All these devices are designed to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions.

Your boiler or furnace (including Monitor and Toyo) has none of these environmental controls. If you are heating with diesel, don't fool yourself you are a willing polluter.

Consider this: the typical oil burning home in Homer uses about 690 gallons of fuel per year. This is equivalent to driving an evil, fuel-guzzling SUV over 11,000 miles every single year. Well not actually equivalent. You see, the SUV has pollution controls and must meet environmental standards. Can a fuel oil user really claim to be green and comfortably pass judgment on the lifestyles of others?

I would expect any individual who sincerely wants to "create clean air" to simply convert their oil fired heating appliance to propane it can be done, and it's enduring. It is like getting your current SUV (the one without pollution controls) off the road! An honorable deed certainly worthy of recognition and possibly an e-award, eh?

I suspect that you will continue to choose oil burning for heat, like me, you'll do it for the same selfish reason it is very economical. It allows one to focus on more glorious and satisfying acts of consumerism, like buying a politically correct hybrid car or solar collector.

Kent Redmon is a Homer resident.