Alliance for Green Heat Projects & Activities 

What sort of stoves may be on the marketplace in 10 years from now? Are more rapid technology advances needed or achievable? Take this survey and let us know what you think. The results will be in the September issue of the newsletter. Thank you for your participation!

Wood Stoves Included in Energy Audit Standards

Wood stoves are beginning to be formally included in standards used by energy auditors, recommending that old stoves be upgraded. The initiative marks a new strategy by the Alliance for Green Heat in the movement to change-out millions of inefficient and polluting wood stoves.  

The EPA Efficiency Debate: Required or Reported?

The Alliance for Green Heat believes that a minimum efficiency standard is needed. The only question is where the bar should be set and when. Minimum efficiency requirements are becoming standard for major appliances and we believe wood and pellet stoves are better served by being part of the energy efficiency mainstream, not fighting to be outside of it.

Derecho Creates Firewood Bonanza in Mid-Atlantic Region

The derecho storm at the end of June left millions without power. However, this also resulted in a bonanza of free firewood in a part of the country more accustomed to treating firewood as waste than as a valuable, low carbon-fuel. How can this wood be best used?

Wood Stove Exhibit at DC Green Festival

The Alliance is hosting an exhibit of wood stoves at the DC Green Festival on September 29th and 30th. The Festival is heavily attended by residential solar and geothermal companies - and federal agencies and officials. Modern stove technology from Hwam, Tulikivi and Caluwe will be featured. We'll be in booth #1508, on the corner of renewable energy wing. See you there!

Washington Watch          

Congress May Extend Biomass Stove Tax Credit

The 25C tax credit for wood and pellet stoves and boilers that began at $1,500 in 2009, dropped to $300 in 2001, and then expired last January, may return. While nothing is expected to be passed in Congress before the election, a variety of bills could be passed soon after, during what is know as a "lame duck session."

Feature on Sustainability       

Europeans to Demand Pellet Sustainability Standards

Studies conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund and the Pinchot Institute for Conservation say producers of wood pellets in the U.S. will need to meet or exceed sustainability standards set by the European Union and individual European countries.

Feature on Electricity         

When the price of oil goes up, it goes up for everyone. But electricity rates vary widely by state, with residents of some states paying nearly half of what people living in other states pay. How does that difference in electric rates across the nation impact wood heat?

Focus on Firewood          

Pollution Debate Split Over Role of Wet Wood

In a debate over wood smoke pollution, the Bay of Plenty Council- which implements Rotorua, New Zealand's Air Quality bylaw-says wet wood is the least of the city's concerns and it's the type of wood stove used that causes 99 percent of air quality issues. 

NY Revises Firewood Transport Regulation 

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) announced earlier this month that the 2009 regulations have been revised and will prohibit movement of untreated firewood to no more than 50 miles from its source.

Pellet News          

PFI June 2012 Wood Pellets Market Update

(Average price per ton)

Northeast: $165-190 range. Operating capacities range from 50-100%. Manufacturers report being behind last year in sales.

Midwest: $145-165 range. Most manufacturers report sufficient raw material availability and poor to average sales volumes.

Southeast: $135-190 range. The majority of manufacturers anticipate an upward price trend.

Northwest & Mountain: $145-148 range. Manufacturers report average to good sales volumes, similar or better than last year.

Woodmaster to Make Swedish Boilers in U.S.

Sweden-based ABioNova and Minnesota-based Woodmaster celebrated their first "Made in America" commercial wood pellet boiler system installations in Minnesota. The international partnership aims to manufacture locally and distribute the European-based technology. 

Featured Product      

Rika's "Como" Pellet Stove

International

 

Australia Wood Smoke Pilot Project 

AUSTRALIA: In the hopes of encouraging local councils to implement policies that support wood heating, the Firewood Association of Australia Inc. has developed a proposal regarding a pilot program to reduce nuisance wood smoke complaints. 

 

The Energy Strategy of Upper Austria

AUSTRIA: The industrialized Province

of Upper Austria with 1.4 million inhabitant now gets 24% of its energy from renewables and 47% of its heat from renewables. Hydro and biomass make up most of renewables. While solar is growing, it's still not big enough to be listed on the pie chart. 

 

A Short History of Woodsmoke and Implications for Chile

AK: A ballot initiative would prohibit any regulation of wood burning, from burning painted or treated wood, to installing an unqualified outdoor wood boiler downtown Fairbanks. 

Coast Guard Prepares for Switch to Pellets

AK: The U.S. Coast Guard station in Sitka, Alaska is abandoning oil. The big switch to a wood pellet heating instead of oil, is part of the Coast Guard's effort to become more energy efficient. 

 

North American Environmental Officials Share Briefings

AK: Officials from the United States, Mexico and Canada meeting in New Orleans were briefed on concerns facing homeland communities, including indoor air pollution in Alaska. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium showed that replacing traditional wood stoves and kerosene heater with modern versions dramatically cut pollution in indigenous villages.

 

Backyard Burning Banned

HI: Backyard burning has officially and finally been banned in all of Hawaii's islands. 

 

MassSave Heat Loan

MA: MassSave's Heat Loan Program provides 0% loans to install energy efficient improvements. The loans are available up to $25,000 with terms up to 7 years. The customer must own a one-to-four-family residence and have a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment. Efficient wood and pellet stoves are eligible. 

 

North Country's Wood Pellet Heat Industry Struggles

NY: A few years ago, there was a sort of boom in the pellet stove industry. But now the market has sagged. In fact, local companies say the technology needs to get even easier and more user-friendly for more consumers to give it a try.

 

Township Enacts Stricter Outdoor Boiler Laws

PA: Findlay Township approved regulations to control outdoor boiler emissions. Pennsylvania already requires Phase 2 outdoor boilers and 50 feet setbacks, but the rural township wanted more protection and increased the property setbacks from 50 to 100 feet and requires a stack 2 feet above any residence within 500 feet. 

 

U.S. Stove Company Acquires Vogelzang

TN: U.S. Stove announced the acquisition of the assets of Vogelzang International, a Michigan based company that imports stoves and heaters. The acquisition marks a consolidation of two leading brands known in part for their value products. U.S. Stove and Vogelzang had been primary outlets for exempt stoves.

 

Utah Pollution Fight Tackles Furnaces, Fireplaces

UT: Utah is looking to cut more emissions, including fireplaces or furnaces in homes.

 

Vermont Energy Leaders Combining Efforts to Advance Sustainable Energy Locally and Nationally

VT: Two of Vermont's leading energy organizations, the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) and the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC), are combining efforts to further the advancement of sustainable energy in Vermont and beyond. 

 

Spokane Clean Air Offers Rebates on Wood Stove Upgrades

WA: The Spokane Air Agency is offering rebates for a new stove for people who "regularly" heat their homes with old stoves. The application doesn't define "regularly", but it is great to see change-out funds reserved for stoves that are used more than others. They are also collecting useful data about burning habits of those who trade in old stoves. That information will be useful to others.

 

West Virginia Bill Seeks Tax Credit for Stoves

WV: For the second (or third) time, state legislators entered a bill that would give a $300 state tax credit for a new pellet stove or EPA certified wood stove and an additional one-time tax credit of $300 for wood pellets purchased in West Virginia. 

 

"For thousands of years, forests have played a crucial role in absorbing and storing whatever carbon is emitted into the atmosphere. And it was smooth sailing until we started pumping record amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere...In terms of battling climate change, forests are tough to beat: they're not waiting for government seed funding or venture capital for research; they don't require a senate supermajority. Forests just need to be allowed to do what they do so well."

-Todd Paglia, E.D. Forest Ethics