Office Equipment Needed
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Have a printer, scanner or computer that is still relatively up to date and in good working order that you don't need? Donate it to the Alliance for Green Heat and get a tax credit. Contact: [email protected]
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| Design Challenge Judge Profile |
James Meigs, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Mechanics, was one of the main voices that helped inspire the Wood Stove Design Challenge. Prior to becoming Editor-of-Chief of Popular Mechanics in 2004, he served as executive editor of National Geographic Adventure since 2001 and vice-president of film magazine Premier between 1996-2000.
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Wood Stove Design Challenge Updates
Finalists Officially Announced! Fourteen finalists have been announced for the Wood Stove Design Challenge. The finalists' stoves will be tested and judged on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in November 2013. The winner will receive $25,000 cash.
 Eight of the judges met at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory to prepare for the Wood Stove Decathlon set for later this year. In addition to selecting finalists, examined a piece of brand new German emissions testing equipment that will likely be used to judge entries at the Decathlon. Judge Norbert Senf posted several pictures of the process here.
Sustainability Nonprofit EESI Supports Design Challenge  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) endorsed the Design Challenge, stating that "increasing the use of cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable wood stoves can be a win-win for helping households struggling with high winter heating bills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and advancing local energy and economic security."
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Alliance for Green Heat Projects & Activities
Open Forum on Wood Stove Innovation at HPBA Expo
Come join an open discussion and debate about what sort of innovation is needed and possible with wood stoves on March 16 at the HPBA Expo in Orlando. There will be several short presentations on the stoves in the Design Challenge, innovation that could be on the horizon - and the limits of innovation. Both Popular Mechanics and Hearth & Home Magazine will cover the forum. Saturday, March 16, 8:00 - 9:15 AM, Orange County Convention Center, room to be announced. For more details email [email protected].
 In May 2010, the Alliance for Green Heat wrote to the IRS, urging them to look into the matter of unqualified outdoor wood boilers claiming to be 75% efficient. The Alliance had found one manufacturer who had certified their unqualified boilers as 75% efficient LHV, allowing customers to claim what was then a $1,500 tax credit.
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Focus on Firewood
Illegal Cutting Increases with Firewood Demand in AK
 As Fairbanks residents struggle with some of the highest energy costs in the country, many are turning to cutting and burning firewood to save money. The surging demand for wood has spawned a growing group of illegal and misguided woodcutters on state, borough and private lands, officials say.
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Consumer Focus
Update: Beware of Ads for 99% Efficient Wood Boilers
Last month, we ran a story about an ad in Mother Earth News ad-
vertising a wood burning furnace as "99.4% comb. efficiency."
The company who makes that boiler responded: "On our website it states 99.4% combustion efficiency (not combined efficiency) which we achieved on one of the tests we had one for efficiency and emissions with Intertek." The company is changing their ad to reflect heating efficiency, not combustion efficiency.
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Focus on Health
EPA released "America's Children and the Environment, Third Edition," a comprehensive compilation of information from a variety of sources on children's health and the environment. The report shows trends for contaminants that may affect children and childhood illnesses and health conditions.
Reduction in Wood Smoke Tied to Reduced Risk of Death
Male deaths from all-causes, but particularly cardiovascular and respiratory disease, could be significantly reduced with a decrease in biomass smoke (smoke produced by domestic cooking and heating and woodland fires), a paper published January 8 on the British Medical Journal website suggests.
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Focus on Low-Income
As 2013 started, 15,983 Pennsylvania households were behind on their heating bills and their power was disconnected. The figures do not include households that may lack heat because they cannot afford the oil to fill empty furnaces. In addition, Iowa LIHEAP reports that about 279,700 households failed to pay their entire utility bills in November 2012 - the highest number for a single month since 1999.With one in four families having to choose between heating and eating, the cold - like the shame - gets into your bones. Parenting website Netmums ran a survey of 1,000 U.K. families, finding that one in four said they had to choose between heating and eating.
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| From the Newsroom
International
In Crisis, Greeks Turn to Wood Burning  Greece: Greece is experiencing terrible air quality on winter nights from increased wood heating, partly because Greeks have few of modern wood and pellet stoves that Northern Europeans have.
Italy: The Italian the holding company of German Pellets Group has acquired a majority stake in a mid-sized Italian power company that develops CHP plants in northern Italy.
State
RFP: Call for Pre-Feasibility Studies on Wood-Fired Heating Projects
AK: The Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation is soliciting pre-feasibility proposals by February 14 from qualified consultants, firms, and organizations that would complete an outlined scope of work in a pre-determined rural Alaskan community.
Borough Can't Enforce Winter Ban on Open Burning
AK: The borough can no longer enforce a winter ban on open burning of brush piles, the borough attorney has concluded. Will they allow cigarette smoking schools and hospitals next?
Center for Biodiversity Files Appeal Over Biomass Project
CA: A group is appealing the latest approval in the proposed two-megawatt Cabin Creek Biomass Energy Facility process. This comes after the Sequoia Foundation published a Health Impact Study saying that the biomass facility will benefit community health.
Inversions Can Spell Hell for Many in the Valley
CO: Since Jan. 18, air quality in low-lying areas of Grand Junction has been worse than Denver's and the amount of fine particulates trapped above the valley are more concentrated than in any other city in Colorado. Wood smoke and vehicles are main causes.
Applications Now Available for Annual Firewood Lottery
CT: The annual firewood lottery offers Connecticut homeowners an opportunity to enjoy the state forests in a unique way by providing a renewable, affordable, locally grown fuel source.
Proposed NH Law Would Target Campfires
NH: A new state Senate proposal would have prohibited all outdoor fires less than 300 feet from a neighboring residence, including camp fires. But after public outcry it was amended to only focus on fires causing health issues.
Wood Stove Change Out Program Not Without Red Tape
 MA: Since Dec. 27, residents have gobbled up more than $1.1 million in vouchers from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the state Department of Energy Resources. Some, however, are disappointed that they aren't given out at time of purchase.
Wood Stove Rebate Program Running Out of Funds
MA: Time is running out to apply for the state's popular wood stove rebate program. After this weekend, the State Dept. of Energy
will not be able to take applications for the rebate program.
Get Your Green Back: Wood Stoves May Save the Most
NY: Comparing the heat value, measured in BTUs, electric heaters are much more expensive and much less efficient in heating large spaces compared to wood and pellet stoves.
Springfield Biomass Project Moving Forward
VT: A 35 megawatt wood chip fueled power plant is being prepared for Springfield. Developers expect to break ground in the summer.
Company 'Adopts' Vermont Castings Name
VT: The Paris, KY parent company of wood stove maker Vermont Castings is changing its corporate name from Monessen Hearth Systems to Vermont Castings.
Firewood Charity Program Enters Fifth Year
VT: Going into their fifth year of helping local Vermonters "be safe and stay warm," Silent Heat and their volunteers have helped nearly 85 families and friends with free firewood in 15 local towns.
Heat Tax Gets Cold Reception
VT: A proposal that would levy a carbon tax on heating oil and propane to fund Vermont's weatherization program has received a cold reception from fuel dealers.
WA: Rod Tinnemore of the Washington State Department of Ecology explains the differences between wood heating equipment and the Washington State regulations that apply to each.
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Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Wels, Austria, February 27 - March 1, 2013
The World Sustainable Energy Conference is one of the largest annual conferences on sustainable energy in Europe.
European Pellet Conference
Wels, Austria, February 27 - 28, 2013
With over 600 participants every year, this conference is the largest annual pellet event in the world.
Canadian Wood Pellet Heating Conference
Quebec City, Quebec, February 27-March 1, 2013
Organized by the Wood Pellet Association of Canada and the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, this event will allow visitors to learn, share and discuss issues and opportunities for pellets in Canada.
Hearth, Patio, & Barbeque Expo
Orlando, FL, March 13 - 16, 2013
North America's largest indoor-outdoor living showcase.
Northeast Biomass Heating Expo
Sarato ga Springs, NY, April 3 - 5, 2013
The 5th annual event unites a diverse audience from the biomass community to break barriers and ground for biomass thermal and CHP systems.
International Biomass Conference & Expo
Minneapolis, MN, April 8 - 10, 2013
The largest gathering of biomass professionals in North America.
 Carlton, MN, April 24 - 26, 2013
The event brings together those interested in supporting and expanding the use of biomass for heat and CHP in the Midwest.
Pellet Fuel Institute Annual Conference
Asheville, North Carolina, July 28 - 30, 2013
PFI's annual event dedicated to the pellet industry.
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Photo of the Month: Celebrity Stoves
 Nelson Mandela's wood/coal stove in Johanesburg. Click the photo to see more wood stoves that belonged to famous politicians.
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