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Stay up to date with all things wood heat. All the cool kids are doing it! To sign up,
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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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Pellet Stove Challenge Update
 A German designed Wittus stove that and a stove made by Seraph Industries, the smallest U.S. pellet stove manufacture, won first and second place in the 2016 Pellet Stove Design Challenge.
 Tom Butcher, leader of the Energy Conversion Group at Brookhaven National Lab, says that burning wood fuel cleanly and efficiently is not rocket science-it's harder. The truth of that remark was on display at Brookhaven Lab last week. Biomass Magazine also covered the event.
 The latest design challenge in twenty-two photos. Most of the powerpoint presentations are now available with more coming soon. The participant feedback survey shows an appetite for this kind of event and interest in bringing it back to the National Mall in 2017. Uuni, a Scottish company, developed an affordable, portable pizza oven fired with pellets. They donated one to the Design Challenge to give away to a lucky participant. Dave Atkins from Montana was selected in a random drawing. |
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Past Design Challenge Participants
 The young company has built a wood stove that burns cleaner than anything on the market today. And it's equipped with a unique smart fan that can be controlled through its phone app. MF Fire falls into what I'd call the "sweet spot" for equity crowdfunding.
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AGH Projects & Activities
Turns out some expensive models are even less efficient than the cheap big box models. This is an independent assessment of models from Harman, Enviro, Englander, Piazzetta, Ravelli, and Quadrafire. Next month, we will have data on the St Croix Prescott and the Pleasant Hearth PH35PS, a $1,100 pellet stove that claims 0.34 grams an hour and 85% efficiency, which would make it the lowest PM pellet stove on the US market.
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International
International: The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is working on reducing black carbon from developing world cook stoves and is now looking at writing standards and test protocols for evaluating emission reductions of black carbon from wood heating stoves. For more info, contact Jane Metcalfe at [email protected].
Canada: When new regulations in Ontario require that home inspectors be licensed, we trust it will include training on how to inspect wood stoves along with fossil fuel furnaces and boilers.
Ireland: The new rules mean all new builds must meet a far higher level of eco-efficiency. Installing an open fireplace in your home will make this far more difficult and expensive.
United Kingdom: Proposed changes to the UK's Renewable Heat Incentive include preventing large homes claiming too much of the budget and allowing households to reassign their payments to companies that have installed the stove or boiler.
States
AK: The environmental law firm Earthjustice says it is is suing the EPA for its failure approve or reject a state plan to address air pollution in Fairbanks.
AK: An estimated 250 hydronic heaters in Fairbanks and North Pole would be outlawed under a measure coming for a vote.
MI: A Lansing alderman and her husband are embroiled in a legal dispute with a neighbor who claims that smoke from the couple's wood stove is causing health problems.
MN: A video showing the durability of a residential indoor boiler after 25 years of use.
MT: Carlson retires after 41 years defending the Missoula Valley's air and water quality. He helped create the nation's first municipal air quality regulations to control wood-stove pollution.
NY: New York released its long awaited road map for wood heating. It's 700 pages and starts with this: A clean, high-efficiency wood-heat industry has great potential for growth in New York State.
OR: This summer, a county will use grants to begin a five-year effort to get the most dangerous stoves out of commission.
VT: "Even with today's low oil prices, we are seeing an increased interest in switching to local, bulk pellets."
WA: Commercial logging sometimes goes to firewood more than other times, but the value of firewood is low, and would reduce profits the county gets from harvests.
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Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Bend, OR, May 11, 2016
A working meeting of Oregon stakeholders to provide input to the legislature on how to reduce wood smoke in Oregon.
Albany, NY, May 25-26, 2016
Through interactive and innovative sessions, attendees will learn about updates on energy assistance programs, low-income energy policy, and best practices for low-income consumer engagement.
Denver, CO, June 6-8, 2016
For 28 years, our annual conference is the nation's leading annual meeting of energy assistance leaders.
24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Amsterdam, June 6-9, 2016
EUBCE covers the entire value chain of biomass from sustainability to policy to technology of both heat and power sectors.
Washington, DC, June 12, 2016 The EXPO and Forum will bring together up to 50 organizations showcasing a cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies.
Belgium, June 15, 2016 Exploring strategies and practicing shaping the policy framework in the "year of delivery."
Asheville, NC, July 24-26, 2016
The PFI Annual Conference highlights the various applications of densified biomass.
Antique Stove Association Annual Show and Conference Save the date: Brainerd, MN, August 14-16, 2016 $100 registration (including brunch and a dinner cruise). Questions? 218-828-1981.
International Training Seminar Biomass Heating
Linz, Austria, September 12-15, 2016
The seminar offers interactive learning in an international group, educational site-visits and presentations by experts in biomass technologies, market development and environment.
Escanaba, MI, October 11-13, 2016
Program, registration and sponsorship/vendor details forthcoming.
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Misleading Advertisement of the Month
US Stove exempt Wonderlux Dual Fuel Heater: "Burns Wood or Coal"
It's not hard to find new EPA exempt stoves on the market, five months after they became illegal to sell. More often than not, they are made by US Stove, or its subsidiary, Vogelzang. Here's a screen shot of their Wonderlux.
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