Volume 102

Green Heat News
February 2018
4th Wood Stove Design Challenge

Today is the final deadline to apply to be a contestant in the Wood Stove Design Challenge. So far, 7 more teams are applying and you can see 5 of them here . AGH and the DOE already announced 8 finalists . The Organizing Committee next meets on Feb. 12 to select the final teams. Ten thousand dollar grants are available for three more teams, and other teams can apply and compete with DOE funding.





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Thanks to the Bioenergy Technology Office at the DOE, NYSERDA, Osprey Foundation, the US Forest Service, the Masonry Heater Association, the HPBA, Myren Labs, and Schott Robax glass!
AGH Projects and Activities
Since AGH’s founding in 2009, one of our activities is to engage with media outlets, letting them know when they do a great job – or a poor job. Here, AGH wrote a letter to the editor about an Appalachian Mountain Club article on how to build a wood stove fire like a pro.

AGH at the HBPA Expo in Nashville
AGH will again be at HPBA Expo to keep up with industry trends, meet test lab experts and network with old and new friends. AGH President John Ackerly will also be making a presentation at a parallel EPA wood smoke workshop that engages state and local air quality and change out officials.

Many thanks to St. Croix stoves for removing erroneous efficiency claims in their consumer brochures. AGH highlighted a discrepancy in their advertising and St. Croix quickly corrected it. Consumers - and retailers - should always check the EPA list of stoves for reliable efficiency ratings.








Focus on EPA and the NSPS
AGH urges changes to the EPA list of wood & pellet stoves
The list of EPA certified stoves is an essential document and tool for consumers, retailers, manufacturers, change out program managers and others. AGH is urging the EPA to some key detail to the list, including whether stoves are 2020 compliant, if they tested with cribs or cordwood, and to reconsider the term non-catalytic stove.


Focus on institutional scale heating
An incisive, in-depth look at the state - and future - of advanced wood heating in New England. Written by Marcus Kauffman and published by TreeSource.org.

More good journalism on wood heat from TreeSource.org run by Dave Atkins, an AGH Board member. This article explores the economic and cultural links between viability of small schools in Alaska and wood heating systems.

The use of wood energy for heating in the central Upper Peninsula has largely been stable, MSU Extension Forester/Biologist Bill Cook says. According to Cook, wood can be an effective choice for the heating needs of institutions and households alike.

The Vermont State Wood Energy Team produced comprehensive guides to educate administrators, building managers, and school boards about the possibilities for wood heat as a lower-cost, more predictable, stable, and local energy source.






Focus on regulations
About 39% of Montreal's air pollution is from wood burning, and about one quarter of that is commercial food production. Transportation is at 45%. "We can't work on the domestic side and ignore the commercial," says city officials. St-Viateur Bagel has just installed a $150,000 system to scrub pollutants.

“If open-hearth fireplaces are emitting 10 times more particulate matter per hour than other sources, she said they don’t have to be used often to cause some “pretty significant” emissions – even if they’re only being used a few times a year for ambiance.”
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Focus on wood smoke and air quality monitoring
Science classes at Pinehurst Elementary School in Idaho will be receiving indoor air samplers to measure wood smoke particulates around them. Go kids!

Keene NH hasn’t exceeded the federal health standard for fine particulate pollution since 2013! That is great news and due in part to several wood stove change out programs.

In the 1970s, burning wood seemed like a very patriotic thing to do at the time, even after the embargo ended. I took great pleasure in being self-sufficient and not have to rely on “fossil fuel.” In retrospect, it was probably not a good choice. 

A borough in Alaska rejects largely voluntary measures to prevent area from going into non-attainment, a designation that all districts want to avoid. Flyers in advance of vote claimed the government was about to take away peoples' wood stoves.
Focus on change-outs
If $800,000 is scooped up in 15 hours, it likely means the incentive levels are too high. They could benefit more families and clean up the air faster by lowering benefit levels by $100 - $500.

A Northern Idaho change out is now underway and is run by
Dan Smith one of the very few change out managers in the country who got NFI certified. "NFI certification really helped me establish and guide the program," Dan told AGH.

Maricopa County, AZ, home to Phoenix, the states's largest city is one of few counties to give rebates to install catalysts in wood burning fireplaces, giving a much needed boost to the EPA's Voluntary Fireplace Program. But if home has gas line, incentive only covers switch to gas.







Best of January Facebook
Inspiring time lapse of a man cutting trees and making a cabin, ending with scenes in front of the wood stove.

2-minute video of the new, innovative pressed log stove that was tested and is listed as a pellet stove. After all, it burns foot long pellets.
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Conferences and webinars
Saratoga Springs, NY, February 13-14, 2018
Join together with industry leaders working in the residential energy efficiency industry for a cutting edge educational experience.
February 20, 2018, 1pm EST
This webinar discusses several control strategies associated with cordwood gasification and pellet boiler systems.

Verona, Italy, February 21-25, 2018
International exhibition of systems and equipment for the production of wood-fired heating.

Wels, Austria, February 28 - March 2, 2018
The World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) are one of Europe's largest annual conferences in this field.

Wels, Austria, February 28 - March 1, 2018
With more than 500 participants, the European Pellet Conference held in Wels is the largest annual pellet event in the world.

Nashville, TN, March 7-10, 2018
HPBExpo is being held at the Music City Center in Nashville with Outdoor Burn Exhibits located across from the center.
Grenoble, France, March 15-18, 2018
The uniqueness of the Salon Bois Energie is characterised in its coverage of the complete wood energy chain from forestry management.

Portland, OR, April 18-21, 2018
Over 30 hours of business and tech breakout session, trade show featuring more than 80 booths, and much more.

Philadelphia, PA, April 23-26, 2018
The HPC National Conference is where you will join over one thousand residential energy efficiency professionals for four days of outstanding educational sessions, networking, and inspiration.

Denmark, May 14-18, 2018
The EUBCE brings together industry, scientists, research labs and agencies, and always has a focus on biomass thermal.

Philadelphia, PA, July 22-27, 2018
Join us in Philadelphia to meet with the international indoor air and climate community in an exciting week of networking, exchange of ideas, and discussion of the latest indoor air science.

Davis, CA, September 10, 2018
ASIC brings together stakeholders from academia, government, and communities to promote and advance air pollution sensors.

Burlington, VT, October 18-19, 2018
REV2017 brought together leaders and experts from throughout the region to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Washington DC, November 9-13, 2018
The 2018 event will be free and open to the public and includes rigorous testing of the next generation of technology.



















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