Volume 103

Green Heat News
March 2018
4th Wood Stove Design Challenge

Twelve stoves from four countries will compete in the November Stove Design Challenge. One goal of the Challenge is to introduce new stove technology and new test methods to the public, media, politicians and others in Washington, DC. Most of the stoves will be on the market by 2019. The DOE will be announcing the finalists soon.

All states that have solar incentive budgets should include incentives for pellet stoves. One solution is for states that are pushing renewable energy to be the matchmaker. When a home installs solar panels, encourage the homeowner to add a pellet stove at the same time.









Thanks to our latest in-kind sponsor - American Wood Fibers - for donating and delivering a ton of pellets to the Washington Mall. These pellets will fuel a condensing mirco-CHP pellet boiler that uses a Stirlling engine to make 4-5 kw of electricity. Thanks to our other sponsor - the Bioenergy Technology Office at the DOE, Osprey Foundation, the Masonry Heater Association, HPBA, Myren Labs, and Schott Robax glass and others.
AGH Projects and Activities
A Congressional budget deal has brought back the lapsed $300 tax credit for wood and pellet stoves with a thermal efficiency of at least 75%. However, many stove manufacturers claim their stoves are 75% efficient when in fact they may only be in the mid or low 60s. This blog explains how manufacturers get away with it and what you can do to avoid being scammed.


Focus on EPA and the NSPS
During an unannounced visit to New Hampshire visit Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt signaled plans for new federal energy policies that could bolster a struggling regional industry – biomass.

Ten states, DC and the Puget Sound Air Agency are still fighting to keep the $3 million for wood stove change out programs. They are calling for the court to deny the new settlement with Harley-Davidson unless the $3 million penalty is restored.


Firewood & pellet reports in 2018
Good graphs and charts in this paper by FutureMetrics, including a price list for more than 30 pellet brands showing a large range between $217 and $369 per ton, as of Dec. 2017.

A very good, substantive story: "Even though much of Maine's culture is wrapped up in burning wood for heat, little is known about that portion of the home heating sector. Steve McGrath, director of the Governor’s Energy Office, said there are no statistics on how many people in the state rely on wood as a primary source of heat."

"New data from NH Office of Strategic Initiatives Fuel Price Survey (January 23rd, 2018) confirms wood pellets are 48% lower heat cost than #2 heating oil, and 121% lower heat cost than propane. This analysis considers energy content of fuel, moisture content of fuel, and average fuel utilization efficiency of modern boilers."

Wood and pellet stoves haven’t delivered enough saving for some consumers who use back-up electric heat. Electric bills that are, in some cases, double what they expected.

The United Kingdom experiences a heating wood pellet shortage this winter.


Focus on innovation & retrofits
The Fairbanks approved a resolution Thursday to support and test residential electrostatic precipitators, a type of air-pollution control technology typically used on large industrial smokestacks. Local advocates say its now cost effective and can make stoves cleaner than they were in the test lab.

In Europe, wood-fired stoves remain as major renewable household heating and emission sources. This study focused on improving the performance of a wood stove (natural draft) traditionally used in Portugal by the adoption of alternative combustion air retrofits.
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Focus on safety
Does an "illegal" install mean a lack of a permit and inspection, or just a non-compliant install, like a flagrant disregard of clearances?  

NFI has just initiated a new certification for stove retailers - not just installers. In a few years, consumers should inquire if their local retailer has an NFI certified design specialist.
Focus on wood heating culture
Opinion: When I was a younger man, we bought our firewood in tree lengths. I used a chainsaw to cut the timber into more manageable sections, then employed a range of medieval tools (axes and sledges and wedges and mauls) to split those sections into logs. Stacking the logs was a family affair.


Focus on wood smoke & air quality
This article about wood smoke in the UK shows that despite rapid rise in number of new stoves, overall PM from wood is falling, not rising. Data shows surprising trends.


State News
AK: This Alaska town voted against an agreement, officials say, was meant to address wood smoke pollution by authorizing changes like voluntary stove replacement programs or the ability to shut down open burning outside when air quality worsens.

ME: Two things Maine has in abundance are trees and people interested in helping others while using power tools. The sixth annual Woodbankquet on Jan. 20 at the Congregational Church in Cumberland celebrated more than a decade of putting those two resources together to keep Mainers warm.

MN: By removing 200 older wood stoves, Project Stove Swap has achieved the air quality equivalent of removing 533,000 cars from the road annually. More than 50 percent of the new stoves and boilers in Project Stove Swap are manufactured in Minnesota.

MT: An unrelenting series of snow storms, gale force winds and subzero temperatures are draining emergency resources on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

VT: Non-profits, local businesses, and other users of advanced wood heating sent a letter Tuesday to members of the Vermont State Senate urging them to support rural economies, working landscapes, and commitments to climate pollution reductions by supporting advanced wood heating.

VT: Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan sets a goal of reaching 90% renewable energy by 2050. “In Vermont’s cold climate, a third of our energy needs are thermal, but currently only 21% of that need is met with wood. Wood heat represents a local, sustainable, renewable way to heat our buildings and support our local economy.”


Best of January Facebook
A YouTube clip on the art of the underutilized upside down fire method.

State leaders offer Vermonters some tips to stretch the wood pile.
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Conferences and webinars

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.

Morgantown, WV, May 1, 2018
Underutilized wood, sometimes called “low use wood,” can be used for improving forest management in the eastern United States and an opportunity for businesses.
Denmark, May 14-18, 2018
The EUBCE brings together industry, scientists, research labs and agencies, and always has a focus on biomass thermal.

Durham, NC, June 26-27, 2018
On the rapid adoption and technological advances of new air sensor technologies, how well they perform and how lower-cost technologies can be used for certain non-regulatory applications.   

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.

Berlin, Germany, October 10-11, 2018
The International Biomass Congress & Expo brings together leading producers, suppliers, regulators and others over a two day period to address issues relating to the biomass sector.

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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