Green Heat News
January 2019
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The EPA is taking written comment until Jan. 14 on the proposed 2-year extension for boilers and furnaces, like the one to the right that still advertises it can use coal or wood. It also taking comments on whether a sell-through period for stoves is appropriate following and, if so, how long and why. AGH is against any sell-through.
With the House in democratic control, similar bills have virtually no chance in 2019 and 2020. And with months quickly counting down, it is highly questionable whether the Trump Administration can change the NSPS in time, forcing manufacturers to take the 2020 deadline more seriously.
Environmentalists and New York state are preparing for a possible legal fight against EPA plans to allow a “sell-through” period for retailers to sell wood-burning heaters that do not meet coming tougher federal emissions limits, which critics say is an unlawful delay of emissions reduction requirements that will harm public health.
A Nevada air official says: "It is a benefit to a really small piece of industry at a risk to public health around the country.”
Will the EPA under Trump uphold the law and support the vital R&D process leading to cleaner stoves and boilers? Industry is supporting the EPA proposed extension for boilers and furnaces that will primarily benefit Central Boiler and US Stove, responsible for promoting units that have given the entire industry a bad name.
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The bill that the stove industry helped to scuttle months ago is back with the powerful support of Senator Murkowski, Chair of Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bi-partisan bill,
S.3779
, will likely find many supporters in the democratic led House of Representatives. AGH wholeheartedly supports this bill and urges others to contact their Senators and urge them to become a co-sponsor.
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4th Wood Stove Design Challenge
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Manually operated wood stoves are extremely common throughout the northern US, Canada and Europe but no one has yet popularized a solution to prevent them from emitting excessive smoke in the hands of operators.
The highest electric output was 268 watts, by a German designed stove that could be combined with solar panels. Others produced less than 100, enough to power what they are designed for - lights bulbs and cell phone chargers. Output should increase each year. And then there is also Okofen's
Stirling engine, that helped charge a Tesla.
Dusty Henderson had no experience in bringing an innovative product to market, but when he saw a chance to do so, he took it. After running through rounds of testing, the 509-1 Optimum vertical gravity loading, densified log stove is now available to consumers.
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Many thanks to the DOE’s Bioenergy Technology Office, Osprey Foundation, NYSERDA, the USDA Forest Service, the Masonry Heater Association, Olympia Chimney, HPBA, Lignetics, Chimney Safety Institute of America, Myren Labs, Schott Robax Glass, the Catalytic Hearth Coalition, Allegheny Society for American Foresters the National Fireplace Institute, Biomass Thermal Energy Council, Testo and Bell's Brewery. We could not host this event without their generous support.
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Washington Post
- A father and his sons cut wood to fill 80 trucks. Then they brought it to homes that needed heat.
Now that Christmas has come and gone, let’s talk about how that tree can be disposed of properly. Here are the do’s and don’ts of Christmas tree disposal.
Curl up in front of a fried chicken-scented fire this winter, thanks to KFC. Fried chicken-scented firewood is here to lend greasy ambience.
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Feature: How eco-friendly are wood and pellet stoves?
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Two breezy competing opinions:
Pro (Eco-warrior Princess):
A pellet-burning stove can be a great option. Not only is your fuel renewable, it doesn’t have to be bad for the environment and can help lower your carbon footprint.
Con (TreeHugger):
It is certainly more carbon neutral than a jug of propane in an off-grid situation, but given the health considerations, it is probably time to conclude that burning wood isn't green.
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State & International News
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States
Alaska:
My wood stove stole my freedom. The independence I cultivated through years of working late nights in return for long afternoons when I want them has gone up in smoke.
Alaska:
Wonderful video on wood boiler at Thorne Bay School Greenhouse that helps
students grow, eat and sell lettuce.
DC:
The District goes beyond most state renewable energy goals by including carbon fees on natural gas, to include the heating grid, not just the electric grid. That revenue would then be used to fund a "Green Bank" for those who would otherwise struggle to afford it.
Vermont:
Using wood pellets for heat reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than half compared to oil or propane. And in VT, where over 10% of the population uses it as a primary heat source, they are currently harvesting less than half the net growth in the forest.
International
Russia:
The official Russian government news agency warns Europe that if they don't support a new gas pipeline for Russian gas, they will have to turn to firewood to heat their homes.
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Kirkland, WA, January 25-29, 2019
The conference aims to expand its reach from previous annual meetings, encouraging participation of Southern partners, international stoves experts, and development specialists with field experience in the transfer of cooking technologies.
Portland, Oregon, February 11-12, 2019
Join industry leaders along with fellow weatherization professionals, home performance contracting businesses, program administrators, and others working in the residential energy efficiency industry.
Wels, Austria, February 27-28, 2019
The 2 conferences present the work and achievements of young researchers (born after 1983) in the fields of biomass and energy efficiency. They offer an opportunity to interact with researchers and industry experts from all over the world.
Wels, Austria & Nurnberg, Germany, February 24 - March 6, 2019
EBF19 participants will work together, discovering why Austria made progress in advanced heating systems, and which of the best methods and equipment might be adapted to conditions here.
Dallas, Texas, March 13 - March 16, 2019
HPBExpo 2019 is in Dallas this year.
Savannah, Georgia, March 18 - March 21, 2019
The 12th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo will take place at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
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Misleading Advertisement of the Month
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The winner of this month's contest is Missouri based
Acme Furnace Company
for advertising and selling uncertified wood boilers. Their site says "
Outside wood heat is safer than an Indoor Wood Burning Stove or Fireplace. ... You can place the furnace close to the wood. ... We have shipped our furnaces all over the United States for customers and our business is growing bigger every year." When AGH called, a woman at Acme told us that she wasn't sure if EPA regulations applied in
Missouri. They list 81 dealers in 21 states.
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The Alliance for Green Heat is an independent non-profit organization working to promote cleaner and more efficient biomass heating. Please consider making a generous contribution. The Alliance is a tax exempt 501 (c)(3) organization.
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