Volume 110

Green Heat News
October 2018
4th Wood Stove Design Challenge

The competition opens to the public Friday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 and closes with the Award ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 4:00. There will be tours, workshops and networking with some of the countries top stove experts.
Join our free webinar on Oct. 25 on stove testing protocols at the Design Challenge and beyond. We have designed a tough protocol that will put automated stoves through their paces. The full Integrated Duty Cycle (IDC) protocol will also be showcased on a non-competition stove.
The competition has two main categories - automated stoves and thermoelectric stoves. The automated stoves will be scored on 5 categories in descending order of importance: PM, automation and innovation, CO and safety, thermal efficiency and consumer appeal.
MF Fire, one of teams in this years Design Challenge, is also one of 18 startups selected in a New York start-up competition with $5 million in prizes. The grand prize is $1 million grand prize, and seven awards of $500,000.

This article discusses a program in Fairbanks Alaska to study electrostatic precipitator (ESP)technology on residential wood stoves. The leading brand of ESP, the Oekosolve, will be tested at the Wood Stove Design Challenge.

Welcome to the newest sponsor – the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. BTEC is a leader in national advocacy for heating at all scales with wood, pellets and chips.

Many thanks to the DOE’s Bioenergy Technology Office, Osprey Foundation, NYSERDA, the US 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 and Testo. We could not host this event without their generous support.
Message from the US Forest Service
“Our agency applauds the Alliance for Green Heat’s work and will continue to assist where able to help make this and future Wood Stove Design Challenges a success. Your efforts to automate, improve operating efficiencies, and reduce emissions from residential wood stoves are very important to the forestry sector and public health. Your latest initiative to move residential wood stoves beyond thermal energy to also generate electricity is trailblazing and worthy of recognition. Best wishes for a great success.”

Patricia Hirami
Acting Deputy Chief, State & Private Forestry, 
USDA Forest Service 
















Focus on the NSPS and Congress
A bill to give the wood stove industry more time to meet pollution requirements cleared a Senate Committee albeit on party-line votes that dim the odds of the measure passing the full Senate. "The partisan division means it will be more difficult to get time on the Senate floor to debate either measure, Senator Carper said. Senator Barrasso agreed that the split makes it "much tougher" to move the legislation through the Senate."

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association issued a statement in support of a delay of standards for residential wood heaters.

"Disappointed that @SenatorCarper’s amendment to create a new Wood Heater Emissions Reductions grant program failed on a party-line vote in @EPWGOP. Just delaying the regulatory timeline is not enough. We must do more to help manufacturers and homeowners, in VT and other states."

“We have invested a lot of time and money to ensure our furnaces meet and exceed the new clean air standards, and we are thrilled to expand and remain in the same town in which Lamppa was founded over 100 years ago.”







Focus on Energy
A new report concludes that microgrid technologies could make a local “techno-economy” 90 percent self-sufficient, paving the way for a truly renewable society. The system includes heat pumps, electric boilers, solar thermal and photovoltaic panels, wood stoves and grid connections.

The possible return of $100 crude for the first time since 2014 would help many renewable energy sectors.


Focus on Fuel
Stricter standards for wood stoves alone can't be assured of reducing PM from new stoves unless they are used with seasoned wood. America lags behind many countries as it has no recognizable label or scheme identifying seasoned wood, like this program in the UK. 

Should wood pellets for home heating be allowed to use old, recycled pallets as fiber? The EPA says no. Some argue that if it can pass PFI testing standards, it should be allowed on the market. But, PFI standards are voluntary, those pellet mills may elect not to test with PFI.


State & International News
States

Alaska: Registering all home heating devices and banning domestic and small commercial coal burning in Fairbanks and North Pole are among the ideas supported by a majority of the Fairbanks Air Quality Stakeholders Group.
 
Iowa: L inn County Public Health has opened enrollment for the Wood-Burning Change-Out Program – the first wood stove change out program ever offered in the state.

Maine: Crews from more than 20 towns were called in, and the Corinth Wood Pellets plant will be closed indefinitely.

Maine: U.S. bulk pellet fuel delivery company and boiler manufacturer Maine Energy Systems has announced the retirement of Harry “Dutch” Dresser, a founding director who helped form the company in 2008.

Vermont: Meet Dwyer Haney, one of the next generation of wood stove makers in the US. Dwyer is starting his own company in Vermont, Cole Forge, focusing on wood stoves that also heat water. And, they are looking for beta testers this winter. You can sign up on his site.


Provinces

Quebec: "But foolishly, and a little selfishly, I’m glad I can still look forward to lighting mine up this fall. We humans are not logical creatures. It may be bad for me, but I can’t resist the appeal of a crackling fire. I want to enjoy it as long as I can."

Yukon: Of all the things the government should be spending its money on, monitoring the air that we all breathe deserves to be high on the list. In the meantime, don’t be the house with the smouldering green wood spewing dark smoke into your neighbours’ lungs. Get a modern certified woodstove.





















Best of September Facebook
Q. Can we turn the heat on yet? A. Yes, if you can answer yes to the three key things that parents need to know.
A: "If you are using trees that are already dead, that's about as carbon neutral as it gets. On a larger scale, wood does not stand up to electric heat generated by solar or wind which are emissions-free after manufacturing."
Conferences & Webinars
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.

October 24, 2018
On October 24, 2018, participating organizations will open their doors to their communities to demonstrate the many benefits that bioenergy provides on the local level.

University Park, PA, October 24-25, 2018
This two-day short course covers the fundamentals, applications, and business opportunities related to the transformation of biomass into value-added thermally processed materials. 

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 is free and open to the public and features a competition on the best automated and thermoelectric wood stoves. It includes rigorous testing and assessment.

Aurora, CO, December 17-18, 2018
A two-day Workshop on Household Energy Impact Evaluation aims to accelerate transitions toward cleaner household energy systems and policy-oriented impact evaluation research designs. Spaces available for 50 experts.

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, February 27 - March 1, 2019
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are at the core of Europe’s commitment to a clean energy transition. This conference connect people and empower them to embrace the necessary change.



















Last Laughs
Answer to last month's riddle: The cat is almost on top of the middle row of wood.
Please support our work!
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.

  Become a Green Heat Supporter: Make a donation here  
Alliance for Green Heat | (301) 204 9562 | contact@forgreenheat.org | | www.forgreenheat.org