Volume 126
Green Heat News
A monthly news service for everyone
interested in renewable wood & pellet heating

February 2020
NSPS countdown : 101 days until May 15, 2020


Focus on EPA

In the market for an efficient stove that qualifies for the $300 tax credit? Don’t rely on the certificates of eligibility created by some manufacturers. Check the EPA database of stoves to get the real efficiency numbers. Unfortunately, HPBA is not taking a position of whether manufacturers can cherry pick a high efficiency number from a single burn rate versus using the accepted overall average efficiency from all burn rates. 

Without enforcement by the EPA, there wouldn't be a level playing field for stove manufacturers and retailers. One small pellet stove importer is undercutting the prices of certified stoves and is going on a year and still selling uncertified pellet stoves.

The EPA sent its final revisions of the 2015 wood heater regulations to the OMB on Jan. 29. Last October, the EPA said that stakeholders should stick to the May 2020 compliance timeline and no major changes to the rule are expected, despite some last minute appeals. OMB now has 90 days before making it public but the EPA asked OMB to expedite it. Efforts are now underway to prepare for the 2023 NSPS with a focus on cord wood test protocols.

From 2015 to 2019, industry likely spent millions on legal and advocacy efforts to overturn or delay key parts of the NSPS and some counted on relief from the Administration. But innovation by the community seeking changes increasingly showed that the 2020 emission standards were reasonable. HPBA has provided this guidance for retailers to ensure a smooth transition on May 15, 2020.
‌









Green Heat Technology Innovation
 An exciting new ecolabel for wood stoves launched in Germany. It brings together test methods based on real world stove firing practices, automated air controls and electrostatic precipitators and other requirements commonly found in European ecolabels.

The DOE is again offering $5 million grants for R&D on residential wood heating technology. Concept papers are due on March 5. It covers wood and pellet room heaters, hydronic central heaters, and forced air central heaters. One interest area is improvements in automation of stoves to optimize combustion control.
‌
Hearth Industry & Climate Change
Richard Wright, long-time editor of Hearth & Home Magazine, wrote that he is "shocked" that 56% of the hearth industry respondents to a survey said that climate change is not caused by human activity. When 11,000 scientists agree on something and only a handful disagree, we need to start listening. AGH extends our thanks to Richard Wright's leadership in this industry.
Urban Trees & Firewood
Firewood production has long been a popular use for urban trees and has a potential value at $333 million per year. Utilization of firewood for heating buildings can reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fuel based energy sources. The national urban forest annual fuel potential is equivalent to 8.6 million tonnes of coal, 8.1 billion liters of fuel oil or 13.2 billion liters of propane.



State & International News
Minnesota: His basement is a showroom of more than 200 ornate and meticulously restored stoves that date back more than a century — the product of a lifetime of work, a hobby taken to its logical extreme. He would give the collection for free to a museum, if they promised to preserve it in perpetuity. So far, there have been no takers. “That’s a problem I’m working on,” he said,

Montana: Scores of change out programs are updating their criteria to conform with the 2020 NSPS and Missoula is also considering adopting the Oregon regulation requiring removal of stoves from property that is “sold, transferred or conveyed” in the Air Stagnation Zone, except for pellet stoves below 2 grams an hour.

Oregon: " Dr. Addie Clark is working to map areas of highest smoke concentration. “Is there a difference spatially in the basin – is down in the valleys different than some of the places that are more up on the hill.” Clark also wants to know the impact of each individual wood stove. “So we can understand how to change out 250 wood stoves for us to see an appreciable difference.”

Oregon: A sobering article about the measured volumes of smoke from wood stoves in Oregon. Local change out programs and the $300 federal tax credit will be far more effective if you can switch from a wood to a pellet stove. Heat pumps are also a great way to reduce the amount of wood you need to burn to stay warm.

Vermont: The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) announced the availability of a new incentive program for advanced wood heat systems in commercial and institutional new construction. Qualifying installations will be eligible to receive custom incentives of $1.25 per square foot of heated space, up to $50,000.

International

Balkans: Greta inspired all of us," said 17-year-old Iskra Ilieska. "In winter, half of my school class is absent because of lung problems. That is not normal," she said. "I know it is polluting. I am not an idiot but my only other choice would be to heat this home with electricity and that is damn expensive," said Trajan Nestorovski.

Canada: "While people may be concerned about a car idling for 10 minutes, Faught says "your house is basically idling all day." Even in Canada, electric heat pumps are a great solution, but they need a supplement like a pellet stove or boiler or a masonry stove, and this article failed to mention these obvious technologies.

EU: As the Environment Agency ("EA") extends the Regulatory Position Statement ("RPS") on waste wood until 31 July 2020 to allow completion of the waste wood classification project, we consider the proposals further and the potential implications for the waste wood industry.

Sweden: Sweden is proposing to phase out old wood stoves. Modern certified stoves with lower emissions will be exempt from the eventual ban. The burning of coal for heat and power in the Nordic country will stop in 2022.



‌
Best of January Facebook
Working wood stoves that look like robots and Samurai warriors? Made in Japan of course.

A pellet fired hot tub that connects to your smart phone, allowing you to set the water temperature you want. Its not yet available in the US, but hopefully will be soon.
.
Conferences & Webinars
Saratoga Springs, NY, February 11-12, 2020
Proposals are currently being solicited.

February 19, 2020, 1:30pm EST
Large renewable energy investments impact energy justice and equitable distribution of these resources. [Wood and pellet stoves are renewable energy technology of choice for rural, lower income households especially in NY.]

Verona, Italy, February 19-22, 2020
The largest and most important event for residential pellet and wood heating in Europe.

Wels, Austria, March 4-5, 2020
With more than 450 participants from over 50 countries each year, it is the largest annual pellet event worldwide.

New Orleans, Louisiana, March 11-14, 2020
HPBA's annual gathering of stove, BBQ and patio product manufacturers and retailers.

Save the Date: Renewable Thermal 2020
Washington, DC, March 18-19, 2020
RTC’s annual meeting and member event is open to RTC members and sponsors, as well as other stakeholders. For more info, contact Blaine Collison at  blaine@dgardiner.com .
 
Orlando, Florida, April 1-4, 2020
The NCSG Annual Trade Show gives industry suppliers and technicians a chance to connect and find out the latest in the industry each year.

New Orleans, Louisiana, April, 27-30, 2020
The Conference is the largest meeting of home performance and weatherization professionals in the country.

Lebanon, TN, June 10-11, 2020
A two day workshop that goes into detail the business side of the split firewood business. Will have open discussions and equipment demos.

Washington, DC, June 29-July 1, 2020
Join us for the largest gathering of energy assistance professionals in the country.

Washington DC, July, 2020
Competing teams exhibit and compete at the Build Challenge Event, as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington.
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