Volume 127
Green Heat News
A monthly news service for everyone
interested in renewable wood & pellet heating

March 2020
Featured stories

We hope this is the future, where policies recognize the value of wood and pellet heaters. This program gives preferential electric rates to homes with heat pumps or electirc resistance heating if you have a wood or pellet stove.

Sales of unseasoned wood and bagged house coal will be phased out by February 2021. This national policy in part resulted from over-incentivizing sales of wood stoves instead of pellet stoves.

The UK renewable heat program was revolutionary when it started in 2014. Few countries have come close to it, as its being phased out in 2021. A fascinating and important article for anyone interested in renewable heat policy.

An estimated 50 million around the European Union struggle to keep their homes warm and pay their energy bills. Many suffer from the same problems. For the lowest income earners in the EU, it makes more sense to use energy more efficiently than to invest in solar panels, heat pumps or pellet stoves. It will also deliver faster savings.

In an isolated environment, when only the emissions from the burning fuel are analyzed, natural gas appears to be a cleaner option,” says Bi. “But when you factor in the entire life cycle of natural gas—a fossil fuel—with that of wood pellets, the pellets are a far better environmental choice. They’re clean, and they’re sustainable.

AGH has been an active stakeholder in urging Takoma Park, the Maryland city where AGH is located, to phase out gas heating in favor of renewable heating technologies. When passed, the first phase will likely include mandatory energy audits and energy scores or benchmarking for all homes and buildings, followed by requirements to install renewable energy technologies when fossil fuel appliances wear out. Mayor Stewart, right, is guiding the process forward.
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DOE R&D Grants

A second round of R&D funding for residential wood heaters is underway. All stove manufacturers are eligible for up to $1 million to improve stove designs. A concept paper is due on March 3.  If there aren't enough manufacturers who can make use of R&D grants, the program may not continue.
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Focus on Congress

Key hearth companies thwart Congressional intent by certifying, under penalty of perjury, that stoves as low as 59% efficiency are eligible for the tax credit that Congress passed to steer consumers toward high efficiency stoves. HHT claims their Harman XXV stove, at 66% and the Quadrafire Classic Bay stove at 64% efficient are eligible. HHT did not return calls or emails to clarify their position. Jotul claims all of their stoves are eligible.

HPBA honored Senator Capito (R-WV) and Congressman Peterson (D-MN) for “protecting the interests of the fireplace industry.” The awards represent a shift from a group that once represented renewabe wood and pellet interests to one that also defends gas appliances - and honors climate change skeptics. Congressman Peterson represents the district where Central Boiler is located.
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NSPS countdown : 73 days until May 15, 2020


Focus on EPA

This is good read with lots of history and context of EPA regulation. But it fell apart here: "The real threat toward long term use of wood burning appliances in general will be cost and availability of fuel logs by region... As hardwood forests continue to disappear, the availability of such wood is declining."

HPBA - This FAQ clarifies the current deadlines and requirements that all dealers and distributors must meet on or after May 15, 2020 or be in violation of federal law.
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Green Heat Consumer Tips
 "Avoiding single-use plastics and participating in home recycling are a couple of easy ways many Americans contribute to a greener future. Regarding the bags your wood pellets are delivered in, there is more we can do – aside from finding new ways to upcycle them."



State & International News
Arizona: Top-notch and in-depth reporting on how coal is harder to come by, and a community coming together to provide firewood. Great photography too.

Maine: If Maine reaches it goal of 100,000 residential heat pumps statewide, Maine consumers would be expected to save save $30 million to $60 million annually. The trust provided $6.57 million in rebates on 11,701 heat pumps in 2019.

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.

New Mexico: A New Mexico program to replace gas furnaces seemed like a slam dunk until one legislator made the case for wood stoves: “If you’re really out to help low-income people, it would do more good to replace wood stoves than to increase furnace efficiency.” But a gas company was matching tax-payer money, and the company refused to include wood stove replacements.

Oregon: Should change-out funds also go to homes with fireplaces, giving an incentive to put a gas or electric unit into the fireplace? This Oregon town does that.

Utah: The 10-year study period in Utah showed dramatic wood smoke pollution reductions at each of the monitoring stations as restrictions were put in place and residents became more educated about the harmful health effects of wood smoke.

Vermont: This Vermont glove factory estimated that switching from coal to wood pellets would save approximately $10,000 in annual heating expenses. With the grant and anticipated savings, the team projected a complete return on investment in six years.



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Best of February Facebook

$39.99 Norwegian wood stove guaranteed to burn for 4 hours.
Conferences & Webinars
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.

Washington, DC, March 18-19, 2020
The RTC will convene the first annual RTC Summit, the premier event dedicated to renewable thermal solutions.

New Hampshire, March 23-26, 2020
Various events held throughout New Hampshire during the last week of March.
 
Manchester, NH, March 30 - April 9, 2020; May 4-8, 2020
The Alliance is pleased to offer high quality HERS rater training classes in the Northeast, approximately 2-3 times per year.

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.

Morrisville, New York, April 10, 2020
Hosted at SUNY Morrisville.

April 16, 2020, 1 pm EST
Registration is required to join this event.

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.
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