Volume 134
Green Heat News
A monthly news service for everyone
interested in renewable wood & pellet heating

October 2020
Can you identify the four public figures in these images? Everyone submitting correct answers will be listed in the next newsletter and one will receive a free Biolite camp stove. Send answers to info@forgreenheat.org.
Focus on the EPA


The Trump EPA and eleven states are defending the audit provisions in the 2015 stove regulations. At stake is whether the EPA can audit a stove and revoke a certification under certain conditions. States offered new data on stove testing variability with cribs and cordwood. HPBA's reply brief is due on Oct. 9. The blog was updated Sept. 30 with excerpts from the Intervenors brief.
Focus on DOE

Congressional language has urged BETO to “support development and testing” of new stoves. We are encouraged that some of the questions posed in this RFI may indicate BETO is open to expanding the focus of future grant cycles. Questions on the performance of Step 2 stoves already installed in homes and field testing are important as they provide vital feedback to the design of stoves for real world settings.
Focus on State Policies
Now, here is a renewable energy success story: in a little more than 10 years, Vermont went from virtually no pellet heating, to 7.3% of homes heating with pellets! Other states should listen up and start down that path.
Industry News
Hearth & Home Magazine has shut down, including the Vesta Awards, which it ran. Richard Wright, the editor and driving force behind the magazine decided it was time to retire and he is not selling the business - just closing it. Many are talking about how to fill the gaps, as an industry publication, whether online or in print, is important. AGH thanks Richard and his team for countless good stories on wood heating. We will miss him.
Resources for Consumers, Agencies and Retailers
If you heat with wood, you should take this seriously: Covid-19 spreads more easily in dry air. Especially if you have household members with underlying conditions, keep a pot of water on your stove and also consider investing in a good humidifier, if you don't have one already.

Tens of millions of Americans are suffering from wildfire smoke in the west this month. High quality air filters that cost around $300 are one of your most effective defenses. They are also a good solution if your neighbor's stove or boiler is too smoky and you can't get them to address it.

Buying a stove is a confusing process for most consumers as they can't rely on the sort of brand knowledge base and reliable consumer reviews like popular household appliances have. Here are some options that you should avoid.

"Chimneys are like septic systems. You don’t really think about them or notice them until there is a problem, although no one intends to neglect their chimney,” Wallace said.

The Alliance for Green Heat and Stove Parts for Less set up a fund to help families keep their pellet stoves running during the Pandemic. If you are out of work or from a low-income household, you are likely eligible for a 50% reduction in the price of pellet stove parts for orders up to $500. Please consider a donation to this fund. 100% of donations go to lower income pellet heating families.

National Chimney Safety Week 2020 is designed to educated homeowners on the inherent dangers of fireplaces and provide them with tips to reduce their risk of suffering a chimney fire or carbon monoxide-related health emergency.
Forestry
Craig Rawlings, editor and CEO of the Forest Business Network writes: "As racial and social justice movements sweep across America and beyond, we're now seeing discrimination reforms within the forest industry itself. We hope to see more positive news like this moving forward and we'll certainly feature it in the newsletter if so."
States

Colorado: Various groups and a fire department come together to use trees that are a wildfire hazard around homes for firewood. Young people learn the firewood business, and its given away free to lower income families or sold at market rate to others. Thank you!

Michigan: Two city girls met in New York City got married, moved to a cabin in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and went through a winter with just a wood stove for heat. And loved it.

New Hampshire: NH Rural Renewables provides no-cost energy technical assistance to rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout New Hampshire. INRS provides assistance on wood and pellet heating systems.

Vermont: Vermont public libraries have firewood moisture meters to lend to residents. The crazy thing is that many of the folks who need to use them the most - firewood retailers - don't even own them, and don't disclose actual numbers to their clients. Until a county or state starts to mandate disclosure, things are unlikely to change much.

Wisconsin: This wood-burning barrel-shaped stove measures 49 inches tall and is made of four stacking sections of cast iron.It was manufactured in La Crosse by the Iron Products Corporation between 1920 and 1940.

International

Ireland: In some countries, like Ireland, smoke from wood, peat an coal stoves is so bad that their EPA is considering some sort of national ban. Banning coal and peat and then phasing out old wood stoves seems to be a better alternative.
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Best of September Facebook
Conferences & Webinars
October 8, 11-12 CST
This webinar will explore this transformation through the lens of two visionary industry leaders.

Oct. 29 - Control concepts
Nov. 12 - Case study: Pellet boiler system at boat maintenance facility in NY

October 28, 3-4 PM EST
Our panel will discuss why it is important to lead with equitable solutions that prioritize the most vulnerable people in our communities and what are the steps we can take to make electrification equitable.

November 9-10
The Renewable Thermal Collaborative is convening the first annual RTC Summit, the premier event dedicated to renewable thermal solutions.

Vermont, fall 2020
Renewable Energy Vermont’s annual conference is virtual this year, with sessions from September through January. Topics include renewable energy, electricity, heating, and transportation solutions.

Wels, Austria, February 21-22, 2021
The conference shows how we can make a green recovery happen in practice and how the pellet sector can profit from this deep transformation.

Nashville, TN, March, 2021
HBPA is committed to ensuring a safe and COVID-19 compliant event in 2021.
Please support our work!
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Alliance for Green Heat | (202) 365-4765 | contact@forgreenheat.org | | www.forgreenheat.org