Green Heat News
A monthly news service for everyone
interested in renewable wood & pellet heating
January 2021
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Featured Stories
As the need for more renewable energy grows worldwide, there is a new push to modernize wood stoves in the US. The initiative brings together researchers, developers, and manufacturers at a time when wood and pellet stove sales are booming, mostly due to higher gas and oil prices. But there are also renewed calls for more stove regulations in many countries. Technology breakthroughs are vital.
The 5th Wood Heater Design Challenge begins with 3 online workshops, and registration is open for the first one, on Advances in Wood Heater Design. The workshop is free and open to the public and designed for experts in the field, or those who want to build more technical knowledge about stove combustion. The first workshop is held for 3 hours on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12 and consists of brief presentations, followed by participatory break-out sessions and networking sessions. Registration numbers have exceeded expectations of the organizers!
If you signed up for a booth or poster at the first workshop, you should have received an email about the exhibitor training at 2:00 on Jan. 4. Sign ups for booths and posters are now closed, but will re-open for the second and third workshops soon. Booths can showcase stoves, the components that go into making a high performing stove, educational materials, research findings, etc.
The second and third workshops are on Feb. 22-23 and March 28-29. Registration will open for the second workshop in mid January. Stay turned for more details.
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Biden Administration
There will be many opportunities to heat the more rural, northern federal buildings with wood, pellets and wood chips! The US Forest Service itself has many such buildings and understands the technology and benefits.
For years, AGH has worked to get the DOE to require that wood and pellet stoves are properly inspected in energy audits and weatherization work. Finally, we are making progress. The DOE's updated Health & Safety Guidance provides more emphasis and specificity on inspecting, repairing or replacing wood stoves. More on this in our next newsletter.
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“There is now 'a one-third chance that nothing passes,' Lucier said. But the Capital Alpha analyst sees a one-third chance that a bill costing less than $1 trillion passes, and a one-third chance that a measure costing up to $1.5 trillion gets approved."
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We loved this! It compares the stored energy in a cord of wood with the stored energy in a Tesla power wall. You won't believe the comparison.
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Importance of Wood Stoves for the Grid |
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Fascinating ad for a Phd student in Norway. Here is what they would focus on: "in Norway we rely heavily on the electricity grid for space-heating and, wood stoves can significantly reduce power peaks in the electricity grid, prevent blackouts and act as backup heating system (i.e., resilience). With increasing electricity use in households, including electric cars, reducing peak electric power is strategic as it enables to prevent or postpone large investments to reinforce the distribution grid."
Hydro Quebec, the Canadian utility, is starting to offer lower electric prices during peak events, which occurs in very cold morning and evenings. Everyone with a wood or pellet stove can benefit, and provide a benefit to the grid. These will occur more and more frequently as electric heating ramps up. More and more utilities are offering similar pricing plans.
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“If we’re trying to do wood stove exchange programs we should try to get away from a reliance on fossil fuels,” said Brander. Thus, gas stoves are not allowed - but wood, pellet and electric ones are. Director Clay Brander said the recommendation should be adopted as fossil fuels are not the direction they want to go in.
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The Maryland Forest Association is doing a series of profiles of Marylanders who are connected to forestry in one way or another. This profile delves into AGH President John Ackerly’s background and why he is bullish on wood and pellet heat.
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Aprovecho Research Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Nordica MacCarty has accepted the role of Executive Director. Dr. MacCarty takes over the position from Dean Still, who continues on as Research Director. Dr. MacCarty is also an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University where she will continue teaching and directing the Humanitarian Engineering program.
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Sometimes pellet stoves break down and the repair may be much easier than you think. Or not. This Facebook page, run by AGH Advisory Board member Scott Williamson, provides free troubleshooting and repair advice for any brand and any model pellet stove.
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Best of December Facebook & Instagram |
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State News
California: Moderate air quality is expected to persist over the Bay Area this week as pollution from wood smoke stays near ground level. Between November and February, wood smoke is the largest source of pollution in the Bay Area.
Washington: If you’d like to retrofit your fireplace, or have ever thought about replacing your old woodstove or perhaps just getting rid of it, you may be able to receive some financial aid to do so, thanks to the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA).
International News
Canada: A $1 million wildfire risk reduction project in British Columbia also supports the local bioenergy industry. The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) funded the project to protect high-risk areas as outlined in the District of Sicamous’ (DOS) Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Canada: And in two years, Quebec will go a step further by making it illegal to replace existing oil furnaces with any sort of heating system powered by fossil fuels after Dec. 31, 2023.
Europe: As of Jan. 1, 2022, emission regulations for wood stoves will finally cover all European Union countries, including many in former Eastern Europe that do not have any regulations in place. This article emphasizes that stove manufacturers "embraced" the new regulations, but experts say that is because they are very lenient and easy to meet. One European stove designer said the regulations are also a "marketing tool driven by industry." He also said that lab certification testing in Europe is "very flexible" compared to the US, and enforcement is very weak.
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Follow us on Instagram @for.greenheat for wood and pellet stove information, interior design inspiration, and easily digestible wood stove news and education! |
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Verona, Italy, February 23-26, 2022
World trade show of pellet heating systems.
Wels, Austria, March 6-7, 2022
Deadline for paper/speaker submissions is October 12, 2021.
Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-5, 2022
Annual North America industry heart trade show.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 21-24, 2022
More information to follow.
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Please support our work and keep this newsletter free of charge |
Thank you to everyone who donated to AGH during 2021! Your support makes a huge difference and helps to keep this newsletter a free source of information for everyone. 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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