August 25, 2009
Common Sense Guide to Biomass Stoves
NOTE: For more information about tax credits for energy-efficient remodeling, check out HGTVPro's Green Rewards from Uncle Sam
Included in the new stimulus package is a nice 30% tax credit for "Biomass" stoves with efficiency ratings of at least at 75%. Even though the tax incentive caps out at around $1,500, this is still a good chunk of change and has created quite the "buzz" in the biomass world. This may raise the question: What exactly is a biomass stove?
To answer that question, we need to start off with explaining what biomass fuel is, since that's what a biomass stove burns. I know the phrase "bio" sounds all warm and fuzzy and people are gravitating to this "nice" concept of burning "bio" fuels. But, in reality all fossil fuels started out as biomass fuels. Organic molecules were transformed by time and pressure into fuels like oil, gas and coal.
Where biomass fuels differs from fossil fuels, is that biomass fuels are an easily renewable, cheaper, natural resource. With fossil fuels, what we have is what we have and they tend to be on the pricey side. Wood is a biomass fuel because it's made from trees, we can grow new trees. A matter a fact, the "first" biomass stoves that came out twenty years ago were fueled by, guess what ... "wood pellets."
So, there it is. Basically a biomass stove is what we used to call a "Pellet stove," but now they have a new environmentally friendly name. I'm joking a bit, but in all fairness, I must say the new "Biomass" stoves on today's market are very efficient and well made. Over the years they have developed into high-tech self-feeding marvels, with push button starting, and even automatic ash removal from the fire chamber!
Many stoves can now burn other "bio" fuels besides wood pellets. If set up properly, new biomass stoves can burn corn pellets and even waste biomass fuels like "cherry pits." However, keep this in mind. If anyone out there knows where to get a truck load of olive pits in the middle of a New England winter, please let me know. "Common sense" tells me to set the stove up for the wood or corn pellets, because in many areas they may be easier to get when demand is high. But, check with your distributor for local recommendations.
Bottom line, like the saying goes, "what's old is new again" and with the current tax incentive, it may be worthwhile to take a good look at the new "pellet"... excuse me, I mean "biomass" stoves available in your area.
Posted by Ed Del Grande at 10:05 AM | TrackBack
August 10, 2009
Common Sense Guide to Wind Power
New tax credits to homeowners for "energy efficient products" have generated a lot interest for many unconventional products that are now available to contractors for installation in residential homes. One such product is, a personal wind generator. Over the years I've had some experience with personal wind generation and I like to share with you a few of my opinions of what is real about wind power vs. what may be, just a lot of hot air.
First, let's clear this up. For the most part it's widely accepted that installing a personal wind generator for a home in most cases will not remove you from the electrical grid. Realistically, you can expect to generate about 25 - 30% of a homes electrical power with wind power. That's important to know since average base price installation costs for a small wind turbine system can be around $5,000.00 dollars and up depending upon the area you live in.
The generation figure is based on a residential wind turbine installed 30 - 40 feet above the ground. Now, this brings up a very important consideration. Building a 30 foot plus wind tower in the "back yard" of most neighborhoods, may not fly well with local inspectors and neighbors. So, before you even look into wind power for a residential home, make sure it's even possible to do the project. Also, keep in mind that if your area is too windy, most units may have to shut down in high wind conditions to prevent damage.
That means after spending all that money on a wind system, you may be frustrated from time to time when you see a still propeller on a very windy day. On a positive note though, when a wind turbine is working, it's a very uplifting feeling to know you've captured the wind just like an ocean sailor!
Speaking of which, from what I've seen, small cabins, and large boats seem to be the most "common sense" small wind generator applications, to be used along with backup fuel fired generators. The good news is that prices for smaller wind turbines are not that bad. Equipment specially made for marine use and hunting camps can start at about $700.00 and go up from there.
Bottom line, the future of wind power should be stronger on the industrial end with the boom in wind farms being planned and built across the country. So, wind technology does have a lot of room to grow and is a force to be reckoned with. Right now though for residential home use, I basically see selected installations with contractors picking and choosing only homes that can fully take advantage of both the tax credits and the conditions to make wind power a residential reality.
But, just like the wind, with new breakthroughs in turbine technology, that can change at any time!
