green hudson valley NY - Think Green When Purchasing a Wood Stove

Think Green When Purchasing a Wood Stove

Last Updated on Friday, 04 September 2009 11:21 Written by GHV Editorial Friday, 04 September 2009 11:18

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It's time to move from thinking green to acting green. What steps can you make in your home to minimize your very own carbon foot print, reduce fossil fuel use, lower your heating costs, and even enhance your home decor? A new high-performance wood stove may just be the right solution for your living space.

Keep in mind that when considering a wood stove purchase you want to follow "thinking green" criteria and only evaluate products with advanced wood combustion systems that when used as directed are an environmentally-sound heating solution. The stove manufacturer should clearly demonstrate a nordicswan commitment to "green" values that support recycling, clean-burning technology, and company-wide conservation practices. Look for an eco-label, such as the Nordic Swan Eco-label that recognizes companies that are actively reducing their 'environmental footprint' in terms of production practices and packaging. morso_squirrel

Craig Shankster, President of Morso USA, describes a few ways that Morso is minimizing their impact on the environment: "At the Morso production facility, 80 percent of the energy consumed comes from renewable sources (69 percent wind and 11 percent bio gas) and the Morso US headquarters in Portland, Tennessee is now powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Also, our high-quality cast iron products are hand crafted, using 98 percent recycled material."

In many homes, wood may be the ideal heating alternative as it is a plentiful, renewable, non-fossil natural product. In addition, when used as fuel, it is effectively 'carbon-neutral,' meaning that the CO2 released when burning is being absorbed by the tree that has been replanted. In fact, the same level of CO2 would have been emitted by a tree that had been left to rot naturally on the forest floor. When the use of sustainably-harvested, properly processed and seasoned wood for energy displaces the use of fossil fuels, the result is a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Buy only EPA Certified Wood Stoves

The traditional pot-bellied stove is a thing of the past - today?s wood stove models feature improved safety and efficiency. They produce almost no smoke, minimal ash, and require less firewood, They can be sized to heat a family room, a small cottage, or a full-sized home. The best choices are appliances labeled by the Underwriters? Laboratories of Canada (ULC) or another testing and certification body for safety. They should also be certified to be low-emission according to EPA standards. While older uncertified stoves and fireplaces release 40 to 60 grams of smoke per hour; new EPA-certified stoves produce only 2 to 5 grams of smoke per hour.

EPA certified wood stoves burn more cleanly and efficiently, save you money, reduce the risk of fire, and improve air quality inside and outside your home. Check the current list of EPA-certified wood stoves (PDF). (111 pp, 2.0 MB)

If you're serious about acting green, today is a great time to invest in a wood stove as you can actually keep some green cash in your pocket. The 2009 Economic Stimulus legislation signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Obama includes a 30 percent tax credit (up to $1,500) for homeowners who purchase a 75 percent-efficient biomass-burning stove in 2009 and 2010. This tax credit will help homeowners save on energy costs while utilizing renewable, biomass fuels such as wood.