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Pellet Stoves 101 – Part 3 of 3 (Environmental Advantages)
Pellet stoves are the perfect choice for a sustainable alternative energy source.
For the earth-conscious, pellet stoves are superstars among the available types of heating systems. And it’s all because of how very eco-friendly pellet stoves are.
Environmental Impact
The heat produced by pellet stoves is a very dry and comfortable radiant heat, and it’s remarkably efficient. It helps to understand a little bit about BTUs, to grasp how efficient these appliances are.
The lower the moisture content in wood that is burned, the higher the BTU efficiency. The bottom line is that wood pellets have greater heat output, lower ash content, and lower moisture content than any other form of fuel used in a stove or fireplace.
Pellet stoves have an average of 83% energy efficiency, whereas wood for fireplaces and wood burning stoves range in efficiency from about 65% to about 75%. Another study shows that wood stoves provide approximately 77% fewer BTUs per cubic foot of fuel than pellets.
The pellets themselves are eco-friendly because they’re made of wood milling byproducts, which would otherwise be wasted.
You can keep your home warm during the winter more efficiently, inexpensively, and ecologically friendly with a pellet stove. There is so little pollution produced by pellet stoves, in fact, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t require certification of these appliances – though those offered through our company are all EPA-certified. There is no creosote produced by pellet stoves, which means that they far surpass clean air standards.
When it comes to emissions, wood-burning fireplaces and older models of stoves produce an astounding 40 grams of smoke every hour. The latest styles of wood-burning stoves and fireplace inserts produce an output of only 7.5 grams of smoke each hour. And pellet stoves produce so little smoke, they are unrestricted appliances.
Instead of destroying the forests, pellet stoves burn recycled wood materials.
For anyone who is concerned about deforestation, pellet stoves are a wonderful heating solution. The pellets used in the stoves, being made of compressed sawdust and other forms of wood waste, make zero contribution to deforestation or the use of other natural resources, such as natural gas, oil, and coal, other than the minimal amount of electricity a pellet stove requires.
Unlike inefficient fireplaces, a pellet stove can be used for a heating system for the entire home, though many freestanding stoves are more commonly used as supplemental heat sources.
A Few More Quick Facts
For the most environmentally friendly fuel choice find a local pellet supplier.
• If eco-friendliness is your chief reason for wanting a pellet stove, you will want to be sure that pellets are sold in your area because they are not widely available. The fuel costs to ship the estimated annual supply of 3 tons of pellets to your home could place the investment back in the column of not-so-environmentally friendly.
• Another reason to choose wood pellets: When you burn logs, you could bring such things as spiders, mold, termites, and even rodents into your home.
• No need to worry about carbon-monoxide poisoning when you use wood pellets.
• Wood pellets are easy to store; you just need to be sure they’re in a dry place.
• Clean out the ashes on a regular basis, to keep the pellet stove running efficiently.
• Pellet stoves should be professionally installed and then inspected annually by a professional chimney sweep; otherwise, maintenance is simple.
• Pellet stoves come in many styles and sizes.
• Read the owners’ manual for your stove and follow all directions for maximum benefit and safety.
• It’s best to buy your pellet stove from a local company that can assist you with any problems or questions you may have. By comparison, Internet stores simply ship it to you; and their obligations end there.
Be sure to read Part 1 on Pellet Stove Pellets and Part 2 on Pellet Stove Installations and Maintenance of this three-part series all about everything you need to know when purchasing a pellet stove.
Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770
