When it comes to heating appliances, choosing what fuel source to use can be a tough decision; with pros and cons to wood, gas, and alternative fuels, many homeowners are left stumped as to which fuel source is best for their homes and heating needs. However, if you are looking for an environmentally conscious, cost efficient and effective way to heat your entire home, look no further than biomass stoves and inserts!
What are biomass fuels?
Biomass is a fuel that is made of natural, renewable, and sustainable materials. We all commonly know them as pellets. Ingredients in the pellets include scrap lumber, forest debris, sawdust, and other forms of waste residue. Because biomass is created from waste, it is considered a green fuel source with a smaller carbon footprint than other sources of energy. These pellets are made leftover and scrap wood materials – often from sawmills – that are pressed together to make the dense pellets. While pellet stoves and inserts may not be the reigning most popular fireplace fuel source, they are an energy and cost efficient heat source.
Benefits of biomass stoves and inserts
There are a number of advantages to switching from wood or gas to a biomass stove or insert.
– Green energy source: Because biomass fuels are created using waste from renewable resources, they are considered a green energy source. Using leftover waste including wood scraps and sawdust to create biomass fuels can also be seen as another way to recycle!
– Increased efficiency: Burning biomass fuels is an extremely efficient heat source. Because of their size and composition, pellets are able to almost completely burn, leaving behind very little waste in terms of ash. Likewise, all EPA and Energy Star certified biomass stoves must burn with at least 75% efficiency.
– Low costs to maintain and operate: Biomass fuels have extremely low maintenance and operation costs. In addition to regular chimney maintenance – which all fireplaces need each year regardless of fuel source – pellet stoves and inserts require minimal electricity to operate their hoppers; pellet stoves designed to heat an entire home can run for as little as $20 per month in electricity costs.
– Inexpensive fuel source: While pellets cost slightly more than regular wood, they burn much more efficiently. Because pellets are more than 60% more efficient than wood, you can use the same – or smaller – amounts of fuel to heat larger areas of your home. This can help narrow the fuel-cost gap between the two fuel sources.
– Tax credit: If you purchased a new biomass stove during 2015 or plan to purchase one in 2016, you may quality for a $300 tax credit.
Biomass stoves and inserts can provide your family with clean, efficient, and environmentally friendly heat throughout the year. If you’re ready to make the switch to a biomass heating appliance, contact Magic Broom today.