When most people think of a fire in a wood stove , fireplace inserts or fireplace, they think of burning wood. Wood is the original traditional heating fuel. It grows locally, is abundant in most areas and is one of our few renewable sources of clean energy. Burning wood in an energy efficient wood stove or energy efficient fireplace stove insert is also environmentally friendly. Wood is the primary renewable energy choice in NH, Vermont, Maine and MA. As a matter of fact, wood is the top renewable energy source in the US and is the primary heat source for more than 2 millions Americans.
Energy efficient, clean burning fireplace inserts.
Burning wood in energy efficient, clean burning wood stoves, wood burning fireplaces or wood burning fireplace inserts also makes economic sense. Many people have access to their own firewood. Even when purchased, cordwood can be an inexpensive form of residential space heating. Modern energy efficient wood stoves can heat the entire home.
There has never been a better time to upgrade to a energy efficient, clean burning wood stove, fireplace stove insert or pellet stove. On June 1, 2009, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued its guidance for the 30% consumer tax credit (up to $1,500) on the purchase and installation of “qualified energy property”. This legislation is effective immediately, and is retroactive to any eligible wood stove, fireplace insert, pellet fireplace insert or pellet stove purchased since January 1, 2009. Additional information is available on the following website: www.irs.gov.
Additionally, if you are a resident of Keene, NH, the City of Keene, NH in partnership with the NH Department of Environmental Services Air Resources Division, is offering rebate vouchers valued at $1,000 to homeowners of Keene for replacement of currently operating non-EPA-certified woodstoves with new certified wood, pellet, fireplace insert stoves. New wood stoves must meet the State of Washington certification standards, which are stricter than EPA’s certification requirements. No other wood stove changeout program has had such a high rebate for all applicants and could well serve as a national model to encourage conversion to clean burning, energy efficient hearth appliances.
Fireplace Village NH is a participating dealer in the wood stove, fireplace stove insert changeout program.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, wood is a smart choice in renewable biomass for energy. Trees are the source of firewood. Trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, replenishing the atmosphere. A significant portion of firewood comes from harvesting dead trees. Unlike fossil fuels, there is no net carbon contribution when burning wood, as those same gases are given off when the tree decomposes in nature. Therefore, burning wood does not create new net carbon emissions. Burning wood has become significantly less polluting and more energy efficient. Sophisticated new designs have doubled the energy efficiency of wood stoves. In addition, the amount of smoke emitted by wood stoves has been reduced by an average of 90 percent. All wood stoves and fireplace inserts sold today are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as clean-burning. Less smoke means less potentially flammable creosote within their chimney systems; the safety record of wood stoves, wood burning fireplaces and fireplace inserts is the best ever.
