Centuries ago wood was the most common
source for heating homes. But through increased technology and demand for energy
alternatives, the use of wood as the main fuel for home heating has dropped to
2% (Berry). In recent years there has been a push to increase the use of wood
pellet stoves. The Adirondack Model Neighborhood Wood Initiative is a newly
developed program that provides incentives for homeowners to install wood
pellet boilers. Programs like this one have already worked successfully with neighborhoods
in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. The Wood Initiative will grant financial
incentives to 35 home and business owners around Saranac and Tupper Lake, increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emission and supporting the local economy (Adirondack Almanack Editorial Staff).
Wild heating with wood may seem old fashioned, it is one of the most cost effective and efficient methods of heating. Wood pellet stoves have an average efficiency rate of over 80% and produce 50%
less pollution (Ricardo). While natural
gas and wood pellets are competitively priced, natural gas prices have been
slowly rising over the past few years while the price of wood pellets has
remained constant. The initial
installation of a wood pellet stove is expensive but since wood pellets are a
cost effective investment, switching heating methods provides homeowners with
long-term savings. Not only is heating with wood pellets cost effective and
efficient, but it is also a renewable heating source that is better for the
environment.
Wood pellet are a clean energy source that produce low amounts of greenhouse gases from organic materials like sawdust, bark and
waste paper (Ricardo). They are a much more environmentally friendly method of
heating compared to oil, propane and natural gas. Switching to wood pellet
stoves will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions because “when compared with
oil, one ton of wood pellets eliminates 1,500 pounds of carbon emissions" (Ricardo). If this program is successfully implemented in the Adirondacks it
is estimated to “reduce fossil fuel use by the equivalent of 1.4 million
gallons of oil" (Adirondack Almanack Editorial Staff). While this is only a small fraction of the
oil consumed in the US, it supports efforts for systematic change and a
reduction in fossil fuel reliance.
Furthermore this initiative will support the local economy and create jobs
in forest-based business. Wood pellet heating will encourage sustainable
harvest in the Adirondacks. This will be beneficial for both the forests and
those employed in forestry. Switching to wood pellet stoves is beneficial for
both homeowners and the environment.
Works Cited
Berry, Chip. "Increase in Wood as Main Source of Household
Heating Most Notable in the Northeast." Today In Energy. U.S.
Energy Information Administration, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15431>.
Adirondack Almanack Editorial Staff. "Wood Pellet Boiler Project Expanded To
Region -." The Adirondack Almanack. The Adirondack Almanack,
06 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2015/04/wood-pellet-boiler-projects-expanded-to-region.html>.
Ricardo, Mike. "Using Wood Stove Pellets as a Cost-Effective
Source of Clean Energy." Ricardo Corporation. Ricardo
Corporation, 20 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.ricardocorp.com/2011/12/wood-stove-pellets-cost-effective/>.
Ricardo, Mike. "Wood Stove Pellets vs. Traditional Fuels: A
Money-Saving Alternative to Everyday Heat." Ricardo Corporation.
Ricardo Corporation, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.ricardocorp.com/2012/01/wood-stove-pellets-vs-traditional-fuels/>.
Claire, I agree with your argument that wood pellet (or even just wood) stoves should be the dominant heating system in the Adirondacks. Something must be done to prevent our greenhouse gas emissions from spiraling out of control, and switching to a more renewable heat source is a good first step. Especially in a place such as the Adirondacks, where wood happens to be rather abundant, wood has the potential greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially if the wood is harvested sustainably. However, if the wood pellets must be transported from far outside the park, this could undermine many of the advantages of wood burning stoves (though they would probably still be preferable to fossil fuels). To be as sustainable as possible, the wood would need to come from within the park, which could have some interesting implications on future land use classifications, if there is a big push for wood stoves.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main points of the article from the Adirondack Almanack was that this initiative would support local economy and keep money circulating through the park. I believe that these wood pellets will be produced from mills within the park and so therefore transportation emissions would be negligible. You do raise an interesting point about future implications on land use classifications. As of now and for the foreseeable future, I believe that this will not be an issue. The initiative is only funding 35 installations which is not enough to effect land use. I also believe that there is such a large surplus of material that can be used in the production of wood pellet that it will not impact future land classification.
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