The colorful flames and heat are what Michele Belfy and her family from Rockville, Maryland says she and her family like about this stove. But that is not the main reason she decided to install a wood stove
that burns wood pellets made from sawdust a year and a half ago.
“BGE, our electric Co. doubled their rates last year. The pellet stove is for the central part of the House where we have the living room and kitchen. During the day when you use on, we can turn the other heat sources down, and then enjoy the flame and the heat of the unit itself. So it is to save money.”
As energy costs have risen in recent years, industry data has indicated that more and more Americans are looking for alternative heating sources. The hearth, barbecue and patio Association represents stove manufacturers, says that shipments from manufacturers to retailers of wood-burning stoves were up 55% in the first six months of 2008. The shipment of pellet stoves jumped 135%.
Mike Taylor, owner of Acme stoves in Rockville Maryland, says he is seeing higher demand. “Since the beginning of the season the majority of manufacturers have been backlogged, and I would say even a little overwhelmed but they are starting to catch up with their orders.”
Ronald Rubin of Rockville, Maryland has two wood stoves in his house. Both are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA which has set limits on the amount of particulate pollution produced by wood stoves. The agency has warned that wood smoke can contain a number of toxic air pollutants that can cause health problems and urges consumers to use the cleanest burning stoves.
Rubin sees advantages to his new stoves. “The wood stove acts as a radiator that radiates heat so you do not have smoke that gets in the House at all because it is entirely enclosed. It draws air in and everything goes up the chimney.”
Some wood or pellet stove users say they are motivated not just by money savings but also avoiding the environmental problems caused by the production of other energy. “Electricity burns coal and coal causes global warming. We did it to be green. Pellets themselves are made with recycled wood products, left over pieces from sawmills, furniture manufacturers, etc.”
Belfy says that the pellet stove can not be the main source of heat in the House, but she believes it is good for the environment and also for the pocketbook. He also adds that the warm ambience that it creates is a bonus.
