Natural Fuels for Energy Independence

March 5, 2006 – Vol.10 No.50

NATURAL FUELS FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

Generally speaking, nationwide there’s evidence to prove that homeowners like the responsibility and independence of providing their own energy. The evidence is not for power, but for warmth in the form of energy from wood, corn and pellet stoves, furnaces and fireplace inserts.

Clearly this segment of the renewable home energy industry is successful. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) there are more than 4500 retail hearth product stores in the U.S.

(That’s 4500 stores that sell renewable energy products.)

And, according to the trade association, business is booming. Sales of hearth products (wood stoves and such) grew by 8 percent in 2005 with more than 3.2 million products shipped. Sales of pellet appliances grew by an astounding 76 percent in 2005 with 118,490 stoves and fireplace inserts shipped compared with 67,467 in 2004.

Unit sales of wood stoves were impressive as well. According to the HPBA 561,596 appliances were sold in 2005, up from 498,630 in 2004.

The reasons for the success of the industry may be simple: Immediate gratification and the ease of purchasing reasonably-priced equipment.

Once a hearth appliance is installed heat immediately comes from someplace other than a utility company. And, homeowners comfortable in the retail experience, can visit a store, choose an appealing product, and often let the retailer install it professionally. No fuss.

The HPBA also cites a 1990 American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) study that shows that zone heating solutions - such as heating a room with a wood stove saves 20 - 40 percent of energy costs. Visit the HPBA at http://hpba.org/ and an example of stylish pellet and wood stoves from Rika in Europe at http://www.rika.at/en/3/