Alliance for Green Heat

Featured Products

Each month in our Newletter, we feature one product to demonstrate the evolution of modern wood burning. The Alliance highlights products as examples of what is in the marketplaces and does not endorse any particular brand or model. Moreover, the Alliance independently chooses products and does not receive or solicit funds from the companies who make or distribute them

May 2011

Solar Pellet Focus

The new pellet boiler OCTOplus by Solafocus recently received the "Energie Genie 2011" innovation award. The boiler combines solar and biomass technology into a fully automated system, with both a pellet burner and a 500 liter (130 Gallon) solar accumulator tank. System advantages include high efficiency (94%), compactness, simple hydraulic integration, an innovative control system, intuitive operation, and a large removable ash pan. For more.

March 2011

Travis Industries: Lopi-Cape Cod Wood Stove

A Travis wood stove, the Lopi Cape Cod, swept three awards at the 2011 Vesta Award Ceremony - for Best-in-Show, Wood Products and The Green Award. Vesta provides few details on the innovations of the products that win, but it appears that the Cape Cod was tested at .47 grams an hour, has a large firebox, uses a combination of cat and no-cat technologies and has a electronic ignition (that can be controlled from a cell phone) that may significantly reduce particulates in the initial start-up. It will be on the market later this year. For more.

January 2011

Twinfire stove

The Twinfire has won acclaim and attention due to it's great strides in wood burning efficiency. The double chamber design reduces particulates by drawing the flame from the fire down into a gas fire chamber that enables nearly complete combustion of the smoke and particulates. The Twinfire stove is able to achieve a reported 93% efficiency. The Twinfire's development is supported by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Association). For more information visit www.wittus.com. Specs: Grams of particulate/hour: 2.4 Optimal Heat Output: 27kBTU Price begins at: $6,000

July 2010

Fireplace Catalyst

On May 26th 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognized Clear Skies Unlimited for its dedication to excellence in achieving clean air. After considering hundreds of potential candidates, the award went to Clear Skies Unlimited based on the projected impact that the HearthCAT Technology will have on future wood burning fireplace emissions nationwide. The HearthCAT technology can be used in new construction or fireplace retrofits, and in both open hearth masonry and low mass fireplaces. There are 27 million fireplaces in America, more than twice the number of wood and pellet stoves and inserts.

June 2010

Guntamatic Therm 7 kW

This pellet boiler by the Austrian manufacturer Guntamatic is one of the few in its category that can be mounted on a wall. Moreover, Guntamatic reports 94% efficiency and less than 10 mg/MJ (0.02326 lbs/ million BTU) emissions, which by American standards qualifies it as "next generation" technology. the The appliance delivers 2-7 kW (between 6828 and 23900 BTU/hr) and is ideal for a small home or apartment. The Guntamatic recently was awarded a "EnergieGenie2010" award by the Austrian Ministry of Environment and the government of the Austrian province of Upper Austria for its outstanding performance and innovation.

March 2010

Earth's Flame Fire Grate

The winner of this year’s VESTA Green Product Award, the Earth’s Flame fireplace grate makes conventional fireplaces much cleaner. Designed to fit into existing masonry and zero clearance fireplaces, Earth’s Flame uses an angled refractory panel and pre-heated secondary combustion air to achieve up to 72% reductions in particulate emissions from fireplaces. The award was given based on emissions, and doesn't imply that fireplaces with the Earth's Flame grate are any better at heating a home than conventional fireplaces. The refractory plate is held above the combustion zone of a traditional fireplace, keeping combustion gases and particulate matter in the hottest zone longer for more complete combustion of potentially harmful pollutants. The plate also increases the turbulence of combustion gases, mixing them more completely with pre-heated air and burning the suspended particulates more completely before gas leaves to the chimney. The resulting fire’s emissions are 33% below EPA Phase 2 voluntary standards for a 36” zero clearance fireplace. The grate is not yet available for purchase, but if you are interested, you can sign up at the producer’s website to be notified when it enters the market.

January 2010

Tulikivi Masonry Stove

  This month we feature a Masonry Stove because want to recognize this important class of products. They are typically among the most expensive wood heating options, but as many states are setting up property-assessed clean energy (PACE) loans, masonry stoves could see a real uptick in sales. PACE loans get attached to the property tax and a $20,000 installation can cost whoever owns the house less than $100 a month. Featured here is the LLU1150 heat-retaining bakeoven and stove, which is one of the 16 dual fireplace/oven products created by Tulikivi-a Finnish masonry stove company. Although masonry stoves are exempt from certification, according to the Tulikivi sales staff, the bakeovens meet the 75 percent efficiency rate for EPA-certified tax credits and meet federal, Colorado and Washington state emission standards. These soapstone ovens can cost anywhere from $10,000 - $40,000. Tulikivi employs one of two fireplace solutions in their bakeovens-the flat grate and the whirl chamber. The flat grate maintains high combustion efficiency with low emissions, while the whirl chamber lengthens the time that combustion gases remain in the fire chamber, making it a high-efficiency product, according to Bachmanfireplaces. Com. For decorative purposes, the bakeovens can serve as room dividers, as the fireplace can open into the living room, while the bakeoven opens up into the kitchen.

November 2009

Froling P4 Pellet Boiler

The Froling pellet boiler is a modern high-technology appliance that features a bulk delivery system with a built-in automatic feed device to deliver pellets. Built by one of Austria’s top furnace manufacturers, it boasts efficiency in excess of 90% and ensures optimal fuel to air ratios and the highest operating safety. The boiler has an integrated silencer for quiet operation and can automatically remove ash using a heat exchange cleaning system - keeping combustion clean and emissions low. Pellets need to be refilled approximately twice a week. Prices start at $14,500.

October 2009

Vermont Castings Encore Wood Stove

We highlight the Vermont Castings Encore stove because it only emits 0.6 grams per hour or 0.7 grams per hour of particulates for the non-catalytic version - the lowest of any wood burning stove in America. Moreover, it was designed more than 20 years ago in 1986, proving to the wood stove industry that incredibly clean stoves could be made. In 1988, the EPA set the national standard at more than 10 times the particulate level emitted by the Encore. It has top and front loading and sells for about $2,000

Septemter 2009

Ecoteck Elena Airplus Pellet Stove

The Ecoteck Elena Airplus pellet stove features a built-in humidifier, remote control and allows you to to adjust the temperature and turn the stove on and off from anywhere using your cell phone. It can also be ducted to take warm air intro several adjoining rooms. The stoves, made in Italy, emit only 1.6 grams of particulates per hour and sell for around $6,680