Pellet stove owners needed for survey on pellet heating

 The Alliance for Green Heat has designed  a new survey to gain insight into how and why people use pellet stoves,  and what they like and don’t like about them.  Compared to the more traditional cord wood stoves, less is known about pellet stove users. Many studies and government agencies do not even distinguish between the two when discussing wood heat.  

If you used a pellet stove for home heating in the past year, please take the  Pellet Stove Survey.

 

The US Census does not distinguish between wood stoves and pellet stoves, but the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) began publishing basic information on the number of households using pellet stoves in 2009.  According to the EIA, one million Americans use pellet stoves.  Unlike the US Census, the EIA does not ask whether households use an appliance for primary or secondary heat, so it is unknown if pellet stove owners use their stove for primary heat more than wood stove users.  

 

This  survey was designed to be short to encourage maximum participation, and cover key issues.  Respondents may participate anonymously. Respondents who leave an email address, are eligible for a $75 gift card and/or have the results sent to them when the survey closes.  

 

Please take the  Pellet Stove Survey if you use one.

Results of AGH Newsletter Survey

This past month, we sent out a survey to everyone subscribed to our newsletter in order to get to know our readers better and evaluate our work as a non-profit. We received 290 responses, and are grateful to all the respondents who provided us thoughtful feedback about their interests, goals, and opinions on AGH’s work. Thank you! Below are some results from each question of the survey, with commentary from members of the AGH board and staff. 

Better quality image here

Question 1: What are your areas of interest? (Check all that apply)

We received 289 responses to this question. Federal and state government updates as well as stove R&D were the most popular, while conferences and webinars were the least popular. Among the 10 “Other” responses, DIY stove designs and pellet heating were also popular. We don’t frequently host or promote conferences and webinars, but there is likely to be another Wood Stove Design Challenge, announced later this year.

Question 2: Which of the following expresses your opinion of residential wood and pellet heating? (Check all that apply)

Better quality image here

We made an unfortunate mistake right before publishing the survey of deleting a fourth option that was more in support of wood and pellet heating – and once we started receiving responses, we were not able to change or add options. We noted this in the intro to the survey, and noticed that the number of responses took a big hit – a decrease of almost 100 from the previous question. Many respondents in question 12’s “any other feedback” section explained that they would have chosen a response more positive of wood and pellet heating than the other three responses gave. We apologize for this mistake but feel the responses to the other 3 options are still informative.

Question 3: What, in your opinion, are the top three ways to reduce air pollution from wood smoke? (Check all that apply)

Better quality image here

After the decrease in responses to question 2, we were pleased to see a high level of response to this question. Consumer education and changeout program expansion were both popular responses, while increased enforcement of existing state regulations and more state regulations in general was less popular. In other sections, including question 12’s other feedback section, consumer education was deemed very popular. The more difficult question is how a small group like ours can effectively do more consumer education.

Better quality image here

Question 4: What U.S. state or foreign country do you live in?

We received 260 responses to this question, most of which were U.S. states. The results are summed up on the following heat map, which shows that most AGH readers, at least in this sample size, tend to reside in more northern states, with southern states being much less represented. In terms of foreign countries, 22 respondents said they lived in Canada, and much lower numbers were also received for Chile, Kenya, Sweden, Germany, France, the U.K., Japan, New Zealand, and Poland.

Better quality image here

Question 5: Which of the following appliances do you own? (Check all that apply)

This question received a wide variety of answers without a strong trend besides the comparative popularity of wood stoves as primary and secondary heat sources as compared to pellet stoves, wood/pellet boilers, and the other green heat systems listed. Among the “other” responses, air source heat pumps and masonry heaters were also popular responses. This question helps us understand what kind of information is applicable and/or useful to those reading our content.

Questions 6, 7, & 8: 

These three questions regarded research AGH is doing into how wood and pellet stoves are evaluated in energy audits. In response to question 6, (“Have you had an energy audit done on your home in the last 3 years?”) 30 responded "yes." Out of those 30, only 5 responded “yes” to question 7, which asked, “If you own a wood or pellet heater, did the energy auditor inspect it?” We reached out to all respondents who provided their email address in order to contact them about their energy audit experience, and have received very helpful responses from a number of people. Once again, if you would like to share your energy audit report or experience with us, please email caroline@forgreenheat.org because we would love to hear from you!

Question 9: How would you rate AGH’s monthly e-newsletter on a scale of 1 to 5?

We are relieved that an average of 83%of respondents think the newsletter is a good length, has a good frequency, and is not too biased for or against wood heating. AGH is a pro-wood heating group, but we also think it is important to address wood smoke and a range of other issues head-on. 

Better quality image here

Question 10: In your opinion, on which areas should the Alliance for Green Heat focus?

Just as in question 3 and 1, education and outreach appeared to be very important to our survey respondents, while social media and engagement of other non-profits appeared to be less so. We do maintain Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, although this is not where we direct most of our effort!

Question 11: The Alliance for Green Heat promotes modern wood and pellet heating systems as low-carbon, sustainable, and affordable energy solutions. In your opinion, how effective is AGH in achieving this mission?

Better quality image here

It was encouraging to see that the majority of respondents rated us as somewhat or very effective, though we know we can always improve.

Question 12: Is there any other feedback you wish to share with AGH? 

We received 92 written responses to this question! Most responses provided encouragement, suggestions for content, questions, or clarification on prior survey responses. We read and appreciate every single survey response we got.

Question 13: Biolite camp stove drawing: We have a winner!!
Finally, out of the 216 respondents to this question who entered our stove drawing, Ken Hansen of Washington State was randomly selected to receive a FREE $350 Biolite electricity-generating wood grill. From Mr. Hansen: “I'm looking forward to surprising my hiking partners by recharging our phones/cameras while I grill the carne asada after a day of hiking!”

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the survey!

U.S. Government Winter Fuels Outlook Includes Pellets and Wood for First Time

EIA Administrator Sieminski says wood pellets represent a “significant opportunity” for consumers to save money

October 10, 2012 - The U.S. government released its annual assessment of prices and availability of heating fuels today and for the first time it included information on pellets and firewood. After gas and electricity, wood is the third most common heating fuel in America, but the annual Winter Fuels Outlook had never discussed it prior to the 2012-13 heating season.

The Winter Fuels Outlook is put out by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent statistical and analytical agency within the Department of Energy. Reports published by the agency are the premier source of energy information in the country and are used to guide economic policy and educate the public.

During today’s press conference, EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski mentioned the “significant opportunity” for consumers to supplement their oil heat with wood pellets, as well as with electricity.

The inclusion of wood and pellets in the Winter Fuels Outlook came after over a year of discussions and meetings between the EIA and a coalition of wood and pellet groups. Senator Shaheen (D-NH) also raised the importance of pellets as an alternative to oil in New England with Administrator Sieminski.

According to the EIA, wood and pellets now produce more residential heat in the US than propane and nearly as much as oil. Wood produces 0.5 quadrillion Btu (quads) per year, propane 0.49 quads and oil 0.6.

EIA projects that average household expenditures for heating oil and natural gas will increase by 19 percent and 15 percent respectively over last heating season. The agency expects the country will experience colder temperatures compared to last year's mild winter, with oil and gas prices remaining virtually the same.

In terms of wood and pellets, the report said:

Wood consumption in homes has risen over the past 10 years, reversing a trend seen in the last two decades of the 20th century. In 2009, U.S. households consumed about 0.5 quadrillion Btu (quads) of wood. Household fuel oil consumption, by comparison, was only slightly higher at 0.6 quads. In homes across the United States, wood is most commonly used as a secondary source of heat and is second only to electricity as a supplemental heating fuel. Twenty percent of New England homes (1.1 million) used wood for space heating, water heating, or cooking in 2009 (EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 2009). This is nearly twice the national rate. Almost half of all rural households used wood in this area of the country. In contrast, only 12 percent of urban New England households used the fuel.

According to data previously published by the EIA, the average American household heating with wood consumes two cords of wood per year. This number includes homes that use wood or pellets as a primary, secondary or occasional heat source. The EIA also documents that consumption in rural areas is more than twice that of urban areas. The EIA estimates that 91% of homes that heat with wood use firewood, 8% use wood scrap and 6% use pellets.



Wood use also trends strongly with income level, according to EIA survey data, with households making $20,000 or less using more than twice the amount of wood as households making $120,000 or more. 

“The EIA’s focus on wood and pellets is an important and timely step in the right direction,” said John Ackerly, President of the Alliance for Green Heat, a non-profit consumer organization based in the DC area. “If EIA can report on pellet prices along with oil and propane, consumers will be better equipped to make the best choices for them, which may be to use a local, renewable fuel,” Ackerly added.

For a full copy of the Winter Fuels Outlook: http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/steo/index.cfm