It’s About the Fuel

Economical heat is as much about the fuel as it is about the stove, heater, or furnace. Gas and electric furnaces can be highly efficient and convenient, but the cost of the fuel has become a painful drain on the family budget each month. America’s harvest of corn and wood produced pellets is a great way to save.

Supply, Demand, and Environmental Impact

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina damaged refineries and supply lines of natural and propane gas. In 2006 the Alaskan pipeline was damaged and all energy prices spiked up once again. In 2007 through 2009 record-high crude oil and the depreciating dollar drove petroleum fuel products even higher. Higher taxes are now being levied on conventional fuels. No one knows what might happen next to upset the sensitive balance of petroleum-based fuel prices, but America’s family farmers’ corn production is no where near capacity. By burning corn you can change the economic landscape for your family.

Corn and Wood Pellets

Corn prices spiked when demand for (corn-based) ethanol became the normal gasoline additive to reduce emissions in the USA. But, the American farmer increased production and prices have now normalized considerably.

Wood pellet prices are on the rise due to a massive shift in the UK and EU countries as they shift from coal to biomass (wood pellets) to fire their electric power plants.  According to carbonbrief.org, “UK wood pellet imports have risen rapidly as Drax, its largest power station, has progressively converted units to biomass instead of coal.  UK imports (of US produced wood pellets) have tripled since 2012 and its share of global trade has risen to 33%, up from 17% in 2012.” Of course, demand means higher prices, so we US residential customers should not expect to see wood pellet prices decline in the near future.

Foreign demand for quality, low emission, US produced hardwood pellets will likely cause cost increases for the next few years, or at a minimum stabilize prices at their current levels relative to other fuels. Consider the reality that nations have discovered the savings and environmental benefits of burning wood pellets. Except for the impact on cost, that says a lot to the homeowner about the sensibility of burning wood pellets for heat.

Sustainability

But here is the real problem behind wood pellets: sustainability.  How much can world demand increase for North American hardwood pellets before deforestation becomes an issue?  Let’s not make the mistake that was made regarding deforestation of the world’s tropical rain forests…  many thought that they were so vast that no real human impact could be made on them.  We now know that the opposite is true.

Not so with corn:  The corn production capability of American farmers is formidable in their ability to supply the demand at stable prices.  And, corn is sustainable and annually renewable.  Therefore, corn is the more environmentally responsible fuel of choice.

Corn is the Answer

Wood is heavy, dirty, and is neither efficient nor convenient. And unless you have a source for free wood, it can be expensive. Hardwood pellet stoves are an economic solution in one of our highly efficient stoves with the solid fuel pellet conversion kit installed.

Corn burns cleaner than other fuels and hotter than wood per pound. Our corn stoves use a direct vent system that installs easily and less expensively than wood pellet or other types of grain burners.

America’s Harvest Energy corn stoves and furnaces bring together the best fuel (corn) and the most efficient, least expensive corn-specific burning/heating systems available (Amaizablaze corn-burning stoves and furnaces). This is the place to purchase your stove for many years of economic, enjoyable heat. If you choose, or if market conditions dictate, add the multi-fuel conversion kit to allow your stove to burn wood pellets as well as corn, and you have a versatile heating solution that allows you to choose the least expensive fuel available no matter how the energy market fluctuates.

Winter storms may leave some without backup heat, but with our corn stove and backup power supply (an inverter that you connect to a car battery), you will be warm when no one else has back up heat at all!