| As the colder weather starts to kick in, many | | | | before choosing one for your home. |
| home owners’ thoughts turn to heating their | | | | Biomass fuel is basically renewable, plant-based |
| homes more efficiently and with the end of the | | | | fuel that is sustainable. Wood pellets are a |
| year nearing, many home owners are thinking | | | | common fuel: made from compressed sawdust, |
| about tax season and ways that they can take | | | | bark, or wood shavings and usually collected from |
| advantage of some of the tax credits currently | | | | industries that use wood in their products. Wood |
| available. Luckily, the current tax credit incentive | | | | burns more cleanly than other biomass fuels and |
| for biomass stoves will be available until the end | | | | produce more heat. Due to these properties, |
| of 2010. | | | | quality wood pellets create a very small amount |
| The biomass stove tax credit will cover 30% of | | | | of ash residue. |
| the cost of a biomass stove and installation costs | | | | Corn is another common fuel for biomass stoves. |
| up to $1500 for qualifying stoves installed in a | | | | The dried corn that is used in a heating stove is |
| primary residence by December 31, 2010. To | | | | basically the same type that is used to feed |
| claim your tax credit you must ensure that your | | | | livestock and is cleaned to remove debris that |
| choice of stove qualifies for the program; get a | | | | would clog your fuel intake system. |
| manufacturer’s certification statement from | | | | Some less common types of fuel include pits, |
| the manufacturer’s website to ensure that | | | | nuts, and nutshells. These types of fuel will be |
| the stove qualifies. | | | | more or less common depending on your area |
| Biomass stoves are more efficient than regular | | | | and the agriculture found there. |
| wood stoves because due to their design they | | | | Because of the nature of biomass stoves and |
| can produce more heat from less fuel, they | | | | their ability to use a smaller amount of fuel for |
| create less ash waste, and need far less | | | | warming a home, they are a good investment for |
| ventilation to run properly. They come in a variety | | | | most any home. There is no time like the |
| of types: some just for one type of fuel and | | | | present, apparently, for taking advantage of |
| some for a variety of fuels. Check out what type | | | | federal tax credit dollars as well as making your |
| of fuel is most readily available in your area | | | | home more efficient to heat. |