Low-carbon fuel keeps Hardwick family warm
Rebecca and Kyle Emerson were thrilled to buy their Hardwick home four years ago. But in addition to beautiful forest views, they inherited an old outdoor wood boiler as their primary heating source. During winter months they had to duck outside two to three times a day to feed more cord wood into the boiler, including a final trip around midnight. Still, the house was always cold.
“2014 was a brutal winter,” says Kyle. “Even feeding the boiler three times a day, the house was at most 64 degrees. It was freezing.”
They knew they needed to replace their heating system. They liked that wood pellets were a local, carbon-neutral source of fuel. Learning more about central wood pellet heating convinced Rebecca and Kyle that it might be a great fit for their needs.
Central wood pellet heating (also known as advanced wood heating) works just like a conventional boiler or furnace system, but uses wood pellets instead of oil or gas.
“We looked at different options but knew we wanted to go with a central wood pellet boiler,” Rebecca says. “It was carbon-neutral and a top-of-the-line product, but it was also the best all-around deal.”
Efficiency Excellence Network contractor Dan Davis of Cutting Edge Energy Systems installed Rebecca and Kyle’s new central wood pellet boiler system within a week.
“The boiler is best in class and will last for 30 years,” says Davis. “The price of pellets is cheaper than oil or propane, and more consistent. And the money spent stays here in the northeast helping to support the forest products industry.”
“We looked at different options but knew we wanted to go with a central wood pellet boiler. It was carbon-neutral and a top-of-the-line product, but it was also the best all-around deal.”
Now, instead of feeding an outdoor boiler themselves, the Emersons call Maine Energy Systems to pipe pellets directly into their basement.
“Advanced wood heating is extremely low maintenance,” says Kyle. “And the delivery system is so easy. It’s just like getting your propane tank filled.”
The new heating setup costs the Emersons about the same as what they were paying before, but they no longer spend hours stacking wood and feeding the fire. They were also able to use the new system to replace their old, unreliable hot water tank. They’re pleased with the results. With a warm, cozy house and plenty of hot water, winter in Vermont has never felt better.
