Learn How Wood Pellets are a Renewable Energy Source

16 October 18  |  Fuel   |  

Did you know that wood pellets are a clean, renewable energy source? Learn how wood pellets are a renewable energy source and can offer you a green way to heat your home.

Energy Pellets of America makes premium-grade wood pellets for use in home and commercial stoves and furnaces and boilers. You’ll also find you can use wood pellets in electrical generators, backpacking stoves; patio heaters and more. This fuel comes from a sustainable source and is an increasingly popular source of energy.

According to figures from the Pellet Fuels Institute, approximately 1 million homes use wood pellets for heat in the United States. Learn how these homeowners are taking advantage of a renewable energy source.

What is Renewable Energy?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, renewable energy refers to energy that comes from sources that can be replenished during a human lifetime. This means they will never run out. When opposed to finite resources like fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, renewable energy is a green choice.

There are a few types of renewable energy including:

  • Solar power
  • Wind
  • Hydroelectric
  • Biomass energy
  • Geothermal energy
  • Hydrogen

Most forms of renewable, clean energy depend on sunlight in some way.  Energy pellets come from wood trees, which requires sunlight to grow. Solar power is the direct conversion of sunlight into energy. Other forms of renewable energy might have less direct applications of sunlight.

In many cases, renewable energy is used to produce electricity. It can also be used to provide heat and more.

What is Biomass?

Wood pellets are a form of biomass. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, biomass is organic material and is used as a source of energy. Additionally, biomass is a renewable fuel. This means wood pellets are a renewable energy source.

When you burn solid biomass like wood pellets, the energy is released as heat. Wood pellets are an organic energy source and the energy is released as heat when burned. This heat can be used to do things like heat a home or business or even power a generator.

Most forms of biomass is considered carbon neutral. This means burning biomass creates a net zero carbon footprint.  Burning biomass means minimal greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are produced and released into the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the carbon dioxide created by burning biomass does not increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that Biomass provides approximately 5 percent of all energy used in the U.S. From that 5 percent, about half (47 percent) was from biofuels like ethanol. Additionally, Forty 44 percent of the biomass in the used  U.S. came from wood and wood products like wood energy pellets. About 10 percent of biomass used came from municipal waste. These figures add up to more than 100 percent because of independent rounding. Energy experts are looking for ways to increase the use of these fuels.

Wood Pellets Are a Renewable Energy Source

Using wood pellets to burn wood as a renewable heating source decreases reliance on fossil fuels like oil, propane and natural gas. Because Energy Pellets of America makes pellets from sustainable sources, wood pellets are a renewable source of energy. Using wood energy pellets instead of oil can also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the environment, which can help combat global warming.

In addition to being a renewable energy source, wood pellets are also among the most efficient and cleanest burning fuel sources on the market today according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Because wood pellets contain very little water, they are able to burn with very little ash. Wood pellets offer approximately 9,000 BTU/lb, which creates an energy efficient fuel for heating your home, business or commercial site. High efficiency wood pellet stoves and boilers burn wood pellets around 95 percent combustion. Compared to cord wood, which burns at 70 to 80 percent combustion, wood pellets are an efficient choice. One ton of wood energy pellets is equivalent to about 3 barrels of fuel oil or 1.5 cords of wood, according to the Pellet Fuels Institute.

Recycled Wood Pellets

Energy Pellets of America makes recycled wood pellets. Pellets are made from retired shipping pallets than are no longer useful in the transportation industry. This prevents waste from ending up in landfills and helps reduce the carbon footprint. Chemically treated pallets are not used in the process. This makes the energy pellets 100 percent natural and safe to burn.

Energy Pellets of America makes recycled energy pellets with a special process. To make wood pellets, Energy Pellets of America:

  • Sources retired, untreated shipping pallets that are broken and no longer useful in the shipping industry.
  • Breaks down the untreated pallets into fine particles  by using a hammer mill and grinder. This breaks the pallets down into wood chips, then into a “sawdust” like material.
  • Makes use of  multiple magnets to remove screws, nails and other ferrous metal objects from the raw material.
  • Compresses the wood particles into dense pellets using a pelletizing mill. The pellet’s high density makes them burn consistently. No binders or chemicals are used during this process.
  • The finished pellets are bagged and shipped to retail stores and home customers. Customers can also choose to pick up energy pellets at an Energy Pellets of America facility. Pellets are available in 40 lb bags or by the 1 ton pallet. From pallets to pellets, the product comes full circle when shipped on a pallet to its final destination.

The entire production and shipping process creates a wood pellet product that is accessible to consumers and is a renewable source of energy.

Are You Ready to Heat Your Home with a Renewable Source?

Wood pellets are an efficient and renewable energy source. Our premium quality wood pellets make it easy to heat your home or business in a green, sustainable way. Call us today at (937) 265-0676 to learn more or place your order.

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