PGAQ #64 by Vic Steblin, Dec 17, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

There is much concern over using “best practice” in modern society. Although pellet technology is an improvement over wood it stills falls short of the best practices for heating buildings.

Using extra clothes and activity to keep individuals warm and healthy is best by far. Electricity with no production of local particulate comes second but is currently expensive and can be environmentally damaging in distant regions. Natural gas is third, somewhat cheaper and free of particulate but produces carbon dioxide with overrated global warming concerns. Fourth is heating oil which should supply the petrochemical industry. Fifth is coal with the many grades of quality and resulting levels of pollution.

Way down the list in sixth place is the pellet stove which in reality is just a slight improvement over the inconvenience of sawdust. Promoters have decided to call pellets carbon neutral, environmental friendly, natural biomass energy and wise use of wasted forestry leftovers. Few seem to question pellets since they seem to be an improvement over burning raw wood.

The one factor that should question pellet technology is the smoke. The fine particulate alone is worse than coal and has no place near lungs. But houses are near people. This is NOT best practice. Where are the pellet fuelled cars, locomotives or planes? I suppose pellets could produce electricity from a safe distance and could thus be acceptable. But for heating houses the pellet stove is NOT best practice!