Think Green When Purchasing a Wood Stove

It’s time to move from thinking green to acting green. What steps can you make in your home to minimize your very own carbon foot print, reduce fossil fuel use, lower your heating costs, and even enhance your home decor? A new high-performance wood stove may just be the right solution for your living space. Keep in mind that when considering a wood stove purchase you want to follow “thinking green” criteria and only evaluate products with advanced wood combustion systems that when used as directed are an environmentally-sound heating solution. The stove manufacturer should clearly demonstrate a commitment to “green” values that support recycling, clean-burning technology, and company-wide conservation practices. Look for an eco-label that recognizes companies that are actively reducing their ‘environmental footprint’ in terms of production practices and packaging. In many homes, wood may be the ideal heating alternative as it is a plentiful, renewable, non-fossil natural product. In addition, when used as fuel, it is effectively ‘carbon-neutral,’ meaning that the CO2 released when burning is being absorbed by the tree that has been replanted. In fact, the same level of CO2 would have been emitted by a tree that had been left to rot naturally on the forest floor. When the use of sustainably-harvested, properly processed and seasoned wood for energy displaces the use of fossil fuels, the result is a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. If you’re serious about acting green, today is a great time to invest in a wood stove as you can actually keep some green cash in your pocket. The 2009 Economic Stimulus legislation signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Obama includes a 30 percent tax credit (up to $1,500) for homeowners who purchase a 75 percent-efficient biomass-burning stove in 2009 and 2010. This tax credit will help homeowners save on energy costs while utilizing renewable, biomass fuels such as wood. To learn more about wood stove options, visit www.morsousa.com or call 866-883-9619.