Wood-Burning Technology Study

CCHRC is evaluating the economic and environmental considerations of a variety of wood energy appliances for residential use, including wood stoves, pellet stoves, wood boilers, and masonry heaters. The testing will use, lab-comparable testing equipment, but operate the wood-burning appliances in ways similar to their everyday use in homes to see how they perform. Additionally, local cord wood species, wood pellets, barley, and other varieties of pellets will be used to fire the appliances.

The goal of the tests is to understand how wood energy appliances perform both environmentally and economically when operated and fired in real world conditions. The findings are intended to help inform consumers of economic consideration of burning wood and the best practices to operate appliances more efficiently, thereby emitting fewer particulates and requiring less fuel.