Under the 2009 Economic Stimulus legislation, U.S. homeowners who purchase a 75-percent efficient biomass (wood or pellet) burning stove, fireplace or fireplace insert and place it into service in their home during 2009 or 2010 can receive a 30-percent tax credit for costs incurred, up to $1,500. Today the Federal Government released clarifying guidelines for qualifying biomass products.
The guidelines verify that more than 30 Quadra-Fire® and Harman Home Heating™ products, as well as the Heat & Glo® Northstar and Heatilator® Constitution wood burning units, qualify for the tax credit. The products include EPA-certified wood stoves, fireplaces and inserts, as well as pellet stoves, fireplaces, inserts, furnaces and boilers. Quadra-Fire, Harman, Heat & Glo and Heatilator are brands of Hearth & Home Technologies, based in Lakeville, Minnesota.
“In addition to enjoying the ambience of a wood or pellet burning appliance, homeowners now have another reason to install wood or pellet burning products in their homes,” said John Shimek, vice president of marketing for Hearth & Home Technologies. “With multiple designs and styles to choose from, qualifying products have the most advanced technologies for fuel and heat efficiency and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.”
For a complete listing of qualifying products and to find a dealer, visit www.quadrafire.com, www.harmanstoves.com, www.heatnglo.com, or www.heatilator.com. After the purchase, the homeowner can obtain an Official Manufacturer’s Certificate from the manufacture’s website or their dealer. It certifies that the product qualifies for the tax credit, and the homeowner can rely on the certificate when preparing his or her tax return. Homeowners are not required to submit the certificate or a product sales receipt to the government, but should retain them for their records.
The benefits of heating with biomass
There are multiple benefits to installing a wood or pellet burning appliance to produce heat in your home. Financial benefits are derived for years to come with reduced heating costs. And prices for wood and pellets are predictable when compared to propane, oil and natural gas, which can fluctuate greatly. “There are significant environmental benefits derived from heating your home with biomass,” said Dan Henry, chief technical officer for Hearth & Home Technologies. “Burning wood and pellets is considered carbon-neutral since only the carbon the tree or plant absorbed when growing is released into the air, contributing to less greenhouse gases.”
About EPA-certified wood burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts
Technological advancements have made today’s wood stoves, fireplaces and inserts considerably more efficient than dated models. EPA-certified wood burning units are up to 85-percent efficient, producing more heat with less wood to provide warmth and comfort for many hours. They are clean-burning with less ash and minimal outside air emissions. Complete combustion is achieved through high temperatures, ample oxygen and sufficient burning of gases before they are exhausted. It can also eliminate the accumulation of creosote, a flammable chimney residue. They are perfect for homeowners who want to live green and also enjoy the crackling sounds and flickering flames of burning wood.
Quadra-Fire, Harman, Heat & Glo and Heatilator EPA-certified wood units:
- Burn wood fuel, which is renewable and considered carbon-neutral
- Produce low outside air particulate emissions
- Are the cleanest burning, most efficient wood appliances available today
- Qualify within green construction building programs, such as LEED® for Homes
About pellet burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts
Pellet appliances have great heating efficiencies and low emissions. They are easy to operate with built-in fuel hoppers and feeding devices that move pellets in small groups to the combustion chamber. The various Quadra-Fire and Harman models have control panels or wall-mounted thermostats to control heat and minimize fuel consumption.
Quadra-Fire and Harman pellet burning fireplaces:
- Burn cleaner than any other type of biomass hearth system
- Have the lowest outside air particulate emissions
- Are the most efficient biomass hearth systems
- Utilize renewable biomass fuel, which is considered carbon-neutral
- Qualify within green construction building programs, such as LEED® for Homes
Pellets burn cleaner than virtually any other biomass fuel and produce low particulate matter, helping to reduce air pollution. They are made from compacted sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, waste paper and other organic materials. Burning pellets is a constructive way to reuse material that may otherwise go to a landfill. Wood pellets are typically purchased in 40-pound bags for between $5 and $7, providing up to 24 hours of steady heat.
Controlling energy costs and reducing fossil fuel consumption
Increasing concerns about controlling heating costs and living green have many homeowners turning to renewable fuels for supplemental or whole home heating. For the same reasons, the U.S. government is supporting and promoting the use of biomass appliances for heat. Qualifying Quadra-Fire, Harman, Heat & Glo and Heatilator biomass units are clean-burning with low emissions, eliminating approximately 75-percent of carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel heating. For more information about the tax credit, visit http://www.irs.gov/.
About Hearth & Home Technologies Inc.
Hearth & Home Technologies is the world’s leading provider of whole hearth systems including fireplaces, stoves and inserts, as well as furnaces that utilize biomass fuels. Its family of brands includes Harman™, Heatilator®, Heat & Glo®, Quadra-Fire® and Fireside Hearth & Home® retail stores and builder design centers. The company offers a wide variety of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable hearth products, which are manufactured, packaged and delivered with respect for the environment. Hearth & Home Technologies is a subsidiary of HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI), the second largest office furniture manufacturer in the United States. More information can be found at www.hearthnhome.com.