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This webinar is postponed and will be scheduled at a later date.

In the United States there are an estimated 12.5 million homes in the United States that use wood or pellets for space heating, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. For decades, wood and pellet heating have enabled this country to reduce fossil fuels far more than solar, geothermal or wind and it remains a vital way for middle and low-income households to affordably heat with a low-carbon fuel. However, burning wood generates 15% of the overall particulate matter emissions harmful to human health and the environment.

How can we develop modern wood heater technology that is efficient and has low emissions? And, how can modern wood heat technology fit into our residential renewable future? This is where the Wood Heater Design Challenge burns bright.

The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Wood Heater Design Challenge exists to engage and expand the wood heater community. It also fosters relationships between academia, industry, and other stakeholders to develop the most innovative wood heaters that are cleaner and more efficient.

The Wood Heater Design Challenge was inspired by the Solar Decathlon and is the fifth such challenge.  It is supported by Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Alliance for Green Heat.

On May 19, 2002, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET join us for a webinar titled, Wood Heater Design Challenge Q&A. Mark Shmorhun, BETO technology manager; Rebecca Trojanowski, Brookhaven National Laboratory engineer; Vi Rapp, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory research scientist; and John Ackerly, Alliance for Green Heat founder, will discuss the challenge and take questions from the audience.

Topics discussed during this webinar include:

  • The September 2022 Technology Slam, a public forum where teams will pitch innovative wood heater ideas
  • How BETO can advance this technology
  • Wood heater development capabilities at Brookhaven and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
  • How wood heaters will be tested for emissions at Brookhaven National Lab
  • Benefits of efficient and low emitting wood stoves for public health, reducing fossil fuel and low income and rural communities.