Wood-Pellet Stoves Catching On In Japan - Asahi Shimbun

[hatrack]

"As an environmentally friendly means of heating a home, wood-burning pellet stoves are a hot item. Because the wood comes from waste chips and sawdust that would otherwise be discarded, no trees are cut down to supply the wood pellets used as fuel.

Even better, burning the wood pellets does not contribute to global warming. They release no more carbon dioxide than if the wood had been left untouched to break down naturally in a forest.

And, of course, adding to the charm of pellet stoves is their appearance. Just like a conventional wood stove or a crackling fireplace, their gentle flickering flames give off a warm glow.

Though priced somewhat higher than other conventional heating devices, many new customers apparently feel the investment is well worth it.

EDIT

http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200502210088.html

[Alisa]

1. I have a Bixby corn-pellet stove

I put it in this fall. I live in the Midwest in Minneapolis. The cost of wood brought into the city cost more than using corn brought in from a grain elevator. It works great and in the future it will also use a bio-pellet, which is a pellet made from recycled flammable materials. So I have a duo fuel stove I guess. The corn is amazing - it really pumps out the heat.

[hatrack]

2. Is it catalytic?

I've always had my eye on one of those Finnish soapstone stoves. Talk about efficiency! Of course, you're also talking four figures for a good one, to say nothing of retrofitting existing houses . . . sigh . . .

[Alisa]

3. It is

and very effiecient when you really consider dollars and cents and also pollution. It was the right answer for my in town home.