In the past several months, there has been a lot of discussion and attention regarding the use of woody biomass for energy (heat or electricity) and its affect on greenhouse gases. Advocates say that wood for energy is “carbon neutral” and therefore, good for mitigating climate change, while others believe that there is a negative impact.

Well, according to a recent study by Manomet and its partners, both sides are right and wrong.

The answer is more complex. More specifically, it depends on the life-cycle of the biomass being used, the biomass energy technology and the fossil fuel technology it replaces, and the way landowners choose to manage their forests.

The study shows that using wood for energy can result in an initial “carbon debt” because burning wood releases more CO2 into the atmosphere per unit of energy than fossil fuels (oil, coal, or natural gas). But, unlike fossil fuels, forests can grow back and recapture (or sequester) CO2 from the atmosphere. Over time, through accelerated forest growth, the carbon debt can be “paid off.” After the carbon debt is paid off, if the forest continues to grow, a “carbon dividend” is realized and the use of wood for energy then becomes increasingly beneficial for greenhouse gas mitigation.

Here is how the authors depict the concept of “carbon debt-then-carbon dividend“.

The executive summary and full report can be downloaded from the Manomet website.

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National Geographic has built a pretty interesting online resource for looking at your personal energy consumption compared to your friends and neighbors. The tools are all part of The Great Energy Challenge designed to help you understand your current energy situation.

The tools range from easy-to-digest mini-calculators to the more comprehensive personal energy meter. I found all of the tools educational, but learned the most from the mini-calculators. Personal note: I need to take care of the energy vampires that lurk in my house!

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Have you ever wondered what uses more energy in your home — heating, cooling, lighting, or powering electronics like TVs, computers, and refrigerators?

No surprise it is heating. I bet you are not too surprised, after all, Greenwood is a renewable heating company. However, what may surprise you is to what extent it outpaces other energy use in your home.  As a homeowner, the U.S. Energy Information Administration presents a rather compelling picture for home improvement.

Two-thirds of the energy used in your home is for heating. Time to upgrade the windows, add insulation, pull out the caulk gun and (here it comes) look at cheaper forms of heat like a high-efficiency wood boiler. Sales pitch aside, the biggest dent you can make in your monthly energy bill is take a bite out of the heating gremlin.

Happy caulking!

December 31st, 2010.

That is the date that federal tax credit is scheduled to expire for the purchase of new energy efficient products, including high-efficiency wood boilers. With the purchase of a qualifying product, the government will credit you 30 percent of the cost (and installation), up to $1,500.

So, why is this a big deal? Well, a tax credit is much more valuable than a tax deduction.

A deduction is an amount you can subtract from your taxable income. However, a tax credit lowers your actual tax bill dollar-for-dollar, in this case by up to $1,500. So a tax credit has a bigger impact on the money left in your pocket at the end of the day.

So, whether you are considering a wood gasification boiler, air conditioner, water heater or windows time is running out.

For more information, BuffaloNews.com has a great article.

It is August and it is still hot out there. In case you are still trying to figure out how to deal with the heat, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program offers some great advice on low- and no-cost energy-efficient cooling tips.

Some things to consider include:

• Pulling curtains or blinds
• Changing the filter on your air conditioner
• Seal your air ducts

For a complete list visit the Energy Star site.

A typical household spends almost 20% of its utility bill on cooling, and by taking steps this summer to improve energy-efficiency; you can save energy, save money, and help fight climate change.