Hawken Energy Unit Heater Specs.

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Unit heater specs (better image coming soon). Unit heaters are available through our online store.

Posted by Don Squire | Permalink

Fordson Snow Machine - 1929 Concept

This isn't the usual topic of our blog here but I thought this was pretty cool. I especially like the logging bit starting at 3:53. This has nothing on modern equipment but for the day I'm sure the folks were impressed. There are days here in Michigan when I would love to have something like this.

Posted by Don Squire | Permalink

Hawken Energy: Outdoor Wood Furnace or Outdoor Wood Boiler?

Does Hawken Energy manufacture an outdoor wood furnace or an outdoor wood boiler? Yes. Currently there are lots of names for our product depending on the local region or manufacturer.

The basics are pretty simple. Hot water is heated by a wood fire. That water is circulated through heat exchangers to keep a home or building comfortable.

Here’s a list of common terms all representing a Hawken Energy.

Outdoor Wood Furnace (OWF) – this is the term we find most popular
Outdoor Wood Boiler (OWB) – this term is probably the most technically correct
Waterstove – not nearly as popular, this term seems to be most popular in Western North America.

Even within these basic names there are lots of variations. For example, either the OWF or the OWB could also be referred to as “outdoor wood-fired boiler” or “outdoor wood-fired furnace” or “wood boiler”.

It’s also common to use the term “stove”. For example, “outdoor wood stove”. Because they are not actually used to cook anything we feel the term is the most incorrect.

The terms “biomass” and “biogenic” heaters have also grown in popularity recently. These words simply refer to the renewable fuels used to create heat, in our case that fuel is wood. Because water is the medium used to carry the heat energy, we use the term hydronics or "hydronic heaters" or even "outdoor wood-fired hydronic heaters" (OWHH).

2009 – 2010 Biomass Heater Tax Credit and the Hawken Energy Outdoor Wood Furnace

We have received a lot of questions about the 2009 – 2010 federal tax credit for biomass heating appliances. The credit offers a rebate of 30%, up to $1,500 for energy efficient appliances, including outdoor wood burners, purchased in 2009 and 2010.

At this time the only outdoor wood burning units on the market that meet the 75% efficient standards are the EPA tested and tagged gasification burners. If it doesn't have a yellow or white tag, it doesn't qualify for the tax credit.

While we don’t know the exact efficiency rating of our Hawken Energy furnaces (our own tests wouldn’t count for this credit) we estimate that we are near, but not quite to this 75% requirement.

The good news is that even with the $1,500 tax credit, the high priced gasification units are still far more expensive.

Don’t be fooled by false claims or so-called savings of the competing brands claiming that customers will get tax credit for their furnace purchase!

Some competing companies are blanketing their ads with this tax credit, gathering lots of attention only to tell customers that they can apply for the tax credit that will never go through.

Here’s the truth: Only IRS approved furnaces will receive this federal tax credit. The only way to receive the certification is to have an independent, certified laboratory issue a statement of efficiency like the EPA approved units.

The average cost for an IRS credit approved outdoor furnace is over $10,000; a Hawken Energy outdoor wood furnace sells for about 40% less. Don’t be fooled into buying a more expensive unit for an unprofitable tax credit.

Letter to Citizens of Pennsylvania from Hawken Energy

Dear Pennsylvania Citizens,

You are about to have a new regulation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is going to cost each of you a large sum of money - at least $800 each immediately, and then several thousands of dollars each year in the future. Will you be able to vote on this? NO.

Will you be able to even vote an elected representative out of office for passing this new regulation? NO.

This new regulation is being proposed by the Environmental Quality Board of Pennsylvania. And we cannot do anything to stop them, except let our voices be heard. More on that later.

This "Board" has decided to attempt to regulate how citizens of PA use wood as a fuel. If you currently use wood to heat your home with an outdoor wood furnace, the Board wants to regulate you. We find this mystifying because of the following reasons:

1. Wood is a renewable fuel that has been safely used since the beginning of recorded history.
2. Wood does not harm the environment. Fossil fuels DO harm the environment. Wood does not add greenhouse gasses to the environment - Fossil fuels DO.
3. The proposed regulation was prepared using grossly flawed data.
4. This regulation will damage the economy of Pennsylvania by killing jobs, and by increasing the heating cost of many homeowners by over 400 percent.
5. The Commonwealth consists primarily of heavily-wooded, rural areas. It makes no sense to burden the citizens of our entire Commonwealth with a rule that really only applies to densely populated areas that constitute a tiny portion of the Commonwealth.

Here is what the proposed regulation will require:

1. If you do not yet have an outdoor wood furnace but want to purchase one, you will have to purchase one of the "EPA Approved" furnaces that were developed for use in densely populated cities - even if you live in the country or on a 100-acre farm!

2. These "EPA Approved" furnaces cost approximately 400 percent more per BTU of output than traditional outdoor wood furnaces. Because of this high cost, very few people are purchasing these "EPA Approved" furnaces - one company that sold them has even gone bankrupt.

3. If you currently own an outdoor furnace, but it gets old and needs to be replaced, you will be required to pay 400 percent more for the higher cost, "EPA Approved" furnace.

4. If you currently own a furnace, you will automatically and retroactively be forced to spend roughly $800 to install a chimney stack extension that extends your furnace chimney to a height 10 feet above the ground. If another home is within 500 feet of your furnace, the regulation retroactively requires you to extend your chimney even higher.


I have prepared a 9-page letter to the Board to outline for them why such regulation is a bad idea. I have attached this letter to my company blog for you to read if you are interested. The link to the letter is as follows: http://blog.hawkenenergy.com/2009/12/letter-to-environmental-quality-board.html.

The bottom line is that we believe that any needed regulation should be left to local municipalities. Accordingly, we recommend that the Board NOT adopt the proposed, or any regulation of OWBs. Such regulations can be easily managed by local municipalities of densely populated areas.

But I doubt they will listen to just me. Here is where we need to work together. If you agree that PA citizens should have the freedom to choose to burn wood, you can help to preserve our freedom by doing two simple things:

1. Send a quick email to the Board, and
2. Forward this email to any and all friends who would be interested in this issue and would also like to have their voice heard by sending an email to the Board.

For your email to the Board, please follow these simple steps:

1. Copy the "Sample Letter to Board" below into a new email.
2. Make any changes or additions you wish to make. (Alternatively, you can just write your own letter - I only provide the Sample Letter below to simplify this for you.)
3. Put in the Subject Line the following: "Comments on Proposed Rulemaking - Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers".
4. Make sure to add your name and address so the Board knows you are a PA constituent.
5. Send the email to the following email address: RegComments@state.pa.us
6. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of electronic comments within 2 working days, please resend your email to ensure the Board receives the email.
7. Alternatively, you can mail your comments to the following address: Environmental Quality Board, PO Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477.
8. YOUR EMAIL OR LETTER MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 4, 2010!!
9. The Board will not accept faxed letters. Send it by email or mail only.

A sample of a letter you could send to the board is attached below. If you have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me - you can reach me at Warren@HawkenEnergy.com.

And don't forget to forward this email to your friends!

Thanks, and warm regards,

Warren W. Walborn
President & CEO

---Sample Letter to Board---

TO:
Environmental Quality Board
PO Box 8477
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477

FROM:
(your name)
(your address)
(your city, state, zip)

Re: Proposed Rulemaking [25 PA. Code CHS. 121 and 123] Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers

Dear Board:

Please do NOT proceed with your proposed rulemaking regarding outdoor wood-fired boilers. I believe this would be unacceptable for our Commonwealth for the following reasons:

1. Wood is a renewable fuel that has been safely used since the beginning of recorded history.
2. Wood does not harm the environment. Fossil fuels DO harm the environment. Wood does not add greenhouse gasses to the environment - Fossil fuels DO.
3. The proposed regulation was prepared using grossly flawed data.
4. This regulation will damage the economy of Pennsylvania by killing jobs, and by increasing the heating cost of many homeowners by over 400 percent.
5. The Commonwealth consists primarily of heavily-wooded, rural areas. It makes no sense to burden the citizens of our entire Commonwealth with a rule that really only applies to densely populated areas that constitute a tiny portion of the Commonwealth. We believe that any needed regulation should be left to local municipalities. Accordingly, we recommend that the Board NOT adopt the proposed, or any regulation of OWBs. Such regulations can be easily managed by local municipalities of densely populated areas.

Thank you.


---End of Sample Letter---

Why a Hot Water Kit

One of the great things about a Hawken Energy outdoor wood furnace is the versatility of the heating options. Hot water circulated from the Hawken can be used to heat forced air systems, boilers, garages, shop space, pools and hot tubs, green houses and all kinds of other utilities. We've even seen wood drying kilns utilize the abundant heat of a Hawken Energy system.

The most popular kit that Hawken Energy offers is the Hot Water Kit, also know as the Domestic Hot Water Kit. This simple kit usually pays for itself within the first year and provides almost unlimited amounts of hot water to the home or business where it's installed. You can see this kit by clicking here.

Our own research indicates that the average customer saves between $30 and $50 per month (on electric hot water tanks) when a Hawken Energy Hot Water Kit is installed. Some customers save even more. No matter what your fuel, a Hot Water Kit saves money.

The Hot Water Kit works by running the domestic water source through a plate exchanger before it feeds into the existing hot water tank. This plate exchanger is a 250,000 BTU powerhouse. Cold water fed into the plate exchanger flows through and enters the tank at temperatures almost matching the temperature of the water circulating from the Hawken system. This hot water is then stored in your existing hot water tank until it's needed. The Hot Water Kit also includes an anti-scald valve for safety.

Hawken Energy offers the plate exchanger type kit because we feel it's the best option for the job. Another option available on the market is what's called a side arm exchanger. These side arm exchangers use thermal convection to circulate water through the hot water tank from top to bottom. They work, but once the stored hot water is depleted there is no more hot water. They usually cost about the same and don't do the job as well. Why not use a plate exchanger?

If you are even thinking about an outdoor wood furnace, consider the payback of unlimited hot water that pays for itself in a matter of months.