In these times of global warming, environmental pollution and the need to find fuel alternatives, the US and Canada are increasingly looking to grain-burning stoves and heaters to provide a solution. These biomass fuels (meaning anything from cereal grains to fruit pips to wood pellets) are not only often cheaper, but also non-polluting, renewable, and non-explosive. And as oil prices continue to rise and rise, such grain-burning could prove a swifter and more effective solution than any amount of drilling for oil in Alaska. The experience of those who have the hardware in place already is very positive. Dating back to 1994, families in Manitoba were reporting that their wheat-burning stove offered "the same heat efficiency as electricity, but at a fraction of the cost."
'Most of the customers tend to be rural folk or farmers themselves, who may have stocks of wheat, corn or wood waiting to be used'
One couple in New Hampshire, Dan and Barbara Burbank, changed from normal winter expenses of well over $1000 of wood and oil to just $400 worth of wheat. And the stoves also burn corn, rye, and wood pellets made from compacted sawdust. For this reason, and also for reasons of convenience, most of the customers tend to be rural folk or farmers themselves, who may have stocks of wheat, corn or wood waiting to be used. Also those in more remote areas without easy access to electricity or natural gas may find it a handy alternative.
What is certain is that alternatives have to be found, be they wheat-burning, corn-based ethanol or some other mixture of wood or straw pellets. These are renewable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly fuels that make economic sense, and although they may require a little more maintenance and storage capability, the pros appear to far outweigh the cons. As Donna Pizzey, a wheat-burning veteran from Foxwarren, Manitoba, puts it, "If you're talking about environmentally friendly fuel, this is it."
For more information on grain-burning manufacturers, see www.cornburner.com or http://amaize-ingenergy.com/intro.htm .
For information on financial incentives for using renewable fuels, see www.dcs.ncsu.edu/solar/dsire/dsire.htm .
Summarised from an article by Darlene Polachic in Natural Life newsletter, July '94 (Box 340, St.George ON Canada N0E 1N0; see the Natural Life website at www.life.ca). Additional information from the Cornburner website.
