incentives for commercial, institutional, and residential heating. This could potentially be done through a rental program similar to what has been done for hot water heaters and/or through rebates for new and replacement heating installations. 4. RECOGNIZE THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF WOOD PELLETS OVER ELECTRICITY The government and NB Power should recognize the technical and economic benefits of wood pellets over electricity. Wood pellet heating appliances are commonly at least 80 per cent ef-ficient, compared to 35 per cent efficiency for coal-generated electricity used for heat. Increasing the use of wood pellets for heat would help NB Power to reduce peak electricity demand during winter cold periods and enable its customers to lower their home heating costs. Moreover, a wood pellet stove can be coupled with a small emergency electricity generator to pro-vide secure heat during power outages, such as occurred during 2017’s devastating New Brunswick ice storm. 5. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF WOOD PELLETS It would be beneficial for the province and NB Power to host a website with up-to-date information about the cost of energy from all sources as well as a comparison table to enable consumers to compare the different options when de-ciding on a heating source. There should be a co-ordinated, joint-marketing campaign undertaken by the wood pellet pro-ducers, distributers of pellet burning appliances, government, and NB Power to increase the awareness of any new programs implemented, the cost savings of using a pellet-burning appli-ance and the New Brunswick job creation/retention resulting from increased wood pellet consumption. The province has successfully undertaken a similar campaign to raise awareness of mini-split heat pumps, which greatly increased sales of that technology. With the introduction of its climate action plan, Transitioning to a Low-carbon Economy , the government has made a major com-mitment to combatting the effects of climate change. New Bruns-wick’s wood pellet industry is well-positioned to play its part, but needs the support and engagement of GNB and NB Power to make this happen. • PDI Drying Systems Designed to meet the diverse needs of today’s manufacturers. We provide innovative equipment that is cost-effective with environmentally compliant performance, responsive to even the most stringent guidelines. Our customized solutions use advanced technology to ensure a consistent, quality finished product, giving our customers a competitive edge. PDI Drying Systems utilize precise airflow management and retention time controls, ensuring consistent outlet moisture. We also provide Energy Systems and Engineering Services. • LOW FUEL CONSUMPTION • COMPLETE CONTROLS INTEGRATION • STRUCTURALLY ENGINEERED DRUMS AND RINGS • LOW HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS • CUSTOM FLIGHTING PACKAGES Innovative Design Improved Moisture Control Low Emission Capacity Range from 1-20 tons/hour Contact us today to discuss your needs at [email protected] or Tel: 207-764-6811 pdi_hpAD7x5_Nov2017.indd 1 CBM_PDI drying_Dec17_CSA.indd 1 Canadian BIOMASS 2017-11-10 2:57 PM 2017-11-14 7:37 AM 9
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