Made in the USA.
Looking for a green way to heat your home, business or commercial site? Wood pellets are an easy solution. Energy Pellets of America offers consumers premium wood pellets for use in residential and commercial stoves, furnaces and boilers; electrical generators, backpacking stoves; patio heaters and more.
This fuel comes from a sustainable source and is an increasingly popular source of energy for homes, businesses and commercial locations in the United States.
What are Wood Pellets?
Wood pellets are a heating fuel made from compressed wood particles. Wood pellets are burned in pellet stoves, furnaces and boilers, and used to heat homes, businesses and commercial locations. Wood pellets are a renewable fuel source, easy to use, efficient and natural. Wood pellets are a biomass product, which means they are made from a growing, renewable source. Examples of biomass fuel include wood chips, wood energy pellets, cord wood, paper and other agricultural byproducts used for fuel and energy. Recycled wood pellets, like those produced by Energy Pellets of America, prevent waste from entering landfills.
Approximately one million homes are heated with wood pellets and pellet stoves in the U.S., and this number is growing. Wood pellets are also commonly used to heat homes and businesses in Europe and around the world.
According to recent statistics from the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), the average homeowner can save nearly $700 each year by heating with pellets instead of heating oil or propane. Additionally, PFI reports that heating with wood pellets instead of oil or propane can reduce carbon emissions by nearly 5 tons per home. You might save as much per year using wood pellets instead of oil as you would if you swapped your gas-guzzling car for a hybrid model. Businesses and commercial entities will likely see more savings when choosing to heat with wood pellets.
Wood pellets are sold in 40 lb bags. You can buy pellets by the bag or by the pallet or skid. A homeowner will most likely use 2-3 tons of pellet fuel per year to heat their home. This can add up to approximately 100-150 bags or 2-3 pallets per year.
How are Wood Pellets Made?
Energy Pellets of America makes wood pellets from recycled wooden pallets. No chemically treated pallets are used in the process. To make wood pellets, Energy Pellets of America:
- Sources retired shipping pallets that are broken or no longer useful in the shipping industry.
- Breaks down the pallets into fine particles by using a grinder and hammer mill. This turns the wood chips into a “sawdust” like material.
- Uses multiple magnets to remove nails, screws and other ferrous metallic objects from the crushed wood material.
- Compresses the remaining wood particles into dense pellets. This makes them burn consistently in your pellet stove. No additional chemicals are used in this process.
- The wood pellets are bagged and shipped via pallet to retail stores and home customers. From pallets to pellets, the product comes full circle when shipped on a pallet to its final destination.
The entire production and shipping process creates a wood pellet product that is accessible to consumers and is a clean source of energy.
Why Wood Pellets?
Using wood pellets to heat your home or business comes with a few unique benefits. Heating your home or business with a pellet stove and wood pellets can:
- Help you save money on heating costs.
- Help reduce your carbon footprint and minimize your impact on the environment.
- Help you find a more cost-effective and cleaner substitute for heating with cord wood, propane or oil.
Energy Pellets of America responsibly makes wood pellets from 100 percent recycled wood chips. Material for the pellets is sourced from discarded wooden shipping pallets. From there, the wood is processed into small particles, turned into sawdust, and exposed to heat and high pressure to make the wood pellet fuel. Because the particles are densely packed and contain very little water, the wood burning pellets burn efficiently and cleanly.
Our pellets meet and/or exceed all U.S. and European standards for Premium quality pellets. Pellets are tested by a third party laboratory to make sure the Premium label has been earned. This means that third party tests prove our wood pellets contain less than 8 percent moisture, less than 1 percent ash and have a high heating value.
Using wood pellets to burn wood as a heating source decreases dependence on fossil fuels like oil, propane and natural gas. Because Energy Pellets of America makes pellets from sustainable sources, wood pellets are a renewable source of energy. Using wood energy pellets instead of oil can also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which combats global warming and protects the environment.
Pellets can also be more cost efficient than wood chips or cord wood. Because they are compressed wood fibers, shipping and handling costs are lower for wood pellets. It generally costs less to distribute wood pellets than wood chips.
It’s also important to know that Energy Pellets of America is part of a family-owned company based in Wilmington, Ohio. By choosing our pellets to heat your home or business, you’re supporting the domestic economy. Using locally-sourced wood pellets injects your energy costs into the local economy, rather than supporting a fuel supplier from outside the region or even outside the country.
Are Wood Pellets Efficient?
You’ll find that wood pellets are among the most efficient and cleanest burning fuel sources on the market today. Because wood pellets contain very little water, they are able to burn with very little ash. Wood pellets offer approximately 8,000 to 9,000 BTU/lb, which creates an energy efficient fuel for heating your home, business or commercial site. High efficiency wood pellet stoves and boilers burn wood pellets around 95 percent combustion. Compared to cord wood, which burns at 70 to 80 percent combustion, wood pellets are an efficient choice. One ton of wood energy pellets is equivalent to about 3 barrels of fuel oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Are Wood Pellets Safe?
Energy Pellets of America does not recycle any chemically treated pallets. This means that all of our pellets burn clean and efficiently without chemicals. Energy Pellets of America meets all U.S. guidelines set by the PFI. Additionally, our pellets also meet European guidelines set by the ENPlus A1 for premium wood pellet fuel. Both sets of guidelines prohibit the use of chemically treated materials.
Burning wood pellets is also safe for the environment. According to information from the Environmental Protection Agency, pellet stoves have very low emissions because of the high density of the fuel and the high burn efficiency. Additionally, each ton of wood pellets burned instead of oil reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.5 tons. With close to one million homes in the U.S. using wood pellets, total emissions will be offset by nearly 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide this year.
Our wood pellets are:
- Sustainable. Recycled wood is a renewable resource that is friendly for the environment. Recycling wood shipping pallets prevents waste from going to landfills and creates an environmentally friendly way to heat your home, place of business or commercial site.
- Clean combusting. Burning wood pellets in your high-efficiency stove is cleaner and creates less carbon than the organic decomposition of pallets, wood products and trees.
- All natural. Pellets are compressed with heat and pressure, eliminating the need for binders and additional unnatural chemicals.
How Can I Be Sure of Wood Pellet Quality?
You can determine the quality of wood energy pellets by looking at the label. Any product marked Premium has passed or exceeded standards set by the PFI or ENPlus. Energy Pellets of America’s wood pellets have earned this distinction. This means our pellets have been tested by a third party laboratory and were found to contain less than 8 percent moisture, less than 1 percent ash and have a high value of heating energy. Pellets are audited regularly to maintain the Premium label.
Because Energy Pellets of America’s wood pellets are rated Premium, you’ll find that our pellets hit high marks when it comes to quality. You’ll find consistent size, color and density among each bag. However, the best way to measure pellet quality isn’t by the wood material, but by moisture content, ash content and heating capability. Energy Pellets of America makes high quality wood pellets that promise to be a consistent source of quality fuel for your pellet stove.
What’s the Difference Between Hardwood Pellets and Softwood Pellets?
There is very little difference between hardwood and softwood pellets. This question comes from traditional corded wood burning customers. The difference in traditional corded wood is that hardwoods are naturally denser in their wood fiber composition than softwoods. Because of this density there is more wood fiber and less space for moisture, so most corded hardwoods burn longer and typically create less ash. In the wood pellet fuel process the differences between hardwoods and softwoods are almost eliminated. During the pelletizing process both wood material’s moisture levels are controlled to produce a finished product that is less than 8 percent moisture. Pelletizing mills create uniform density of the wood fibers regardless of the species. A Biomass Magazine article states that pelletized softwood, “has a higher percentage of resin content than hardwood, which will produce more heat per pound.” The difference is minimal when you are burning quality wood pellets. Because Energy Pellets of America recycles wooden pallets to create our wood pellets, our pellets contain both hardwoods and softwoods. We call the end product a hardwood blend. This combination makes a product that is versatile and clean burning in a variety of pellet stoves and boilers.
Are Wood Pellets Convenient to Use and Store?
You can buy wood pellets from a dealer, or buy them directly by the bag, one ton pallet or loose bulk from Energy Pellets of America. If you buy them directly from Energy Pellets of America, the pellets can be shipped to your home, business or commercial site. You can also visit us and pick them up in your personal vehicle.
It’s wise to store pellets in a dry area. The storage area should be free of mold and moisture. Keeping your bags of pellets off the ground and on a pallet can help keep them dry, too. Many wood pellet users chose to store them in a basement or garage. If you can’t store your wood pellets indoors, it’s a good idea to keep them outside in a shelter or shed located in a dry, high place. You might want to cover your wood pellets with a securely fastened tarp for additional protection. When pellets get wet, they will turn back into their original material — sawdust.
When stored in a proper way, wood pellets can last for a very long time. The main culprits in damaging stored pellets are U.V. sunlight and moisture. U.V. sunlight over an extended period of time will break down the protective slipcover and plastic bags. Once the plastic breaks dow moisture penetration can accelerate. You can prevent U.V. light and dampness from damaging your wood pellets by storing them properly.
Storing your wood pellets correctly makes them easy to use and can help you get the most out of your pellets.
Can I Use Wood Pellets in my Wood Stove?
Wood pellets are designed to be used in special pellet stoves. They will not be as efficient when used in a traditional wood stove. There are many products on the internet that have been created to utilize wood pellets in traditional wood stoves with mixed success. Energy Pellets of America does not endorse any particular one of these products. However we encourage you to explore these products to see what may work for you. If you’d like to use wood pellets, consider swapping out your traditional wood stove for a pellet stove.
What Can I do with Wood Pellet Ash?
Burning wood pellets should produce very little ash, but the few ashes produced can be useful. According to information from the University of Missouri, you can used the ashes your wood stove produces to fertilize plants in your garden and lawn. Ash contains calcium and lime, as well as potassium. These minerals and nutrients can be good for your garden and lawn.
Ready to Get Started with Wood Pellets?
Wood pellets are a versatile, clean-burning and sustainable method of providing heat to your home, business or commercial location. Energy Pellets of America makes premium, recycled wood pellets that can be used to fuel a pellet stove and more. Learn more about our wood pellets or place your order today. Call us at (937) 265-0676 to get started with our wood pellets.