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Are you about to move into a new home and wondering whether or not to install a biomass boiler? We at Casavo will help you discover this appliance, which has specific features and involves very specific advantages and disadvantages. Biomass heat generators, such as boilers fueled by pellets, wood chips, and wood, offer an ecological and advantageous alternative.
This type of boiler is a valid alternative to fossil fuel boilers and is capable of meeting the energy needs of single homes and entire condominiums. Before deciding whether it's right for you or not, however, let's start by really understanding what biomass boilers are.
What are biomass boilers
A biomass boiler is a type of boiler that uses biomass to heat energy. a heat generator powered by the combustion of organic materials of animal or plant origin, defined precisely as biomass. The compounds come from crops or wood and paper industries: from pellets to wood logs, from peach stones to dried fruit shells. Biomass heat generators include stoves and boilers.
Wood is one of the main fuels used to power these generators, thanks to its thermal efficiency and energy saving characteristics.
This type of boiler is capable of producing a significant amount of heat at low costs, with significant savings compared to traditional systems despite the fact that they function almost identically. Firewood, if properly dried and stored, offers a neutral environmental impact and significant advantages over other solid fuels.
So far, it all seems rosy, but like everything, even biomass boilers have positive and negative aspects: let's identify them.
Biomass boilers: advantages and disadvantages
Before deciding what type of heating system to install in your home, it is always advisable to consult a specialist, who will be able to advise you based on your needs and technical considerations.
Choosing a biomass boiler involves pros and cons to evaluate.
Among the main advantages are:
- the low environmental impact, due to the very low level of CO2 emissions;
- the effective savings on consumption;
- the savings on installation costs, even when replacing old gas systems, thanks to tax deductions and incentives.
Furthermore, biomass boilers can be used to produce domestic hot water for use in the kitchen and bathroom.
But is a biomass boiler also worth it for its eco-sustainability? To understand this, we must also consider its disadvantages.
First and foremost, we find the finding the fuel and the space needed for its storage: if you live in the city, you have to pay more for it. and you don't have an open veranda to use as a storage area, the situation could get complicated.
You must then consider the costs related to the treatment of biomass, which, before being burned, must be freed from any trace of residual humidity.
Finally, the risk of deforestation: the planet's ever-increasing energy demand could, in the long term, lead to an increase in the need for woody material to the detriment of our forests.
Biomass boilers are ideal for heating environments such as mountain homes, chalets, and large, poorly insulated buildings.
Other types of sustainable boilers
In addition to biomass boilers, there are also other types of sustainable boilers, designed to create as little pollution as possible. We are talking, for example, about the most modern condensing boilers, pellet stoves and thermo-fireplaces, which have a very low environmental impact while offering excellent results in terms of heat and energy production. Furthermore, fireplaces fueled by wood, pellets, and biomass represent an excellent solution for those looking for efficient and sustainable heating.
Whether you choose a biomass system or another type of green system, there are various government incentives that encourage the replacement of dated appliances with latest-generation models:
- the Appliance Bonus 2021, for the purchase of appliances with an energy class no lower than A+;
- the Ecobonus, which facilitates any type of work aimed at lowering the energy class of your property.
Now that we have seen what biomass boilers are, we remind you that, in addition to these incentives, the new Budget Law also includes many other specific ones for real estate. Learn more about this topic in the Casavo's guide to bonuses and incentives for home improvement projects in 2021!