Hi folks,
I recently attended the 6th Annual Biomass Workshop and was intrigued by the response (over 175 people attended) as well as the diversity of biomass interest in Manitoba. For more information please see the link below:
http://www.lsam.ca/events/display,event/497/6th-annual-biomass-workshop
You may ask what biomass is, simply put biomass is non-fossil organic materials such as wood, straw, vegetable oils and wastes from the forest, agricultural and industrial sectors.
After direct solar energy and hydroelectricity, biomass is one of the most important renewable energy forms (wood burning accounts for about 14% of the world’s energy supply) and its use in Canada involves both the oldest and the newest of energy technologies.
On a smaller scale, the burning of biomass, particularly firewood, continues to supply space heating in many Canadian homes. According to Natural Resources Canada, about 26 per cent of Canadians use wood for home heating. This use is most prevalent in Atlantic Canada.
As firewood comes from living trees, which grow using energy from the sun you might say that when you are burning firewood you are using solar power!
Firewood is renewable, environmentally friendly (if you burn seasoned wood) and readily accessible.
If biomass has you thinking, you may also be interested in the organization 50by’30:
http://www.50by30.org
This Manitoba group is committed to working towards getting 50% of Manitoba’s energy from renewable resources by 2030. Firewood Manitoba is proud to be a member. I encourage you to take a look at the site and join if you agree with what they have to say.
Enjoy springtime and the longer amounts of daylight every day…and of course stay toasty my friends!