benefits

Corn heating units can replace traditional heating sources, such as electricity, propane, heating oil, natural gas or wood.

There are many benefits to using corn heat including:

• Economic alternative to fossil fuels
• Saves Consumers Money
• Environmentally Friendly
• Clean-Burning Fuel
• Annually Renewable Heat Source
• Stimulates Local Economy
• Creates Jobs in Michigan

Corn heating units utilize an annually renewable fuel source. Corn is grown across the United States and has been about an 11 billion bushel crop for the last three years. Corn can also be grown in many other countries as well. By using corn for heating purposes, we can help to decrease our use of fossil fuels and other rapidly depleting energy sources. As our forests, oil, and other energy sources are becoming increasingly depleted, corn is replenished annually and therefore makes an alternative fuel source that is renewable year after year.

Since corn heating units are designed to burn under oxidizing conditions, the resulting smoke is nearly odorless and consists largely of carbon dioxide and steam. Unlike the combustion of ordinary fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide produced during corn burning does not add greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere. Instead, carbon emissions from corn heating units are annually renewable as the carbon dioxide is reabsorbed in plant matter by photosynthesis during the growing season.

Not only are corn heating units cost effective, but they are also environmentally-friendly. Ordinary household sized corn burning stoves do not emit significant particulate emissions. The Corn Heat Task Force is currently working through Michigan State University Extension and Saginaw Valley State University to do emissions testing on corn heating units. Results will be posted once the research is complete.