Comfortable use of wood pellets in one-family houses in Jämtland County, Sweden

Case Study (17 KB PDF)

Summary

Energikontoret has, in co-operation with the Swedish Energy Agency, carried through the project "Comfortable use of wood pellets in one-family houses" in Jämtland County from June 2001 until May 2002. The goal for the project was to make it easier for owners of one-family houses to start using wood pellets and an increase of the use of wood pellets in one-family houses. In their regional action plan they stated two goals, one quantitative and one for know-how. The quantitative goal was that the number of one-family houses in Jämtland County, heated by wood pellets, should increase with 50 during the project. The know-how goal was that owners of one-family houses only would need to make one telephone call when wanting to start using wood pellets. In May 2002 the project was evaluated. The evaluation showed that the quantitative goal had been reached. The number of one-family houses in Jämtland County, heated by wood pellets, has increased with about 95. The evaluation also showed that the know-how about pellets among firms and the public has increased due to the information and educational events arranged. Approximately 50 have replaced burning oil and/or electricity with wood pellets. If so, it means that the heating costs for these house owners have decreased with totally about 500.000 SEK per year. Further on the emissions of green house gases will decrease with about 500 ton per year. Finally an increased use of wood pellets leads to increased employment in Jämtland County.

Results

In May 2002, the project was evaluated. Their evaluation shows that the quantitative goal has been reached. The number of one-family houses in Jämtland County, heated by wood pellets, has increased with about 95. The evaluation also shows that the know-how about pellets among firms and the public has increased due the information and educational events they have arranged. In turn it has become far easier for owners of one-family houses to start using wood pellets.

The average need of energy for heating of a one-family house is about 25 MWh per year. The number of one-family houses in Jämtland County, heated by wood pellets, has increased with about 95 as a result of the project. Approximately 50 have replaced burning oil and/or electricity with wood pellets. If so, it means that the heating costs for these house owners have decreased with totally about 500.000 SEK per year. Further on the emissions of green house gases will decrease with about 500 ton per year. Finally an increased use of wood pellets leads to increased employment in Jämtland County.