The Next Generation Wood Stove Design Challenge, or the Wood Stove Decathlon, took place Nov. 15-19 in Washington, D.C. The Alliance for Green Heat organized 12 teams in the spirit of innovation and collaboration to create a cleaner-burning wood stove. Some competitors were from established wood-stove companies. Others were independent inventors and students. They traveled from Europe, New Zealand and throughout the United States.
According to the Alliance for Green Heat, 2.3 million U.S. households use wood or pellets as their primary fuel source. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that over the past decade, cordwood and pellet heating has grown by 39%, making it the fastest-growing heating fuel.