Strawbale Farms Blog Posts

Why Now is a Great Time to go Solar

Posted March 18, 2019 by Strawbale Farms & filed under Solar Electric.

For those asking themselves “should I go solar”, the answer is a resounding “yes!” Over the years, the price of installation has gone way down and technology has continued to improve. And, if you wait to go solar, you’ll be stuck continuing to pay your high electricity bill every month, which can be increasingly expensive. After all, electric and other energy costs continues to grow all over the county. As the experts in solar electric for Wisconsin and the surrounding areas, we’d like to tell you about more of the great reasons to go solar this spring.

With the temperatures beginning to warm, solar panels make an ideal solution for property owners who want to save money on energy costs. While many homeowners wind up with high energy bills during the summer months from running their air conditioners, you will be reaping the rewards of solar electric. And, you won’t even have to wait for hot weather to hit to enjoy the benefits that solar energy offers! In fact, having a residential solar energy system installed on your home during the spring can be a wise decision for the following reasons:

You’ll be ready for summer when it hits. Planning ahead by having one of these systems installed in spring helps ensure that your home or business is ready for air conditioning season.
More sunlight. As the hours of sunlight increase from spring to summer, you can count on having steady energy for the needs of your home.
Financial incentives. Did you know residential and commercial solar electric systems are eligible for a 30% of total cost rebate through the Federal Investment Tax Credit? Don’t wait to take advantage of this free money, this Tax Credit expires at the end of 2019.
Environmental benefits. Summer is the time of year when air quality and other pollution issues rise to the surface. By changing your power system to solar power you can reduce your household’s carbon footprint and the pollution you put out into the environment.
Help avoid summer blackouts. As you know, summer is notorious for black outs with all of the air conditioner use. By going solar you will benefit not only your home but your city’s power grid by not contributing to the summer time air conditioner energy drain.

And, these are just some of the great reasons to go solar this spring! Learn more about solar electric for your Wisconsin or Minnesota farm, home or business today! Call Strawbale Farms at (715) 214-6683 or Contact Us to learn more.

Is Biomass Heating the Renewable Way of the Future?

Posted February 15, 2019 by Strawbale Farms & filed under Wood Boilers.

There is an undeniable buzz around renewable energy. In fact, renewables like biomass heating have continued to grow as a sector in recent years. Biomass technology is becoming more and more popular on the domestic market for its energy efficient and low carbon boilers in particular. Did you know that a biomass boiler installed in a home could potentially save up to 40% on standard oil and/or gas bills every year? It is certainly tantalizing for any consumer and its renewable status may even make it the one of the best ways to heat homes moving into the future.

As experts in biomass heating for Duluth and the surrounding areas, we would like to discuss what we think makes wood boilers the way of the future.

First, what is ‘biomass’ exactly? Biomass energy is essentially created from any organic material that is available on a renewable basis. Biomass boilers often use wood chips and pellets as suitable fuel. These organic materials are renewable, with growth capable of new resources time and time again, and the ashes from production can even be used as fertilizer.

It’s simple; biomass heating is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. On the contrary, coal, gas, and oil are fossil-based, non-renewable resources. And in the last year, costs for these commodities have soared; even electricity prices are climbing. With biomass heating you won’t have to worry about the high cost of wintertime heating again!

The cost of creating biomass is also much less than non-sustainable energy sources, and is better value than most renewable energy options as well. Because of this, positive trends towards renewables are just beginning and the potential for biomass heating to be used on an even larger scale continues to grow. Looking to the future, there is nothing to suggest biomass heating will not be the renewable of our future.

For virtually anyone looking for straightforward, affordable heat; choosing a wood boiler as a heating source is a no-brainer. Ready to get started? At Strawbale Farms, we are well-versed in helping a wide variety of customers from home owners to farmers, commercial and industrial businesses and more essential to Minnesota. If you would like more information about biomass heating for your Duluth area home or business, call Strawbale Farms at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today! We would love to speak with you and help you find the right wood boiler for your needs.

Outdoor Wood Boilers of Today: A Better Way to Heat Your Home in 2019

Posted January 21, 2019 by Strawbale Farms & filed under Wood Boilers.

Outdoor wood boilers of today have come a long way over the years. The latest outdoor wood boilers are increasingly efficient and comply with the latest environmental regulations. This is beneficial for not just the planet but for your wallet as well. With the latest and greatest in outdoor wood boiler technology hitting the market, this makes 2019 a great year to transition to this incredible heat source. As the trusted name in the industry, Strawbale Farms is here to tell you some of the many reasons you should consider an outdoor wood boiler for your St Cloud area home this year.

This winter, the cost of heating with fuel oil is expected to reach an all time high. Propane prices are up, too. And, heating with electricity is the least efficient and most expensive of all. State-of-the-art biomass furnaces and boilers from Strawbale Farms can reduce heating costs dramatically compared to all other forms of heat. Instead of burning fossil fuels for energy, biomass heating uses organic materials like wood or pellets. Biomass heating is a green form of energy! Biomass is considered a carbon neutral form of energy because the carbon dioxide released when it is burned is only that which was absorbed by the plant during its life.

And, with our new Polar G-Class line of Wood Gasification Boilers you can burn 60% less wood! They offer even more efficiency for your home and are all about making wood burning as clean, simple and easy as possible while eliminating high heating bills. To accomplish this, the G-Class is packed with an impressive array of features which together deliver unmatched product value.

Slash your heating costs with an outdoor boiler in 2019! With an outdoor wood boiler, you always know what your heating costs will be from year to year. Wood is inexpensive, readily available, and a green, renewable fuel. Wood boilers make some of the best options in home heating since they are highly efficient, clean burning, safe and convenient to use.

Winter won’t wait and neither should you! 2019 will be the year of the outdoor wood boiler so don’t miss out! Whatever you are looking for in an outdoor wood boiler, the experts at Strawbale Farms can help you find the right one to fit your specific needs.

To learn more about an outdoor wood boiler for your St Cloud property, call Strawbale Farms at (715) 214-6683 or Contact Us to learn more.

Warm Up Your Winter with the Right Outdoor Wood Boiler for You

Posted December 20, 2018 by Strawbale Farms & filed under Outdoor Boilers.

An outdoor wood boiler can warm up not only your winter, it has incredible benefits in the spring summer and fall as well! An outdoor boiler not only provides you with more affordable heating, it also offers many environmental benefits. If the circumstances are right, few heating options provide a more efficient, dependable, and comprehensive heating source. You can eliminate most of your utility bill for your home while also eliminating one more fire hazard from your home. An outdoor wood boiler for your Ashland WI can provide a number of benefits as long as you choose one of high quality and one that meets your specific needs

An outdoor wood boiler isn’t an installation you want to skimp on. Performance varies greatly between models and companies so it is important you invest in high quality that will last. Different designs are also better for efficiency, others are better for producing greater amounts of heat. At Strawbale Farms we only carry the very best in high quality, efficient and dependable outdoor boilers. And, our experts can help you select the right model to fit your specific property and heating needs.

You can use your outdoor wood boiler to heat your home, business, garage, you name it! The possibilities are endless! You can even connect some models to existing forced air or hydronic radiant heating systems, your domestic hot water, greenhouse, hot tub, swimming pool and more.

Obviously an outdoor wood boiler lends itself to more rural homes, but you don’t need to live in the middle of nowhere or in a heavily wooded area to make this a viable heating option. Our expert can help you select the model that works for your unique home.

As long as you are looking for straightforward, affordable heat; choosing this wonderful heating source is a no-brainer. Outdoor wood boilers take up zero living space and are extremely cost-effective.

At Strawbale Farms, we have helped a wide variety of customers from home owners to farmers, commercial and industrial businesses and more find the right outdoor wood boiler for them. Allow us to help you find the right outdoor wood boiler for you! From our Portage & Main boilers to our new Polar G-Class, we offer only top quality units.

Are you ready to learn more about an outdoor wood boiler for your unique Ashland WI home or business? Call Strawbale Farms at (715) 214-6683 or Contact Us to learn more.

All Fire, No Smoke: The New Polar Furnace is Clean, Efficient & Simple to Use

Posted November 19, 2018 by Strawbale Farms & filed under Outdoor Boilers.

Do you want to eliminate your high heating bills without all the smoke? Allow us to introduce you to the new Polar Furnace. The G-Class model is an outdoor furnace industry first and offers smoke free combustion for a truly clean and efficient heating experience.

The Polar Furnace G-Class is all about making wood burning as clean, simple and easy as possible while eliminating your high heating bills. To accomplish this, the G-Class is packed with an impressive array of features which together deliver unmatched product value. These features include:

All fire, no smoke VOR-TECH combustion chamber. The chamber reaches temperatures up to 2000°F so every ounce of wood and any smoke get completely burned and combustion efficiency reaches 99.5%. This means that every possible BTU of energy is released from the wood and smoke and is converted into heat.
High performance heat exchanger.
Easy sweep system which allows the heat exchanger to be cleaned daily in as little time as 5 seconds.
Safety channel built into the top of the fire chamber and the powerful ECM suction fan work together to insure your comfort and safety during loading.
Strongwall system of removable panels to protect the fire chamber walls from the extreme conditions inside the fire chamber and increasing the life of the furnace.
The Ignition Door allows you to set the wood on fire AFTER filling the entire fire chamber with wood. Also, while lighting the fire the suction fan creates strong negative pressure inside the fire chamber which keeps any smoke from escaping as air is sucked in through the door opening. You will be amazed how easy it is to light a fire inside the G-Class!

And, these are just some of the amazing features you can enjoy with your new Polar Furnace! With the G-Class Polar Furnace you also get exceptionally long lasting durability, good looks and so much more!

You will love how easy the G-Class is to operate and how simple it is to maintain. You will love the smoke free combustion and be amazed at how much less wood you will burn when compared to older outdoor wood furnace technology. G-Class takes it to a whole new level. These products truly are in a class all there own in the outdoor furnace industry.

Interested in learning more about the new Polar Furnace? Call Strawbale Farms at 715-214-6683 or Contact Us today! We would love to speak with you and help you find the right outdoor boiler for your needs.