WITTUS–FIRE BY DESIGN (Pound Ridge, New York) and ETE EmTechEngineering (Leipzig, Germany) teamed up in April to compete in the Pellet Stove Design Challenge at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Long Island, New York). Hosted by Alliance for Green Heat and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the competition was created to encourage innovation in residential heating.

The Wittus/ETE EmTechEngineering stove, the Pellwood, was a clear winner, achieving the cleanest burn rate overall and the lowest emissions (less than 0.5 grams per hour). The Pellwood can burn pellets or cordwood, so if pellets are not available or there is no power, wood can be burned with highly efficient results. Pellets can also be used during the day, when no one is at home, and wood can be used at night (for a cozy, dramatic effect). The competing pellet stoves were judged and tested in categories that included highest efficiency, cleanest burning, most innovative, and best value.