Sales of the energy efficient, carbon neutral Econoburn™ wood gasification boilers have grown steadily since Dunkirk, NY-headquartered Alternative Fuel Boilers, LLC shipped the first unit early last year, and new marketing initiatives are expected to rapidly expand the company's sales volume in 2008.

The gasification technology used in the Econoburn™ boilers captures then reignites flue gases in the combustion chamber resulting in a heating efficiency nearing 90 percent. With virtually no smoke and extremely low emissions, the high-tech boilers help ease the burden on the environment.

Econoburn™ models include residential units ranging in size of 100,000-300,000 BTUs up to industrial facility boilers with 1 million BTUs of output for use either as a primary heat source or to supplement an existing system.

The boilers are adaptable to both hot water and forced air heating systems, and the company offers accessory products for swimming pools and hot tubs along with heat exchanger fans for industrial buildings.

Building on a successful first year of marketing the Econoburn™ direct to consumers via the internet, the company is implementing an aggressive, three-part promotional plan. The plan includes trade show participation, development of a dealership network and new costumer financing program.

Going Green Expos

The completely "Made in the U.S.A." Econoburn™ boiler was "very well received" during its trade show debut at the Going Green Expo in Boston last month, said company president William Raines.

"There is a great deal of enthusiasm in the market for the Econoburn," Raines said. "People like that it is manufactured in the United States, that it is extremely energy efficient and that its gasification technology results in air emissions well below EPA standards."

More Going Green Expos are on the docket including those scheduled for Burlington, VT in May, Portland, ME in July and Manchester, NH in November.

The Going Green Expos, according to the trade show's website www.goinggreenexpos.com, allow visitors to "learn more about green building, renewable energy...and conscientious consumerism."

Alternative Fuel Boilers vice president Mark Odell said Going Green Expo visitors, like the estimated 15,000 who attended the Boston event, represent "a perfect demographic for the Econoburn boiler. These are people who appreciate the 'carbon neutral' benefits of burning wood using gasification technology."

He explained that because trees absorb carbon in order to grow, wood energy produced in a gasification boiler that captures and re-combusts flue gases does not contribute to global warming.

"Wood burned in an Econoburn boiler releases no more carbon dioxide than would be released naturally in the forest were the tree to die and rot," he noted. "That is not as certain in the case of non-gasification conventional outdoor wood boilers that, due to less efficient combustion, allow significant energy and higher levels of pollutants to simply go up the flue."

Emerging Dealerships

Odell joined Alternative Fuel Boilers last fall and brought to the company seven years of experience in manufacturer representative management at ECR International, the third largest heating and cooling equipment manufacturer in the United States.

His assignment is to build the company's network of stocking distributors and installers.

Odell is concentrating his initial efforts on the nineteen states in the Northeast, Middle Atlantic, Great Lakes and Eastern Midwest regions of the country where an estimated 95 percent of some 155,000 conventional outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) have been sold since 1990.

"The demand for fuel cost savings combined with clean-energy, wood burning gasification technology is widespread and growing," Odell said about targeting those areas of the country where most of the conventional OWBs have been sold. "The people who have OWBs are already committed to burning wood. Whether as a result of the obsolescence of their existing units or the imposition of increasingly strict air emission regulations, many people will be seeking to upgrade to the cleaner burning units.

"We are offering a select number of distributors and dealer-installers to be in the forefront of the wood gasification boiler market."

Odell said dealer-installers will go through a rigorous evaluation process before they are deemed qualified to represent Econoburn™. He said they will need to demonstrate the financial capacity necessary to carry an inventory of boilers in order to ensure on-time delivery to customers.

Econoburn™ dealer-installers will also have to show they can meet the company's high standards for installation and service.

"Our company's core philosophy is founded in on-time delivery and quality of product and service," Odell said. "We'll do our part for our dealers, and we'll make sure they do their part for our mutual customers."

Energy Loans

To help the company's on-line and dealer customers, Alternative Fuel Boilers has partnered with AFC First Financial Corporation's EnergyLoan program to offer up to 100 percent financing with fixed rate monthly payment plans when the purchase an Econoburn™ boiler.

In many cases, Odell explained, the cost to purchase and install a new boiler is more than what many people want to put on a credit card, but not enough to justify a home equity loan.

"The EnergyLoan program provides convenient, unsecured financing for the purchase and installation of a new Econoburn boiler," Odell said. "It's an option we can offer to our direct-purchase customers and one that our dealers can offer to their customers as well."
To promote the program, Alternative Fuel Boilers is, for a limited time, offering to pay the registration fee for its dealers who sign-up to use the program.

Odell noted that dealers must meet certain standards set by the lender in order to participate. They must have been in business at least 3 years and have a net worth of at least $50,000 with a satisfactory credit history. They must also have satisfactory Better Business Bureau and trade and customer ratings as well as a reputation for a high level of service and workmanship.

"I would expect that our high standards in selecting dealers would likely make them well-qualified to participate in the EnergyLoan program," Odell said.

Dealer and customer support provides pre-purchase consultations on appropriate boiler sizing, systems integration, accessory applications and any other specialized design criteria through Alternative Fuels' website, www.alternativefuelboilers.com, or its toll-free telephone number: 866-818-5162.