I'm not sure how or why you would consider burning wood as being "environmentally kind".

Wood pellets burned in a pellet boiler is FAR less than wood being burned in a fireplace. When pellets are burned, the combustion process reuses the gases from the pellets to produce further heat and there is very little carbon released into the air. Been researching for a couple of weeks now..... I suggest you do the same.

Okay, and smoking cigars is less dangerous than smoking cigarettes.

Isn't fuel oil as an energy source less polluting than burning wood in whatever means? So too propane?

If it's an economic decision, fine. It can't hardly be seen as an environmental one.

Fossil fuels will run out and emit high volumes of carbon, a pollutant. No, fossil fuels are not a cleaner energy source. Trees are sustainable and the "pellets" are a by-product/waste being reused for energy. Many biomass boilers have gasification combustion chambers that eliminate pollutant gases (actually reused in the boiler itself to generate more heat) before being vented out of the boiler.

Europe is WAY ahead of us on going "green".

Do YOUR homework. I already did mine.

The local air quality board in my area bans the burning of wood on days when the accumulated pollution from same reaches unhealthy levels. Here's a link as an info source, in which you can find links to medical studies. You seem to know better, I'll have them contact you.

Unhealthy air from burning wood

Thank you Mr. Fudd - All boilers I am looking at have been EPA Certified for low carbon emission....Less than oil, gas, coal, etc. Burning of wood DOES contain a lot of carbon, hence combustion chambers on boilers to burn these gases for more energy use have been added thus eliminating the carbon gas versus releasing it thru the chimney into the atmosphere.

"Less than oil, gas..."

The info I found says otherwise, that even the newest wood burners are more poluting. And it's not close.

We'll just agree to disagree and in the end, you weren't helpful at all but thank you anyway.

I won't be the only person you encounter who will scratch their head if you insist on saying that burning wood is an environmentally kind choice, because it ain't so. If that's your objective, put solar panels on the roof and install a heat pump, if you don't want to use cleaner burning propane or oil. Good luck.

The nice thing about wood is that it is a renewable source and can actually improve the quality of the forests from which it is harvested. This can be a benefit to wildlife and increase recreational usage. Elaine I think you would enjoy the efficiency of a pellet boiler.

Leaving aside the carbon issue, other pollutants from pellet/wood can be an issue. Personally I would suggest looking at heat pumps or possibly hybrid heat pump/propane. This would depend on running numbers on relative cost, whether you can find a good installer, and whether your current hydronic system could run well or need work (possibly need more/larger radiators). Size of home, how well insulated, local electricity cost, local climate etc., are all factors. In your relatively mild climate, may be able to run on heat pump with straight electric/gas backup only a few days a year.