Demonstrate Sustainability Principles

[photo caption: Craig Shankster, President at Morso US LLC, holds a Green Power Switch® plaque that certifies that 100% of the electricity used at the Morsø US distribution facility in Portland TN comes from renewable sources.]


Setting An Example Is Not The Main Means of Influencing Others; It Is The Only Means. Albert Einstein

Without a doubt, Morso wood stove owners (past, present, and future) do their homework. They research the leading wood stoves on the market. They read fireplace and wood stove reviews, blog posts, and home improvement magazines. They ask serious questions about performance, maintenance, quality, warranties and energy efficiency. They even comparative shop online and at hearth stores.

However, when it comes to evaluating which products and companies are considered “sustainable”, it gets tricky. What exactly does a company need to do to be deemed “sustainable”? If a wood stove demonstrates quality construction and energy efficiency, does that make it a sustainable product?

“Sustainability” is not a nuts and bolts comparison; it is a value that represents the stewardship actions a company and its products demonstrate to ensure the well being of the environment and world we share.

Respectfully, with over 158 years of practice and a documented track record of environmentally-responsible manufacturing processes, Morso can confidently say that all of our handcrafted cast iron products are indeed “sustainable”.

You judge for yourself.

Sustainability Check List

RECYCLED CONTENT

Every Morso wood stove and fireplace insert is constructed in high quality cast iron using 98% recycled material. Just think, your new Morso energy efficient wood stove might have once been a bicycle or a lamp post.

All packaging is made from 100% recycled material; Morsø packs products in cardboard and wood, not plastic or PVC.

All waste packaging and iron parts are also recycled. Other types of waste are separated into groups and go to a central waste center for additional recycling.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

At Morsø’s Denmark production facility 80% of the total energy we use in production comes from renewable sources:69% from Wind, water and sun energy, and 11% from waste, bio fuel & bio gas

The Morso US headquarters in Portland, Tennessee’s electricity is powered by 100% renewable energy, including bio fuel and wind, per agreement with their local energy supplier as part of the Green Power Switch program: 80% from wind power and 20% from biogas.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Constant evaluation and conservation improvements have allowed production output to increase while continuing to hold energy use at the current level. Possibly the largest investment made in energy reduction has been in MANPOWER. Today all our stoves continue to be hand built and quality checked; this is also good for the local economy.

MAXIMIZED EFFICIENCY

Morso wood stoves and fireplace inserts have gone through major engineering advances to ensure that the combustion chambers burn more completely with low emissions. As a result, Morsø has improved the emission g/ pr. kg wood pr hour dramatically and measuring on OGC (tar) and CO have significantly improved.

The firebox is lined with Vermiculite, a material that offers superb insulation qualities allowing for secondary combustion to take place in the firebox. Vermiculite is resistant to temperatures up to 2120°f.

The window is made from transparent ceramic glass resistant to temperatures up to 1300°f

SUSTAINABLE WOOD ENERGY

Researchers estimate that, in total, wood may produce between three times and 10 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of heat than other energy sources. When the use of sustainably-harvested, properly processed and seasoned wood for energy displaces the use of fossil fuels, the result is a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Using a wood-burning Morso stove is a positive- renewable-fuel choice. Wood is a plentiful, renewable, non-fossil natural product and when used as fuel it is in effect ‘carbon-neutral’ meaning that the CO2 released when burning is being absorbed by the tree that has been replanted; in fact the same level of CO2 would have been emitted by a tree that had been left to rot naturally on the forest floor.

Dealer Profile: Albuquerque Patio and Hearth Co

[Photo caption: The Patio and Hearth Co team includes: from left to right in photo Bill Esch, Cindy Esch, Robert Tecumseh, and (not in photo) Kip Wills

Bill Esch at Patio and Hearth Co has always been a fan of European design, not only in heating appliances, but in the world of architecture and automobile design. Which is why, he jumped on the opportunity to become a Morso dealer. Now Morso wood stoves hold the marquee spot in this family-owned Albuquerque, New Mexico retail establishment.

According to Esch, Morso is one of the finest examples of function and design in the industry. He predicts Morso will quickly grow to be their strongest wood stove product line. Patio and Hearth Co now has at least four Morso wood stove models on the floor at all times. Presently, the centerpiece display includes the 8188, B2, 6148, 2110, 3610, and the 5660 fireplace insert.

In fact, the very first wood stove seen on entering Patio and Hearth Co is the beautiful cast iron Morso 8188. Esch explains, “The Morso stoves and fireplace inserts create a lot interest, how could customers not comment on their fantastic design”. As it turns out a good number of customers who come in looking for hearth or chimney supplies are immediately attracted to the Morso displays and begin to think about updating their wood stove with a new high efficiency Morso wood stove.

When asked to share a key ingredient in their business success formula, Esch cites knowledge and patience. “Many of our customers came to us after shopping at our competitors and the feedback we hear is that they sought us out because no one else took the time to explain how wood stoves work.”

Patio and Hearth Co features only the highest quality products which are backed by knowledgeable staff, customer service, technical support, and manufacturers’ warranty. You can visit their 7,500 sq. ft. showroom at 11030 Menaul NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. You can call Patio and Hearth Co at (505) 294-4430.

Good Tidings

PASSIONATE TEAM WORK = STAYING POWER

As we look back over this economically challenging year, we are both relieved and pleased to find our Morso USA & North America glass quite full of good tidings that strengthen and empower the Morso brand and our extended network of retail hearth dealers.

To start, we have recently expanded our US family with the addition of sales representatives Rodger and Joe Holland from Holland & Hearth. This highly motivated father and son team cover Iowa, Wisconsin, the upper peninsula of Michigan, Minnesota, as well as North and South Dakota. What's more, six new dealers have joined the fold! Please join us in welcoming the following dealerships: Method Homes, Seattle WA, Patio and Hearth Co, Albuquerque NM, Rich's Portable Cabins, North Powder OR, Mountain Home Stove & Fireplace, Steamboat Springs CO, Abb Stove LLC, Salem OR, and American Home Fireplace & Patio, West Salem WI.

Another impressive accomplishment this year is the success of our Danish Dealer Trip. In August, thirty high-achieving dealers and sales representatives traveled to the Isle of Mors to experience what sets Morso apart - high quality standards, responsible green manufacturing practices, and dedicated craftspeople.

Last but not least, a recent HPBA hearth industry report revealed that unlike other wood stove manufacturers, Morso is holding strong and bucking a downward sales trend. This staying power can be attributed to many passionate people:

 Craftspeople in Denmark who build our high-performance cast iron Morso Energy Efficient Wood stoves.

 Dedicated dealers and sales representatives who bring Morso wood stoves to large and small communities all across the USA and in Canada.

 Our first-class TN-based customer service and management team.

 Loyal Morso wood stove owners who recommend Morso wood stoves to friends, family and clients, who blog about their warm experience, and share Morso wood stove tips via social media.

We are very grateful that our Danish-designed energy efficient wood stoves continue to be warmly received and look forward to continued success in 2012.

Happy New Year!

Hold the Key to Eco-Wise Wood Stove Efficiency

What’s nice about a wood stove is that you can burn many kinds of naturally cut wood to take advantage of your local resources. However, your preferred wood choice must be not be too green, it has to be dry enough to be deemed well-seasoned, with a moisture content of 16-20%. To be precise you may want to purchase a digital moisture meter.

The key to wood burning success is planning. Before you strike a match, learn how to maximize heat output in an environmentally-friendly manner by watching this easy-to-follow wood quality educational video.

You should also schedule your wood delivery in advance to dry out during the warm summer months. If you are collecting fallen limbs and branches from your property, move them to a dry well ventilated location. Look up the required log length and size in your user manual before cutting, and split to a thickness of no more than 4”.

Be sure to stack and store your wood under a cover in an airy place for 9-18 months. Soft woods may actually take as little as one good hot summer to properly season, whereas harder woods, such as oak and maple, take longer.

Never, ever burn waste materials such as cardboard packaging, glossy magazines, or waste wood that has been painted or treated in some way. These wood by-products are likely to contain chemicals that are harmful.

All five Morsø educational videos are conveniently available on YouTube or Facebook.

Green Wise Bloggers Warm to Morso 7110

[photo caption: Amy and Monty with their dog Jake in front of their radiant 7110 cast iron wood stove ]

This blog was written by new Morso 7110 owners Amy and Monty who gave us permission to publish their Metro to Mountain Journal review and emailed us a kind note "we love the stove."

Morso Stove
The Heat is On

Over the past few years, we have been dedicated to keeping our winter thermostat setting at sixty degrees. Now, that doesn't sound like it's very cool, but our friends who visit us know that they need to bring a jacket!
Well, no longer! This year for Thanksgiving we will be able to eat sans down jacket! We have our Morso Stove installed and heating the house.

A few years back we stopped by (n)habit's booth at Earth Day. They were a Morso dealer and displayed brochures on the Morso company. Earth Day was in the spring but we still remembered how cold the house felt. Amy led the research into the company. She wanted to buy from a green company and wanted a low emissions stove.

This fall we visited the (n)habit store and met Rachel and Edward. They led us through the stove buying process. After we had decided on the Morso company, we had to decide what type and style of stove to buy and then who was going to install it.

After pestering Rachel and Edward for a few weeks, we finally decided on the Morso 7110, a radiant stove that "offers Scandinavian Design with an American Twist!"

The installation was not quite that easy. The person Rachel and Edward originally recommended was injured and not taking any jobs. Edward searched and found Sweeps and Ladders for us. Tommy Nelms of Sweeps and Ladders is a fireman who does chimney work on the side. He came out and looked at the stove and chimney and gave us a reasonable and fair bid.

Patiently, we waited for the installation day. Then, there was heat! The installation was flawless and soon the living room was warm. Yes, we are happy.

Wednesdays are normally the Metro to Mountain gear review day. We don't really classify our new Morso Stove as gear but we thought it would interest some.

So, a few Morso Stove notes ...

* The Morso site had videos that answered many of our questions.
* We harvest our own wood. Our primary source is dead limbs or trees from the neighborhood.
* We enjoy the cutting and splitting process. It is a lot of work but the activity is healthy for us.
* Our stove fits perfectly on our hearth and perfectly framed by the fireplace opening.
* The stove uses only a small fraction of the wood that we used to burn in the fireplace.
* The ash pan makes it easy to clean the ashes from the stove.
It took us a couple of fires before we learned how to best build a starter fire.
* We have had to make adjustments on the cut size of the wood.
* We also bought the glass hearth plate to protect the floor in front of the stove, we love it!

Our thermostat is still set at 60 degrees. However, when we are using the stove, the temperature rises to the 70's.

A concern is that the kitchen and bathrooms (places with pipes) might need warming - the rooms are not close to the stove. We are monitoring the temperatures in those rooms.

Edward and Rachel from (n)habit were great to work with and offered us a lot of advice.

We were also very happy with Tommy and Beka from Sweeps and Ladders. We already have an inspection and cleaning scheduled for next fall.

Oh, and if you listen closely you might hear a round of cheers from our family and friends for finally buying a Morso Stove! The heat is on.

Happy Morso Stove trails

It's Now EASIER to Find Nearest Dealer

If you haven’t visited Morsona.com lately, then you may not know about the newest “Where to Buy!” dealer lookup that uses sophisticated zip-code search programming. This new dealer locator feature is supported by sophisticated web software that gives you access to the nearest dealer to your location so that you can evaluate your favorite Morso cast iron wood stove up close and in person.

Live in an area without a dealer within a 75 mile driving distance? Morso has also incorporated an online shopping option just for you. After reviewing the large choose of wood stove sizes, models, and designs you can order direct from Morsona.com and have your new wood stove delivered right to your door.

While visiting one of the many authorized Morso wood stove dealers across the USA and Canada to buy your new or replacement wood stove is ideal, all USA homeowners, even in states without authorized Morso dealers, can now buy a new Morso wood stove with 10-year warranty against casting and production defects.

Unlike home accessories that you often times buy impulsively to refresh and accent your home decor, a wood stove purchase is a long term investment that requires research, comparison, and how-to instructions. Understanding this learning curve, Morso frequently enriches Morsona.com with new content, such as educational videos, good advice, digital brochures, product manuals, and even an interactive photo tool that allows you to see a wood stove in your home.


We invite you to visit Morsona.com today.

Vermont Dealer Earns Return Trip to Morso DK Factory

Photo caption: Ray & Susan Plagge, owners of Montpelier Stove and Flag Works in Montpelier and Williston, VT, look on as a Morso DK employee demonstrates handcrafted wood stove construction.

Ray and Sue Plagge eagerly embarked on the Denmark dealer trip journey to, once again, partake in the ultimate hearth education adventure and fabulous Morso DK hospitality.

As returning guests, it seems that these Montpelier Stove & Flag owners have mastered the art of selling Morsø wood stoves, however this was not always the case.

As Ray recalls, they were at first reluctant to even carry the Morso line in their Montpelier and Williston retail stores because many of the stoves did not burn the standard 16” log. However, in time the persistent reps at Hearthlink hammered home the Morso benefits and now Montpelier Stove & Flag displays at least 9 different Morsø wood stoves and have achieved high enough sales levels to earn several Morso Denmark incentive trips.

While one might think the cold and woodsy green mountian location would make it easier to sell a Morso wood stove, Ray describes a more difficult sales environment that requires a patient sales approach, education, good consistent service, and great retail locations.

“In a cold state like Vermont where homeowners are acustomed to large wood stoves, we have to re-educate our customers so the discussion is not about the log size but the right stove for their particular situation”, explains Ray. “While many folks still want a large traditional stove that uses larger logs, we also serve plenty of bed and breakfast customers and home owners who recognize Morsø and like the selection.”

When asked what sets Montpelier Stove & Flag Works apart from other Vermont hearth dealerships, Ray confidentially states that his full-service Montpelier Stove & Flag Works store has been around since 1976 and good service gets noticed.

To learn more about Montpelier Stove & Flag Works vist www.stoveandflagworks.com