Why Heat With Wood?

Why Wood as a Fuel?

Wood is considered a regenerative resource and is sustainable provided trees are replanted and proper forestry is practiced. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the most accepted international certifying body, has established rules to promote proper forestry practices to ensure a sustainable forest with an ongoing harvest.

We should not overlook the other uses of forests besides fuel and building materials. Forests produce oxygen, provide shade, and protection from wind. Forests are critical for wildlife and fish habitat, soil and water conservation. The beauty of forests does much to enrich our lives. Also many communities depend on the social and economic benefits derived from the forest. The forest alliance promotes proper forestry and agriculture throughout the world, maximising on the Social and Economic Benefits for Communities and First Nations

Comparative Heat Values of Dry Wood

*These BTU values are based on dry wood and do not take into account the woodstove efficiency which can vary from 40 to 70%

How to Minimise Wood Smoke

Wood smoke is polluting. The particulates in wood smoke are a health hazard. Wood smoke however does not contain sulfur like coal and fuel oil, so does not contribute to acid rain. However every attempt to minimise wood smoke should be taken. Dry wood contains up to 30% more energy. Valuable heat is not being used to dry the wood in the firebox. Smoke is largely unburned fuel being wasted into the atmosphere.

• Burn only dry wood. Order your wood one year in advance and properly stack it for air drying.
• Be sure the chimney is clean and then burn only hot fires. You can control the temperature of your home by the size of your fire. Once you are up to temperature use a small fire to maintain the comfort level rather than loading up the stove and turning down the damper. A lack of combustion air is the biggest cause of smoke. Burning small hot fires requires more monitoring of the stove but less smoke and higher efficiency.
• Use a high efficiency stove that will burn up more of the unused fuel that would normally be lost up the chimney.