Wood fuel is wood used as fuel. The burning of wood is currently the largest use of energy derived from a solid fuel biomass. Wood fuel can be used for cooking and heating, and occasionally for fueling steam engines and steam turbines that generate electricity. Wood fuel may be available as firewood, charcoal, chips, sheets, pellets and sawdust.
Wood is the most accessible and affordable renewable energy resource for home heating in much of North America. Its use can help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because its net carbon dioxide emissions are far below those of all other fuels. Wood is not a perfect fuel, but there really is no such thing. All fuel burning, indeed all energy use, causes environmental impacts.
Wood heating is practiced on a small scale, the fuel is usually harvested from a local resource, and the users gain a more complete understanding of their impacts on the environment than users of other energy sources. As environmentalists have suggested, these are some of the very features needed for economic and environmental sustainability. Families who heat their homes with wood responsibly should be recognized for their contribution to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable energy future.
Pellet stoves are increasingly popular due to the ease of buying pellet fuel and the use of auto feeders which will provide users with continuous heat source. BTU's vary only slightly from brand to brand, but ash content, length consistency, and impurities may vary greatly. Impurities increase "klinkering" or "caking" of ash in the burn pot. There is a huge difference between 1% ash and 0.25% ash.
Wood burning does not release any more carbon dioxide than the eventual biodegradation of the wood if it was not burned. However, the carbon dioxide released through incineration occurs at a much faster rate than decomposition because burning wood takes a few seconds and decomposition takes years. Therefore, by burning wood one is releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a more concentrated rate than if one was to allow the wood fuel to decompose in soil.
With appropriately certified and operated modern wood heaters, the use of good quality wood fuel is one of the most efficient and cheapest forms of heating in colder climates. The replacement of existing national domestic heating needs supplied by wood with gas and electricity would result in a significant net increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while the application and enforcement of national standards for wood heaters and wood fuel would substantially reduce particulate emissions.
Always choose a WETT Certified Professional to inspect your wood burning appliance. In Barrie Ontario the Barrie Home Inspector is available to supply all the information and perform your insurance inspection of your wood burning appliances. Visit www.wett-inspection.com for information and to book your WETT Inspection. Most insurance companies now require a WETT Inspection for new installations or existing installations if you are buying a new home.
Wood is the most accessible and affordable renewable energy resource for home heating in much of North America. Its use can help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because its net carbon dioxide emissions are far below those of all other fuels. Wood is not a perfect fuel, but there really is no such thing. All fuel burning, indeed all energy use, causes environmental impacts.
Wood heating is practiced on a small scale, the fuel is usually harvested from a local resource, and the users gain a more complete understanding of their impacts on the environment than users of other energy sources. As environmentalists have suggested, these are some of the very features needed for economic and environmental sustainability. Families who heat their homes with wood responsibly should be recognized for their contribution to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable energy future.
Pellet stoves are increasingly popular due to the ease of buying pellet fuel and the use of auto feeders which will provide users with continuous heat source. BTU's vary only slightly from brand to brand, but ash content, length consistency, and impurities may vary greatly. Impurities increase "klinkering" or "caking" of ash in the burn pot. There is a huge difference between 1% ash and 0.25% ash.
Wood burning does not release any more carbon dioxide than the eventual biodegradation of the wood if it was not burned. However, the carbon dioxide released through incineration occurs at a much faster rate than decomposition because burning wood takes a few seconds and decomposition takes years. Therefore, by burning wood one is releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a more concentrated rate than if one was to allow the wood fuel to decompose in soil.
With appropriately certified and operated modern wood heaters, the use of good quality wood fuel is one of the most efficient and cheapest forms of heating in colder climates. The replacement of existing national domestic heating needs supplied by wood with gas and electricity would result in a significant net increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while the application and enforcement of national standards for wood heaters and wood fuel would substantially reduce particulate emissions.
Always choose a WETT Certified Professional to inspect your wood burning appliance. In Barrie Ontario the Barrie Home Inspector is available to supply all the information and perform your insurance inspection of your wood burning appliances. Visit www.wett-inspection.com for information and to book your WETT Inspection. Most insurance companies now require a WETT Inspection for new installations or existing installations if you are buying a new home.
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Learn more about Barrie WETT Certified Inspections. Stop by The WETT Inspection site where you can find out all about Barrie WETT Certified Inspections for all your wood burning needs.
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