Wood burning may seem like a weird summer topic, but plenty of folks burn fires at night in the summer, and it’s been on my mind, so let’s take a look at the greenness (or not) of wood for heat.
In Humboldt my family lived in a little house near the beach, in a super small ex-logging town. The homes hadn’t been updated since their initial building, and all the heat we had was a wood stove. While living there, I always wondered if wood heat was green or not. Of course the perk is you’re not using non-renewable energy to heat with – trees will obviously grow again. After some research I found that it’s sort of a two-way street. Wood for heat can be green but it depends on some various factors…
The type of stove or fireplace you burn in. For example, a basic old wood burning open masonry fireplace is just 10 to 20% efficient while a circulating wood stove burns at 40-50% efficient. Basically, a wood stove is going to burn more efficient than a fireplace. See a list of EPA certified wood stoves (pdf).
Where the wood stove is located. You want the stove located in a central area in your home. Wherever the family hangs out most is the best place for a stove.
Size of the stove in relation to your home. If you have a house with many small rooms, one large wood stove is a bad idea. The stove will overheat the room it’s in, but not necessarily spread heat well to other rooms. You’d be better off with two smaller stoves.
What sort of wood you use. Sometimes you’re at the mercy of wood suppliers in your area but if you have a choice choose a wood that burns hotter to conserve. Black birch, hickory, locust, northern red oak, rock elm, and sugar maple are some of the woods that burn well. Cedar, alder, balsam fir, hemlock, and spruce are some woods that burn less hot.
How clean you keep it. You have to keep your wood stove clean or it’s not only a safety hazard, but less eco-friendly.
If you rarely have a fire at home, the greenest log is one of those commercial quick start fireplace logs. They burn cleaner than real wood and are made with waste products (sawdust).
See a huge guide to choosing and using a wood stove.