Thursday, February 08, 2007
Stay Warm Without Going Broke
For Immediate Release
Contact: Linda Chestney 603 758-6363 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Media kits and review copies available on request
Stay Warm Without Going Broke-Burn Wood-
a Sustainable Alternative to Oil and Gas
Burning wood in your home can save lots of money this winter
“Simple math shows that using wood heat in your home this winter can save you several hundreds of dollars.” So says Dirk Thomas, author of the newly revised 3rd edition of The Woodburner’s Companion.
A cord of hardwood will produce as much heat as 200 gallons of heating oil. A cord of wood costs about $200. Right now, residential heating oil is at record prices – The average cost nationwide is over $2.00 a gallon and 200 gallons will cost $400 or more. (Reference: Reuters)
A Sustainable Alternative
Burning wood for heat is a sustainable alternative to dependence on oil and natural gas. With fuel prices going higher and supplies uncertain, more people than ever are returning once again to the comfort and security of wood heat. You can stay warm without going broke, and as an added benefit, you can weather a mid-winter power outage in style!
Environmentally Defensible?
Dirk Thomas, a seasoned New Englander who has endured many a cold winter, says some people question whether wood heat is environmentally defensible. The two major environmental issues connected to wood heat are air pollution and deforestation. The air pollution issue has been something of a cause for celebration in the wood heat industry because as of 1990 no stoves could be manufactured that would emit more than 4.1 grams of particulate matter per hour.
Concerning the issue of how carbon dioxide in woodsmoke degrades the Earth’s ozone layer leading to global warming, it is worth noting that the carbon dioxide produced by burning wood would have been produced even had the wood NOT been burned, when the trees that it came from died and decomposed.
Deforestation does not lend itself to a simple answer. While firewood harvesting can be an excellent tool for encouraging sound forest management, it is equally true that not all firewood is harvested responsibly. It is safe to say that massive deforestationin tropical and temperate rain forests, for example, is associated with timber production and land clearance, not firewood production. Vermont, as a case in point, is a bastion of woodburning but still grows more wood every year than it cuts.
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The Woodburner’s Companion, first published in 2000, is now available in a new, updated 3rd edition. This comprehensive guide provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the many ways you can burn wood for heat. Thomas discusses the fuel value of various woods, how to buy firewood and get the most heat from it, the environmental impact of wood burning and a variety of chimney and flue arrangements. Tremendous emphasis is placed on wood burning safety. Detailed descriptions of wood burning installations are included which are based on the latest codes and recommendations.
The Woodburner’s Companion by Dirk Thomas
Alan C. Hood & Co., Inc. • Paperback, 6” X 9”
• 176 pages • illustrated, bibliography • index
• ISBN: 0-911469-28-1 • $16.50
• Publication: September 2006
“Authored by veteran New England wood burner and chimney sweep, Dirk Thomaswho’s also done his time as a commercial woodcutter and loggerThe Woodburner’s Companion is an excellent overview of residential wood burning strategies.” ~ Back Home Magazine
“You will be helped by this book to burn wood economically, efficiently
andmost important safely.” ~ Castle Freeman, Contributing Editor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Media kits, review copies, and interviews available on request.
Contact Linda Chestney at 603 758-6363 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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Interview Questions for “The Woodburner’s Companion”
Who should burn wood? It depends… on where you live, how cold your winters are, how easy it is to obtain wood, how your house is laid out, and how much effort you can devote to dealing with wood (ashes, dust, and time).
How do you correctly build and tend a fire in the fireplace? Tips: Get the andirons out of the way. Follow proper building: base log, newspaper, alternate rows of logs. Preheat the flue and use a damper…
What are the two environmental issues connected with wood heat? 1. Air pollution, and, 2. deforestation. Wood smoke has carcinogens, so the concern is legitimate. Carbon dioxide is produced even if wood has not been burned. It happens when trees die and decompose. New high-tech stoves dramatically reduce emission levels…
Deforestation? Not all wood is harvested responsibly. Massive deforestation is associated with timber production and land clearingnot firewood production. Wood heating is less harmful than other fuels in certain ways…
Is wood heat a good choice economically? Yes, by all means. You save a lot of money by burning wood. For example…
How do wood stoves differ and which is the best choice for you? Lots of differences. Choices include airtight wood stoves, catalytic wood stoves, high-tech wood stoves, and fireplace wood stoves. The way they differ is…
How have wood stoves improved since the 1970s? Thanks to 30+ years of research since the 1970s, spurred by the woodburning revival of the ‘70s, we know a great deal more about wood, stoves, chimneys, and wood heat in general. Wood stoves today are far cleaner burning and more effective than were the air tight boxes of two decades ago.
How do you clean your own chimney? A number of options exist to clean your chimney. You can purchase a clean-it-yourself kit. You can climb on your roof and use chimney brushes. Chemical cleaners are available. Local volunteer fire departments sometimes offer chimney services. Or you can hire a chimney sweep.
What’s the first thing you should do if you have a chimney fire? Shut off the air supply and call the fire department.
How much should you expect to pay for firewood? Wood is typically sold by the cord. A standard cord is a pile of wood four feet deep and high, and eight feet wide. Prices will vary with geography and kind of wood you purchase. But some general guidelines are…
What’s the best wood to burn? You need to consider the heating value of the wood you’re burning.
Even so, the “best” wood may vary with the situation. For example, shagbark hickory has the highest BTU content among North American woods, but some woodburners don’t care for it as it “coals up” and doesn’t burn actively enough. (Solve this problem by mixing hickory with other species.) Other high-heat value woods include black locust, apple, elm, and white oak.
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