woodburning as religion?

(Research shows that nearly 70 percent of chimney smoke reenters nearby buildings.)

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Someone please explain to me how it is possible that when releasing smoke into the atmosphere 70% of it will be forced back indoors into buildings, while only 30% of it is able to actually escape into the atmosphere.

I am very fond of Sam Harris, so I will take up his defense to say this; he aims this is recreational smokers, and he's accurate in that sense. Burning wood in your fireplace is not the wholesome activity folks like to think it is, and people are overly fond of their fireplaces. Also, without knowing the data I would venture to say that most wood stove owners do not burn epa stoves or seasoned wood. Not in my 'holler anyway, where many folks heat with wood.

Carbon_Liberator said:

(Research shows that nearly 70 percent of chimney smoke reenters nearby buildings.)

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Someone please explain to me how it is possible that when releasing smoke into the atmosphere 70% of it will be forced back indoors into buildings, while only 30% of it is able to actually escape into the atmosphere.

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That one boggled me as well. Seems to go against the laws of physics.

woodgeek said:

No one has posted this yet?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...delusion-a-metaphor-for-religious-belief.html

FYI, don't agree with it, but thought it would be fun to discuss. If it needs to be can'ned, so be it.

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All open flames should be banned. All of them. Hunt down "fire deniers" and throw them in prison.

Owning matches makes you worse than Hitler.

I think my secondaries look like a portal to Hell . . . does this mean I am having a religious experience with my woodstove?

As a matter of fact, I DO use the flames to facilitate a state of meditation...

is this guy serious?

if it wasnt for the sad fact that many readers will actually accept this as"gospel" (note religion in title).

maybe "O" can use this in his re-election campaign "clinging to their guns , woodstoves, and religion"

Another fan of Sam Harris. His intent is not really to talk wood stoves, but to illustrate his point. Which as someone who never ceases to be amazed at people's lack of critical thinking and self awareness about the big hoodoo voodoo in the sky, did give me some brief insight into believers gut level reaction to inconvenient facts. And as has been said, I see a lot of smoke rolling out of houses as I drive down the road, people scrounging and cutting wood to burn this winter, etc. No one on this site, I'm sure. But very little smoke from my own (at start up) and I save at least 1500$ a year, so more economics than romance.
I'm skeptical about a number of his assertions regarding wood stoves, but highly recommend his "Letter to a Christian Nation". And he's equal opportunity critic, no friend of radical Muslims.
I imagine much damage to people's health happens in the third world from burning, both from smoke in dwellings, and cities.

BeGreen said:

It definitely happens here. A neighbor put in a new, stuck on the end of the house fireplace last year. The smoke billowing out of his proud new creation is ridiculous. Maybe he's a Wiccan?

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We Wiccans use EPA approved woodstoves. Unless it is an open fire deep in the woods, then you will see billowing smoke, as well as a few dancing booties...

gas or oil will have a lower particulate emmission rate thats true, but 70% of exhaust from chimneys end up in neighbor's homes? i'd sure like to have audited that study

I though I was burning wood to keep my ass from freezing, who knew? That I was just engaging in an unnecessary leisure activity. In America everyone can afford NG, propane, oil... This must be the America where you skip down the yellow brick road whistling & picking 100 dollar bills off trees, Randy

The article is just one more that gives only part of the facts and twists some of those that are given. Sounds like one of the doom and gloom guys. Dang, I didn't know it was a religious act to burn wood either...

"the sight of a glowing hearth should be about as comforting as the sight of a diesel engine idling in your living room." Man, if I could only figure out how to have a diesel engine idling in my living room, I could toss out the TV..... or at least not watch it as much.

DAKSY said:

Well, seems to me this Phd (or whatever he is) has no idea, or
has totally ignored the fact that the humans on this planet have
developed newer, cleaner burning solid-fuel stoves & fireplaces
that DO NOT introduce copius amounts of noxious particles into
the atmosphere...Just sayin...

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Partly applicable. Just don't lump fireplaces in with stoves. They are still
much greater point sources of pollution than EPA stoves.

The dead trees on my lot can either burn in my woodstove or they can burn in a forest fire with the live ones. Which burning method emits more smoke at any given time?