181,000 wood burning fireplaces and appliances sold last year?

[John Ackerly]

The Washington Post just made the classic rookie mistake of confusing the science behind pellets used for electricity and wood used for heat. They also say "Last year, 191,000 wood-burning fireplaces and appliances were sold in North America, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, an industry group. " Can anyone explain what is counted in this figure? How does anyone know how many fireplaces were built, assuming you are including masonry fireplaces, where the only thing purchased is masonry brick? I thought HPBA only counted wood and pellet stoves and inserts, but stopped sharing that data a few years ago. What gives? (I'm working on a letter to the editor and a call with the reporter.)

John

 

[stoveliker]

do you have a link to the piece?

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

The Washington Post just made the classic rookie mistake of confusing the science behind pellets used for electricity and wood used for heat. They also say "Last year, 191,000 wood-burning fireplaces and appliances were sold in North America, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, an industry group. " Can anyone explain what is counted in this figure? How does anyone know how many fireplaces were built, assuming you are including masonry fireplaces, where the only thing purchased is masonry brick? I thought HPBA only counted wood and pellet stoves and inserts, but stopped sharing that data a few years ago. What gives? (I'm working on a letter to the editor and a call with the reporter.)

John

I looked at WaPo and couldn't find it

 

[stoveliker]

I think it's this one:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/12/23/fireplace-wood-gas-emissions-pollution/

paywalled (to me) of course.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I think it's this one:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/12/23/fireplace-wood-gas-emissions-pollution/

paywalled (to me) of course.

I'm not paying...

 

[stoveliker]

me neither

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I imagine solo stoves, chimineas and fire pit kits count as wood burning appliances. For ease I assume it’d have to be a manufactured unit. I doubt they are counting Billy Bob recycling his washing machine drum or his cousin selling burn barrels for $20 on marketplace..

 

[John Ackerly]

Just found a non-paywall link: https://archive.md/pP1Ms.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

more carbon neutral bs. If these people had their way, we'd all be huddled together in caves for warmth. It appears the only true options (to save the world) is to burn leaves and twigs...

“If you just literally stopped harvesting wood, our forests would massively regrow, and we’d have a lot more carbon” stored in forests, Searchinger said.

um ok.

I find it very hard to believe that 1-2% of the world burning wood for heat is going to have any impact compared to what is heating the 98-99% of the other homes.

Merry Christmas

 

[stoveliker]

To be honest, I am sensitive to pollution concerns. Natural gas burns much cleaner.

However, I believe it is basically the change from C-C and C-H bonds to stronger C-O bonds in combustion that provides most of the heat. I.e. (!) it is CO2 production that directly should correlate with BTU output. @Tron?

And therefore I don't understand the claim that burning wood emits more CO2 than burning nat gas or coal.

The reference says per MWh of electricity generated. But is the efficiency of that generation the same after combustion of wood vs nat gas?

The sequestration issue is correct, but I only burn trees that were cut down from r other reasons - and would end up in the landfill here, likely leading to methane emissions when they slowly rot. So I'm okay with my sourcing of wood .

And they don't compare to my boiler that runs on oil...

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

To be honest, I am sensitive to pollution concerns. Natural gas burns much cleaner.

However, I believe it is basically the change from C-C and C-H bonds to stronger C-O bonds in combustion that provides most of the heat. I.e. (!) it is CO2 production that directly should correlate with BTU output. @Tron?

And therefore I don't understand the claim that burning wood emits more CO2 than burning nat gas or coal.

The reference says per MWh of electricity generated. But is the efficiency of that generation the same after combustion of wood vs nat gas?

The sequestration issue is correct, but I only burn trees that were cut down from r other reasons - and would end up in the landfill here, likely leading to methane emissions when they slowly rot. So I'm okay with my sourcing of wood .

And they don't compare to my boiler that runs on oil...

My wood also comes from a tree company that "recycles" the unwanted wood to wood chips for landscaping and firewood. And if they didn't do that it would also only be left to rot. And they make money on firewood and chips and don't have to pay to dispose of the wood, though I imagine that some of the wood that isn't suitable for firewood or chips goes into the trash. (ie totally rotten)

And I agree, NG seems to be the cleanest and most affordable option in MA. I can tell you also that while heat pumps do a nice job heating and cooling, (our extended family vacation home uses a heat pump) our electric bill disagrees with how economical it is and who knows what is being used to create that power?

This year I plan to install an emergency NG powered whole house generator and also a a vented gas stove for a part of my house that uses electric baseboard heat. It's an open concept living room, open to the second floor and a small NG stove will look nice and heat for a fraction of what it costs me for the electric heat.

https://hpba.org/industrynews/ I don't see anything regarding this on the organization website cited in that article. Maybe I'm missing something.