Wood for Heating Effective use of a Wood
- Slides: 7
Wood for Heating Effective use of a Wood Burning Stove Stewart Mcilroy – Muswell Hill Sustainability Group 19 April 2017
Wood for heating may comprise the following: • Biomass fuelled central heating • Open fires • Wood burning stoves I am going to talk about the effective use of a Wood Burning stove for maximum heat and low emissions
What is a wood burning stove? What can we see? • A stove (8 k. W, about £ 2. 5 k inc installation) also • Wood (logs and waste wood) • Two dials for primary and secondary air supply • A fan • Preparation • Insulation • Safety and • The secondary burn!
How should a stove be operated? • Read the instructions • 80/20 NOT 20/80 (in heat/ out heat) • Light with both dials open • Use dry wood (20% max) • Burn hot • Once the fire is going, close the Primary air supply • Fuel management (use thermometer, SPOC)
The +s and –s from heating with wood The +’s • Low carbon when used correctly • Promotes a positive ‘change of behaviour’ and adoption of other green technologies • Hygge The -’s • Can (often) be used incorrectly resulting in poor air quality (bad use is 20 (yes TWENTY) times worse than good use) * • Inappropriate substitute for fixing other things (insulation, draft proofing) • False sense of goodness * Norwegian Wood Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood The Scandinavian Way – Lars Myttung p 29
A whole house approach to temperature management • A stove should only be used as part of an overall low carbon approach to energy management • If you need the heating on as well – you have not got enough insulation, curtains, draft proofing etc • Four things must be in tune: • The technology – the stove, the fan, the location • Operating practice – use the dials/ responsibility/ observation/ kaisan • Insulation – if you also need central heating, you haven’t got enough • Procurement – use dry local wood (mcilroystewart@gmail. com / 07528 494 576)
Recommendations • Read the instructions or ask advice. Maximise the secondary burn • The stove should be seen as part of a whole house approach • Minimise wood use by efficient use of the stove • Procure your wood responsibly • Enjoy your fire
