Ten Good Reasons To Heat With Wood ~

 
1. It's a Renewable Energy resource ~

Renewable means you don't run out.  Renewable means you don't deplete the earth's resources.  Wood is energy from the sun, stored by the tree as it grows.  When you burn wood you are releasing this stored energy.  In the dark of winter, it's like having a bit of summer sun on your hearth.

2. No Global Warming ~

When fuels burn they release carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.  Burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas is like pumping carbon dioxide from the center of the earth into the atmosphere - a one-way trip. Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. When wood burns, the carbon dioxide is released, only to be absorbed again by young trees.  Because trees recycle carbon dioxide, wood-burning just warms you, not the globe.

3. You're in Charge ~

Stop writing checks every month to the energy utilities.  Take control by heating with wood.  In our climate, staying warm is right up there on the list of the most important things in life.  Do you really want to leave something so important in the hands of a faceless corporation?

4. No more Freezing in the Dark ~

The big, centralized energy sources, are not very reliable.  When a storm interrupts the electrical supply, all the conventional heating systems are useless; the fancy heat pump falls silent, the gas furnace can't work, but the wood stove or fireplace keeps you warm, cozy, and safe.  Now a power failure is kind of fun; you get to use the candles.

5. Warms You Like No Other ~

The radiant heat from a stove or fireplace is like the rays of the sun. It warms you through and through.  Come in from the storm and stand near the fire rubbing your hands together.  It's one of life's small pleasures.

6.  The Romance of the Flame ~

Sure it's a cliché, but that doesn't make it any less true.  The soft glow of the fire is the favorite setting for an intimate conversation.  It's the place where friends and family gather to talk and laugh in comfort.  Gazing into the fire, your imagination is free to soar on flights of fancy or probe the depths of the soul.  Take a break from the harsh world outside - you'll find a solace there in the flames.

7. Raise Your Energy I.Q. ~

Flick the switch, turn up the thermostat.  Now, what did that cost?  What impact did you have on the natural world?   What sins were committed to getting that energy to you? You're in touch when you heat with wood.  That arm load will last the day.  That log you placed on the fire is a tangible measure of the cost to the environment of keeping your family warm.  It's the wood heat way of knowledge.

8. Heat a Space, Save some Energy ~

Well-planned space heating saves energy.  That stove or fireplace in the living room keeps you warm and cozy in the place you spend your time.  The basement and bedrooms stay cool.  Regardless of what you pay for energy, space heating with wood clips 25% right off the top.

9. Invest in Your Community ~

Spend a buck on oil, natural gas, or electricity and you feed a corporate giant.  Spend a buck on firewood and you feed a neighbor.  Save a buck by heating with wood and you can spend that buck in your community.  Heating with wood makes you richer in ways beyond counting.

10. It's Cheaper ~

We almost forgot to mention it.  Wood is the cheapest heating fuel you can use if you don't live in a large city.  Some people actually think the only reason we heat with wood is to save money.  Poor souls, they miss so much of what is good in life.

Choosing Firewood ~

Choosing the kind of firewood to burn
depends on what is available to you. Soft
woods, such as pine or fir ignite and burn
quicker, but require more
frequently loadings and are less suited for
overnight burns. For longer burns we
recommend harder woods such as oak
or maple.

Wood is sold by the CORD. (4' wide x 4'
high x 8' long).

Remember!  You will receive up to 25%
more heat from dry wood than from wet
or green.

The Good Woods ~

 SPECIES                               BTUs/CORD
 20% Moisture                     Approximate
_________________________________________


   Apple                                     33,000,000
   Dogwood                              31,725,000
   White Oak                            31,500,000
   Red Oak                                 27,600,000
   Ash                                          25,800,000
   Maple                                     24,000,000
   Birch                                       21,800,000
   Douglas Fir                           22,275,000

Second Choice Woods ~

SPECIES                                     BTUs/CORD
20% Moisture                          Approximate
__________________________________________

                  
Hemlock                                    20,250,000
Alder                                           19,050,000    
Redwood                                    18,000,000
Elm                                              16,950,000        
Pine                                             16,875,000
Spruce                                        16,800,000
Cottonwood                              16,200,000
Cedar                                          15,450,000