PV Gap

Thelma Said:

Help with wood-burning stove issue?

We Answered:

Don't give up yet. You need dry, well seasoned wood. Although your wood supplier might claim that the wood is seasoned it might not be true. You can tell - look at the cut ends of the logs. Seasoned wood has radial cracks where it has dried out. Beech is good wood but it might be the load you got needs more drying. Stack it up in a well ventilated dry place for a year. I have a stove and burn all kinds of wood in it but the well seasoned dry stuff is the best. It burns clean with not much smoke and little ash. You can tell the moisture content by the weight of the logs but bare in mind that oak for example is heavier than pine. Hard wood have more burning power than softwood but both are fine in a stove as long as you keep stocking it up. Keep the airflow good. If you close the stove right down it will not burn efficiently and you will get more black smoke and wood tar.

One more thing - ash logs are really good fuel if you can get it. It burns well green or seasoned. Good luck in your quest.

Betty Said:

Has anyone measured their "carbon footprint"?

We Answered:

1. A small wind turbine will be approximately $20,000 U.S.

2. Solar panels (solar photovoltaic) approximately $30,000 U.S.

3. Microwave approximately $50 to $150 U.S. for a countertop version, not an installed unit.

4. Underfloor heating approximately $10,000 to $15,000 U.S.

5 Green electricity: approximately 20 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour.

Yes, I have looked into some of these options too.

Unfortunately I cannot afford them either unless I figure out a way to make more money.