[SustainableTompkins] Re: wood stove suggestions?

[marlo capoccia]

this is really wonderful, jeni.  it sounds like you have done a lot of 
research on this yourself?  anyway, we really needed this and can't wait to 
look up some of this info.  hope you are doing well and summer in ithaca 
has been dreamy.

-marlo

At 06:19 PM 8/20/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Marlo,
>
>It depends on what you want to heat and how.
>If you have a hot water system, i highly recommend looking at TARM USA for 
>both efficient and intelligent furnaces that get around 90% efficiency and 
>make life easier with their clever design.  for details: 
>http://www.woodboilers.com/.  these furnaces can be purchased with back up 
>oil.  they also sell pellet furnaces.
>
>If you just want a smaller stove for section heating, why not try out a 
>multi fuel pellet stove.  right now, the cheapest fuel (besides harvesting 
>your own wood) is corn grain.  if the corn grain prices rise,  you can use 
>wheat, grass, wood, and fruit pits in some cases.  for stoves that can 
>burn multi fuels, check out jerry cherneys 
>website:  http://www.grassbioenergy.org/res/pellet_stove_demo.asp#stove. 
>does not require any special chimney, many range from 80-92% 
>efficiency.  many can ONLY burn wood.
>
>Other than that, try to get the stove dealer to tell you the efficiency of 
>the stove.  The more efficient the stove, the cleaner the burn and the 
>warmer your house per unit wood.  Your stove should be at least 80% 
>efficient.  However, this is often hard to determine as the EPA does not 
>require efficiency testing on wood stoves (all oil burners are 
>required).  An high efficient biomass stove is good for the forests, good 
>for your neighbors air and good for your warmth and wallet.
>
>To calculate price per million BTU, it is always important when dealing 
>with biomass to include the moisture content of the biomass and the 
>efficiency of your stove to determine the price paid per felt heat.  two 
>good biomass calculators are:
><http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/fuel_value_calculator.pdf>http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/fuel_value_calculator.pdf
>http://energy.cas.psu.edu/costcomparator.html
>
>And write a letter to eliot spitzer suggesting he sue the EPA to get 
>biomass stove efficiency regulated so the myth that all wood stoves make 
>for bad air quality can be rectified, and stove buyers can make safe, 
>clean, environmental choices when looking to heat their home.  some wood 
>stoves are terrible for their particulate matter.  an 80% efficient wood 
>stove has essentially the same impact on air quality as an 80% efficient 
>gas/oil stove, except the wood stove reduces the greenhouse gas impact by 
>cycling surface carbon as opposed to fossilized carbon buried deep within 
>the earth.
>
>Also, keep track of your installation records.  If RGGI (Regional 
>Greenhouse Gas Initiative) makes it, you might be able to get c-trading 
>credits for your change in practice starting Dec 20, 2005.  Some people 
>don't like the idea of trading, but if you used the money you got for the 
>credits from your biomass stove, you could put that money toward better 
>insulation in your home or other mitigation strategies and do more to 
>secure a sustainable future (or you can keep them and wink to the moon).
>
>Good cheer-
>Jeni
>
>
>At 10:23 PM 8/19/2006, you wrote:
>>we're planning on installing a wood stove this fall but aren't sure what 
>>the best type is.  our current line of thinking involves a porcelain 
>>stove, but we'd love any feedback about hybrid stoves or "other" burning 
>>stoves.
>>
>>does anyone have websites we could do some research with or input of 
>>their own?
>>
>>thanks,
>>marlo
>>
>>
>>
>>Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
>>Listen to the DON'TS
>>Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
>>The IMPOSSIBLES and WONT'S
>>Listen to the NEVER HAVES
>>Then listen close to me-
>>Anything can happen, child,
>>ANYTHING can be.
>>
>>-shel silverstein
>>
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Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES and WONT'S
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

-shel silverstein