Wood Stoves Are Good For The Environment
The topic of global warming is in the media, even more so with Donald Trump’s victory in the US Presidential Election and no matter what he says or does, we should all be very aware of it’s impact on the earth. It may surprise you to hear that using wood to heat your home is actually a responsible choice. Unlike fossil fuels wood is a sustainable fuel source and doesn’t contribute to global warming. When you burn wood you are simply speeding up the natural decomposition process.
Renewable Resources
It’s easy to see that wind, solar and hydroelectric power are renewable energy resources and firewood has a place on that list as well. One way to meet the challenge of global warming is to use more renewables and less oil, gas and coal in the future.
Firewood As Fuel
New trees grow to replace those that have died or been harvested by reseeding themselves or reforesting projects. When oil, gas and coal are burned the carbon they contain is oxidized to CO2 ( the main greenhouse gas ) Fossil fuels release ancient carbon when used and increase the atmospheric content of CO2. Apart from the energy to harvest, process and transport it heating with wood can be considered almost carbon neutral.
Although the burning of wood releases carbon into the atmosphere a tree actually absorbs CO2 as they grow so as a result they are almost carbon neutral. A tree that decomposes naturally in the forest emits the same amount of CO2 as when you burn it.
As a source of fuel to keep us warm we are simply tapping into the natural cycle in which CO2 flows from the atmosphere to the forest and back.
Wood as a fuel source can be a part of the solution provided it is burned efficiently which is entirely possible. There’s nothing nicer than sitting in front of a cozy wood fire on these cooler Fall evenings in Victoria. Contact us today as we’d love to show you some great options for heating with wood in Victoria BC.
