Easy to light green for a better environment
About a million Swedes have already installed stoves in their homes, and more are on the way. Stoves mean lower electricity bills and a greater cosiness factor. But a lot of people do not know how to light their stoves to be more environmentally friendly. “Lighting your stove correctly is one of the cheapest and most environmentally friendly methods of heating. Keep in mind that a new stove is generally more environmentally friendly than an old one, that wood should be dry and that the fire must get enough oxygen”, says Phil Wood, sales manager at Contura.
Modern wood stoves are 90 precent cleaner than their predecessors
Fire has always spread warmth and comfort, especially in our cold Nordic climate. The first package solutions for the installation of wood stoves in the home arrived in the 1960s. With rising electricity prices and a greater focus on home improvements more and more Swedes are installing wood burning stoves. Today, a wood burning stove is a cheap and cosy way to keep energy costs down. Whilst modern stoves are 90 percent cleaner and 40 percent more efficient than their predecessors, it pays to light them in the right way.
“There are some simple things to keep in mind to be even more environmentally friendly. In addition to choosing a modern, eco-friendly wood stove, one should use really dry wood, which should be left at room temperature for a day before it is used. It is also important to keep the door open at the start for good combustion. Transparent and odourless smoke indicates good combustion”, says Phil Wood.
Wood burning stoves with complete combustion
Modern wood firing technology gives an environmentally friendly form of energy, which does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Complete combustion of wood produces carbon dioxide, water vapour and ash that can be used as garden fertiliser. Complete combustion also gives better heating economy, which is itself environmentally friendly. In order for the fire to have the best possible heat output, and to contribute to as clean an environment as possible, there are some important things to remember.
Seven hot tips for greener and more efficient firing
- Replace your old stove with a new one if it is more than ten years old.
- Choose an environmentally friendly wood stove.
- Always use dry wood.
- Let the door stand ajar for at least 10 minutes after lighting the fire.
- Make sure that the fire always has enough oxygen.
- Only use the manufacturer’s recommended amount of wood. Usually max 2-3 kg wood/hour.
- Always bring the wood indoors for at least one day before burning. “Deep frozen” wood (-20 degrees) means that the heat recovery will be very poor.
For more information, please contact:
Phil Wood, UK Sales Director for Contura, contact number 07976 811041 [email protected]
Quick links
_
