Wood heating systems are an environmentally friendly way to warm a home. Usually logs, pellets or chips are used in a stove or boiler to produce heat and hot water. Although as a company, we do not produce stoves that can heat a home via hot water heating etc, we are keen to highlight the key environmental advantages that can be achieved from such, as part of a shift towards a cleaner, greener environment.
How Do Biomass Boilers Work?
1. Logs, pellets or wood chips are stored and automatically fed into the biomass boiler
2. Biomass boilers burn this to generate heat
3. Heat is sent to radiators
4. Heat is stored in a hot water cylinder for hot water for taps and showers
Biomass boilers, like stoves burn wood to create heat. They are especially good for homes not connected to mains gas.
Pros of Wood Heating:
- Sustainable – It is a highly sustainable energy source and is considered carbon neutral. This is because although it produces carbon dioxide when it burns, the burning only releases around the same amount they absorb while growing. The Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) estimates that wood logs produce 0.008kg of CO2 per kWh, compared to 0.198kg for gas and 0.517kg for electricity.
- Energy Efficient – Stoves are more efficient than many other stand alone heaters. An open fire has an efficiency of only around 25%, where a high efficiency stove designed for heating a home is between 60 and 80%. By 2022 all stoves must be at least 80% efficient.
- Less Reliance – You will be free from relying on traditional on-grid power sources such as gas and electricity. This means you will enjoy a level of independence and will not be subject to the price and demand volatility of these power sources.
- Renewable Heat Incentive – This incentive was launched in spring 2014 and it will pay you to produce heat from a wood heating system. Although stoves don’t qualify under the incentive, biomass boilers, thermal and solar panels, and ground course and air source pumps do.
Cons of Wood Heating:
- The Cost – The cost can be significant. Between £1,000 and £3,000 for a log stove and and installation, and £4,000 to £12,000 for a wood pellet boiler and installation.
- Buying Fuel – You still need to buy fuel, and travel to purchase such, unless the retailer offers a delivery service.
- Storage – You will need space to store the fuel. There is building regulations to consider also that affect where a stove can be placed. Some areas in a home may not be suitable either.
- Work – There is an element of manual work with wood heating, preparing wood, storing it, and cleaning the boiler, which not everyone may be keen on.
Despite the cons, there are significant benefits of using wood as a heating source in a home. Although only you can decide this, and how it impacts on you.
