Welcome

Hardwood logs are a very versatile low carbon fuel that can be burned in the home in a variety ways. It can heat the whole house, or just one room, it can supply or supplement the homes hot water. You can burn logs in an open grate, these look nice, but are not very efficient as most of the heat goes straight up the chimney, they may be as low as 15% efficient ( probably like the coal effect gas fires!) A more efficient way of burning logs is a wood burning stove, these can be up to 70% efficient, and some are suitable for burning in a smokeless zone. Some stoves can also be fitted with back boilers to heat your water. The other type of stove is the cooking range, such as the wonderful Esse stoves. This site will build to provide information on burning logs, provide sources of sustainable wood, and link to sites providing services for wood burning folk.

Why should I burn Wood?

When trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When the wood is burnt the carbon is released back to the atmosphere. Therefore as long as the wood that is burnt is replaced by a sustainable management then using wood can be a low carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels. It is classed as a low carbon fuel, because carbon is expended in the maintenance and transportation of the wood to your home.

Environmentally sound?

Contrary to what many people think burning wood can be environmentally beneficial. Much of the woodland in the UK is semi-natural woodland and benefits from being managed. As long as the wood comes from a sustainable source, wood is a source of renewable energy. Using wood as a fuel also benefits the rural economy by providing local employment and an opportunity for diversification for farmers and other landowners..

The woodland that exists today in the UK does so because it had a value to its owners. They were managed, mostly using coppice systems, to provide fuels and building materials for local use. The ecological systems that exist in those woods today depend on continuing management for their survival, leaving to nature can often result in overcrowding and can let little light down to the woodland floor.

Many of these woodlands, especially the smaller ones, are no longer managed because they no longer provide any economic benefit to their owners. Continued neglect is not an option for these woodlands. They are managed systems, which require continuing management, if they are to be sustainable. Extracting firewood and other wood from them is one way to ensure that they are managed.

Can I use wood fuel to heat my home?

Wood fuel is one of the most appropriate renewable energy technologies for heating the home. In a normal house the two types of wood to consider are logs or pellets. Woodchips are not generally suitable for use in a normal house because of the extra equipment needed.

Can I burn wood in a smokeless zone?

Wood can be burned in a smokeless zone if the appliance (i.e. the stove or boiler) has an Exemption Certificate you can check the Defra list from here