Why Firewood? People heat their homes with firewood because:
1. Firewood is Cost Effective
Per heat unit, dry hardwood firewood in a high-efficiency stove gives you exceptional value. One cord of dry firewood produces the same heat as 801 litres of oil. * If furnace oil is selling for $1.00/litre, that’s $801.00 to produce the same amount of heat as one cord of firewood, so oil can’t compete on price. The real question is, how efficient is your wood stove, and what value do you place on the extra time and effort firewood takes?
2. Firewood is Renewable
You are using a natural product that grows back and captures CO2 as it grows.
3. Firewood is Low emission
When you burn dry wood in a high-efficiency stove, firewood is one of the lowest-emission sources of heat available.
4. Firewood Usage Slows Climate Change
Heating with firewood is as close to CO2 neutral as you can get. By replacing other carbon-based heating fuels that are accelerating climate change, you can help the planet now.
5. Firewood is Reliable
Nothing beats firewood for reliable, on-demand heat. Even if it’s not your main source of heat, it’s an excellent backup for when you lose power, have your heat pump or furnace break or you accidentally run out of oil or propane.
6. Firewood is Local
You create local jobs, strengthen your local community and reduce the environmental impact of transportation. You also have a less vulnerable product to global supply chain problems.
7. Firewood is Good for Your Body and Mind
Stacking and moving firewood is an activity for all ages. Stacking firewood is good exercise. You can move at your own speed and relax your mind while doing so. Knowing you have a pile of dry firewood places you in control of this important corner of your life. A well-stacked woodpile says I am in control, secure, and prepared.
8. Firewood is One of life’s Simple Pleasures
A good fire has delighted us with warmth, security and wonder for thousands of years. It still has the power to comfort us, calm our minds and bring us back to the simple things of life in a way nothing else can.
Versions of this list have been around for decades. We took the time to update it and remind people that what was true 100 years ago is still true today. In fact, with properly installed and maintained high-efficiency wood stoves and the need to address global warming, the case for burning firewood only gets stronger.
Courtesy of Barrett Firewood
* Calculations based on Natural Resources Canada “Heating With Oil” Table 2, page 44.