Space heater

An efficient wood-fired space heater provides most of the heating for our house, which is needed around the clock from November through March. Because of energy-efficient windows and tight construction, we are able to maintain adequate inside temperatures while consuming about three cords of hardwood a year (much less than older homes in the Northeast tend to use). Although wood stoves emit smoke, which is full of known carcinogens, our emissions are mitigated somewhat by a built-in catalytic converter. Proper management of the burning process also helps to reduce pollutants. Wood heaters also emit carbon dioxide, one of the worrisome greenhouse gases, but this is part of a short-term carbon cycle between living trees and space heating, while the global warming crisis is due mostly to the rapid release of vast amounts of carbon that had been stored in the earth for millions of years.

Preparing wood for involves a lot of hard work—cutting, hauling, splitting, and stacking, The work resumes during the heating season—carrying loads of wood in, tending the fire, maintaing the stove, and carrying out the ashes. But as part of a generally simpler, slower-paced lifestyle, it doesn't seem unreasonable when done methodically. And the wonderful radiance from a hot wood stove has it all over forced air or other central heating systems.

Wood heat works best for a household where there is someone at home most of the time to tend the fire. We can damp down the stove and keep things going while we're out for a few hourse, but a smoldering fire is less efficient and can lead to dangerous creosote buildup in the flue. For times when we have to be away longer, we have a couple of propane-fired space heaters that can keep the house, plants, and cats minimally warm. In more severe conditions, we can sometimes on a neighbor to stop in and thrown on a few logs. That one of the benefits of being part of a community. •