| Good Reason 1 | | | | over their own lifespan absorb exactly the same |
| For many, the principal reason to install a wood | | | | amount of carbon dioxide as is released by the |
| burning stove is quite simply the unique look and | | | | burning process. This is potentially an endlessly |
| feel of a real fire, without any of the usual effort, | | | | renewable and sustainable cycle that emits |
| smell, mess or danger. Installing a wood burner is | | | | negligible excess CO2 into the atmosphere. Fossil |
| for a great many people first and foremost a | | | | fuels by contrast are not remotely renewable or |
| lifestyle choice; it pushes all the right buttons and | | | | sustainable and represent a one way street |
| stirs up emotions associated with our basic human | | | | where CO2 emissions are concerned. |
| desire to feel warm and safe. | | | | Good Reason 4 |
| It also goes without saying that what looks good | | | | Forget tree-hugging sentimentality and |
| and feels good typically sells well too; there is | | | | hand-knitted eco-credentials; there are compelling |
| quite a bit of anecdotal evidence from estate | | | | economic reasons to go green these days (as |
| agents and homeowners that having a wood | | | | well as very sound environmental reasons too of |
| burning stove installed will help a house sell that | | | | course). Conventional fossil fuel is on the down |
| much more easily. Note however that a wood | | | | slope as regards supply which can only increase |
| burner is unlikely to make your house actually | | | | the price over time. Additionally, ever tougher |
| worth much more on the property market, but it | | | | legislation and regulations means that installing a |
| can go some way to help you get a sale at your | | | | mix of renewable energy sources starts to make |
| asking price that bit more quickly. | | | | eminent financial sense. For new buildings the |
| Good Reason 2 | | | | regulations are becoming so tight that many |
| Recently there has been a rise in the number of | | | | architects and builders automatically elect to install |
| people installing wood burning stoves and boilers | | | | wood burning stoves and boilers simply because |
| because wood burners are not only highly efficient | | | | make it then becomes so much easier to comply |
| but much cheaper to run than regular gas, oil or | | | | with new building regulations on carbon footprints. |
| electric heating systems; over three times | | | | Good Reason 5 |
| cheaper in many cases, and even better in some | | | | Many modern wood burning systems really can |
| situations. But consider the pros and cons carefully | | | | do it all, with capabilities for cooking, whole house |
| because wood burners are not the answer for all | | | | space heating, hot water and heat storage. These |
| people, for a variety of reasons (follow the link | | | | vary from wood burning stoves that have that |
| following this article for more information on this | | | | traditional kitchen range look and a back boiler |
| subject). | | | | supplying hot water to radiators and the main hot |
| Good Reason 3 | | | | water cylinder, to sleek, stylish, modern designs |
| We are, of necessity, becoming more | | | | that also serve as a central feature in the main |
| environmentally aware these days; if you tend a | | | | living space. Combine a wood burner system with |
| garden you will already have noticed changes in | | | | solar thermal heating a much more sustainable |
| the climate and every energy utility bill is a | | | | future beckons - financially for you and |
| reminder that how things have been up till now is | | | | environmentally for the planet. |
| not sustainable for the future. But unlike burning | | | | Good Reason 5.5 |
| fossil fuel such as oil, gas or coal, burning wood | | | | When it comes right down to it, wood burning |
| forms part of a pretty much balanced carbon | | | | stoves have to rank among the most basic and |
| cycle. | | | | ancient of human technologies, which probably |
| The crucial difference between fossil fuels and | | | | accounts for the deep rooted affinity most |
| wood biofuel from trees is that trees are living | | | | people have for them. |
| organisms - they absorb carbon dioxide from the | | | | Consider all the millennia of progress that has led |
| atmosphere and using sunlight convert it to | | | | up to modern heating systems then ask yourself |
| cellulose fibers (i.e. wood). When managed as a | | | | this: when was the last time you recall gathering |
| renewable resource, trees planted to replace | | | | with friends and family to sit contentedly around |
| those used as biofuel in wood burning stoves will | | | | the gas boiler? I rest my case. |