Re: Firewood as an energy source

We have a lot of restrictions over here with fire wood collection, we have a slow combustion fire at our hostel, and it is a much more cost efficient was to heat the rooms. It also has aesthetic appeal too, as people love to sit around the fire on a winters night.

Living in a country area, right next to the ocean, the wood smoke is not a problem either.

We use yate (eucalyptus), and salmon gum (eucalyptus), because basically that is all you get around here. Both are very dense hard woods, so very little is needed to keep a fire going all day and night. Both also leave very little ash. Any ash that is produced can be incorporated into the garden. Nothing is wasted.

Chopping wood can be very therapeutic, almost a form of meditation.

Do you have any ideas for heating houses, (other than using oil), for people who do not have access to wood ?

spud