Re: Firewood as an energy source

Tho it is too late for an established house, one already built, to gain an energy efficient house, one can subscribe to the engineering facets of how foundations are built into the earth.

I have a very close friend out of New Mexico who has built many energy efficient houses, not the least of which are the one's he owns. He has discussed with me how properly constructed foundations can maintain reasonable temperature dispersment throughout a house. The simple explanation is how foundations can be pushed into the ground, deeper than these insane box houses on top of the soil, and how these foundation should extend up to at least the second story of a structure.

He has a 4,000sq ft house in Northern New Mexico that he heats with an ancient Franklin stove. It can be 0 degrees outside, and he will use 3 or 4 sticks of wood to keep the place warm all day and night. Quite amazing. Same in 100+ degree weather in the summer. Stays quite even throughout the year. He has a southern exposed solarium and garden which of course helps too. But the key is the foundation.

Insulation is the standard way that everyone thinks of, this after they stare at a box house and the constantly rising energy bills. If one can build an exposed to the sun in the winter months solarium, that helps a great deal too.

Another handy thing which I have not done, yet, is to use solar to heat water for bathing and cleaning, and have the piping circulate the house which carries the heat with it. One needs a little power to keep the water circulating, but I understand this will work too. Also wrapping these water pipes around stove unit and having them course through the house does same.

It really goes back to the foundation tho. Conventional houses, especially ones built in colder climes, are just plain nuts. One of the worst places I've been and experienced this kind of bad engineering is Texas. Awful clay soil that shifts and cracks foundations constantly. Which is why not many homes have basements there. And why air conditioners are understand almost constant demand except for a few short winter months. Having a reasonable foundation that exported energy efficiently year round would save beaucoup $$$.

Oh, one other obvious energy saver. Trees and windbreaks. Tweet