Sustainable Heating, Cooking, and Hot Water Systems

The most important thing to be mindful of when choosing wood to run in your slow custombustion heater or stove is that the wood is properly seasoned i.e. dried. A good seasoned wood will have been dried over 2-5 years depending on the density. 

If you put wet wood into your firebox (and be remember you can't always tell this from the outside of a log) all the energy produced goes into drying out the wood not producing heat. 

The best Australian hardwood (greybox, yellow box, malley roots, redgum or any common eucalypt) sourced from a professional wood dealer should be dry before sale. 

If you are sourcing your own wood (make sure you have a permit) you should be looking to cut dead limbs or fallen trees. 

If your wood is not properly dired it will not only effect your heat output and energy usage but also effect the heat temperture reached and smoke output.   

Tip: If the bark is still attached or can't be removed easily from the log or branch then it is too green to burn.   

Hydronic Heating is a cost-effective form of in-home heating that combines smart energy with innovative technology to produce the most efficient heating system on the market.

The systems use water to move heat from a source such as a gas boiler or heat pump through piping to each individual room. 

It’s often installed in concrete slabs, radiator panels and/or heated towel rails. 

The short answer is YES. Wood is a renewable bioenergy. It is recommended that environmentally aware wood users either buy their wood from FAA members or collect it from permitted areas. As long as you have purchased your wood from sustainable sources, you are actually helping the environment by heating your home with wood instead of gas or electricity. 

A CSIRO study in 2003 showed that firewood is virtually greenhouse neutral and is a useful way to reduce the carbon pollution from gas and coal energy use.