WOOD STOVES: GREEN HEAT OR ENVIRONMENTAL HARM

Today’s modern wood-burning stoves do not harm the environment. In fact, burning wood is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to save considerable money while providing energy independence for you and your family!

THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE:  ARE WOOD-BURNING STOVES SUSTAINABLE?

Throughout history, people have used deforestation to make space for crops, animal grazing, and obtaining wood for construction and manufacturing. Deforestation has changed landscapes. However, sustainable forestry practices are rising through education, public awareness, and government regulation.

It makes good sense to manage the harvest of older-growth forests while maintaining a stable wood supply for construction, the paper industry, and fuel requirements. Today, most wood harvesting companies are planting more trees than they harvest. They subscribe to balanced cutting practices to ensure this resource lasts forever. Did you know more trees are in the USA today than 100 years ago? The current estimate is that over 750 million acres in the USA are forested!

You can bet that prices will continue to go up for fossil fuels in the future! Petroleum, coal, and gas can take millions of years to form. And when extracted and used, there’s no way to replace it. However, burning wood is a renewable energy source, unlike coal, oil, and gas. If Mother Nature takes one down, she’ll replace it. If one gets cut down, we can replant two or three in its place!

a person is planting a tree

You’ve likely heard that burning wood is “carbon neutral.” But just what does that mean? Wood gives off the same amount of carbon, whether it decays in the forest, landfill, or burned. As a tree grows, it will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Eventually, the tree will release the carbon as the wood naturally decomposes or is burned.

Here’s another way to look at it: the amount of carbon from wood-burning is similar to the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere and stored by a tree throughout its life span. One way or the other, the carbon is returned to the environment.

BENEFITS OF WOOD-BURNING STOVES:

Besides being sustainable, burning wood as a heating fuel has many benefits.

  • Wood is a renewable resource.
  • Burning wood reduces the carbon footprint.
  • No reliance on fossil fuels to keep your loved ones warm.
  • The ambiance and atmosphere created by a toasty fire soothes the soul!
  • The radiant heat from a wood stove does not rely on electricity.
  • Typical efficiencies of today’s equipment are 75% – 80%.

My experience has been that a new EPA-certified appliance will heat an area 3 – 4 times longer than an ordinary open-burning fire with the same amount of wood! If you’re in charge of the wood supply, you’ll agree that more heat from less wood is awesome!

A woodstove in a living room

Wood Stove Nectre N65 EPA certified by Ambiance®

WOOD STOVES:  DECENTRALIZED ENERGY & ENHANCED AIR QUALITY:

For centuries, heating with wood was the primary way for people to stay warm. There was little reliance on market volatility or any vulnerability to supply chain issues. We’re talking energy independence here. If more homeowners decided to heat with wood, there could be significantly less dependence on the energy grid and fossil fuels.

Using wood blown down by storms, reclaimed wood from construction sites, and scraps from building projects are great ways to save money! Stop and think how helpful this could be, especially during high energy demand. This makes wood burning one of the most sustainable fuel on the planet.

WOOD STOVES & CLEANER AIR:

Burning wood for heating purposes often gets a bad rap because old equipment can be a major source of pollution. Open burning in fireplaces, using homemade or outdated appliances, and poor burning practices contribute to environmental and health issues.

Let’s face it: breathing in smoke is not good for anyone’s lungs. Young children, older adults, or those with asthma or heart or lung disease are especially at risk and vulnerable to smoke. In addition to the smoke, be sure the wood is untreated and unpainted. Split, dry cordwood is what you want. Burning garbage, driftwood, and treated or painted wood will release toxic chemicals in the smoke.

The good news regarding air quality is that today’s modern wood-burning equipment, certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), burns wood exceptionally clean, even consuming the gases produced during combustion! When properly operated, these EPA-certified wood-burning stoves, inserts, and fireplaces are so effective, and emissions are so low that you’ll see little if any, smoke coming out of the chimney! And does the fire ever last a long time! Overnight burns are common.

Proper burning practices are essential. For proper sustainable wood-burning, use dry, seasoned wood. Regular appliance and chimney system maintenance will significantly reduce emissions and improve air quality.

GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

We are fortunate that combustion technology and the performance of wood-burning equipment have been dramatically improved. Wood is a renewable resource with low emissions and high efficiency and heat output. Burning wood in a modern wood stove is a win for everyone! But you decide for yourself.

Let’s summarize the benefits of burning wood in a modern, highly efficient, EPA-certified appliance. Is wood burning sustainable? Yes, for the following reasons:

  • Since wood is a renewable resource with solid management practices, we can actually “grow” more fuel, unlike gas, oil, or coal.
  • Burning wood significantly reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality.
  • Sustainable forestry practices will ensure a plentiful supply for future generations.
  • High efficiencies mean more heat and longer burn times with less wood.
  • Burning wood is a cost-effective alternative compared to other heating fuels.

You can see how clean modern wood stoves heat at your local WE LOVE FIRE® expert.  Please consider this your invitation to stop at our showrooms. We want to make your wood-burning experience friendlier to our environment, safer for you and your family, and be a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy energy independence.

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service ()

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

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Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

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