Wood pellets are used in both domestic and industrial applications. Many people in colder climates worldwide use wood pellet boilers or stoves to heat their homes. Today’s modern boilers are so well automated that they need no human operator or maintenance beyond loading a winter season worth o...
A wood stove is an energy-efficient way to heat a room. Woods stoves are attractive additions to your home and creating a tile hearth is an easy way to make your wood stove the focal point of the room. This project takes at least 4 days, because the mortar and grout both need time ...
Using a wood burning stove is a staple of country life that, for many people, goes back generations. For good reason, too: It’s hard to beat the ease of use and reliability of a woodstove. Cut the wood, put it in the firebox, start the fire, and before too long you’ve got fla...
How are heat pumps so efficient? It's a totally different process than traditional heating systems. A furnace or boiler converts fuel into heat: Burn stuff, make fire—the same basic tech we've used since the Stone Age. To be a little more scientific about it: Burning fuel (usually ga...
Even though Stirling engines are highly efficient, they are chunkier, more expensive and have more moving parts than the TEG fans. This means there is more chance of something breaking and an increased need for maintenance if you purchased a bad model. ...
Burn only well-seasoned wood, and have your flue and chimney cleaned annually. Use low- or no-VOC paints. The VOC means volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde is one of the most common VOCs. These low- or no-VOC paints are now available everywhere, and while they cost a few dollars...
They’re usually more reliable than liquid or gas stoves and can provide an outdoor cooking experience that is hard to match. Solar Ovens Solar ovens are one of the most efficient ways to cook outdoors since they require no fuel source other than the sun’s energy. ...
The electronic-ignition models are much more energy efficient because they burn only when they are turned on. Standing pilots, on the other hand, burn constantly, wasting a lot of gas when they aren't needed. It is not unusual to find one blazing away in a fireplace during the heat of ...
Improved biomass cook stoves can potentially2.1 reduce indoor air pollution,2.2 mitigate climate change by reducing deforestation,2.3 improve living standards3. How frequently and intensively low-income households actually use more efficient biomass cook stoves are very much open questions that go to the...
There are wood, gas, and electric fireplace inserts. Inserts can control the air intake and, therefore, the burn rate of the wood, making it more efficient. Some fireplace inserts come with fans or blowers that help take the heat around the firebox and distribute it to the room. Step up...