Wood Burning Stove vs Central Heating - The Big Show Down!
We believe there are more benefits to woodburning than just the cost. As well as releasing a feeling of nostalgia, it's also a truly renewable form of heating your rooms, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. In previous years, wood heating was more of a luxury, however recently everything has changed.
Fast forward to January 2022, with Russia invading Ukraine, the whole of the UK & continental Europe was plunged into a huge energy crisis with gas and oil prices skyrocketing. Domestic electricity prices have also risen dramatically from 15p per kWh to over 60p. Consequently, kiln dried logs are now among the cheapest forms of domestic heating fuels. The Nottingham Energy Partnership has found that heating your home with wood costs 74% less per kWh than electricity and 21% less than gas! Modern woodburning stoves can cost 29% less than running an air-source heat pump.
It's not only cost-saving, but wood fuels also have the lowest carbon footprint of any domestic heating fuel. Studies have found that burning "Ready to Burn" approved wood logs in a modern Ecodesign stove is 87% less carbon intensive than gas, 88% less than electricity and 74% less than an air source heat pump. Not only is all of our firewood Ready to Burn approved but also registered under the Grown In Britain scheme and sourced from within 100 miles of our base in Herefordshire, so you know that your firewood hasn't travelled a million miles to get to your fireplace.
Following a recent Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) survey, they found that over the past year about 82% of stove installs carried out were replacement stoves rather than new installations. These findings are based on either a stove which is over 10 years old or an open fire being replaced. A new Ecodesign complaints stove emits considerably fewer particulates than older stoves and open fires. It emits 90% fewer particulates than an open fireplace and 80% less than a much older, basic stove so replacements will help to dramatically reduce emissions from domestic indoor woodburning.
Andy Hill, who is currently the chair of the SIA has also highlighted the other additional benefits of wood-burning stoves in that they can help to provide independence from the energy grid when it comes to home heating. He went on to add “In last week’s Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, set out clear commitments to improve energy independence and reduce energy consumption. Burning good quality wood for heat in a modern Ecodesign stove offers a wealth of benefits that will not only help households manage the cost-of-living squeeze and mitigate the risks posed by winter power cuts, but will also help the UK meet its ambitious targets on carbon reduction and energy consumption.”
When considering the pros and cons of wood burning stoves versus other forms of home heating it is perhaps just worth noting some the main tips for wood burning:
- When choosing a stove, opt for one which is Ecodesign compliant & one that is clearSkies certified. If your appliance is over 10 years old, or you have an open fire, why not consider upgrading? Visit your local stove retailer for the best advice on choosing the right stove for your home and for a detailed quote for purchase and installation. You can find your nearest SIA Retail Group member showroom here
- If you live somewhere that is a Smoke Control Area, remember that your stove must be Defra exempt. All clearSkies stoves that are certified level 3 are.
- Make sure that your stove is fitted and also maintained by someone who is approved under the Qualified Competent Person scheme and registered by HETAS or OFTEC. Keep your stove in good condition and regularly serviced.
- Only burn wood that is dried to below 20% moisture content. Keep an eye out for logs that are registered under the new Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' scheme, and that way you can guarantee that they are. All of our firewood is registered under the scheme. Never use chemically treated wood or burn any waste in your fire either.
- Get your chimney swept at least once a year by an approved Chimney Sweep. You can find a sweep near you on the The Federation of British Chimney Sweeps. The website also has a lot of good information and best practice guides too!