Wood stove seem to be ubiquitous in off-grid homes, one would assume that is because they are ecologically sound source of home heating. But is that really the case?
Wood stoves, even highly efficient catalytic models, produce toxic and greenhouse gas emissions, that is a fact. So just how does burning wood compare to other fuels such as propane or even coal?
If we look at the specific carbon dioxide emissions of various fuels we can see that wood is actually the worst, producing more CO2 per KWh than coal and far more than LP gas (propane) or natural gas.
On the face of it, it would seem that using wood to heat your home is a horrible ecological choice. But there are two mitigating factors to consider.
First is that fossil fuels are not renewable. Not only does burning coal release CO2, it is also releases long sequestered carbon into the atmosphere. And there is the impact of mining new deposits once existing deposits are mined. Gas that is extracted from the ground (via fracking or other methods) also releases long sequestered carbon into the atmosphere and there are the impacts of extracting and transporting gas. Wood, on the other hand, can be sustainably farmed, so that any wood that is burned is replaced by new trees. Of course, this is an idealization, and the real world data shows that globally deforestation is happening at a far greater rate than reforestation or tree farming. Although the US is slightly better at reforestation. So wood may be a good choice if the fuel is sustainably sourced from fast growing trees.
Secondly, some argue that wood is “carbon-neutral,” in that dead wood produces the same amount of carbon whether it decays naturally in the forest or is burnt as fuel. At least that is what this article would have you believe. While this is mostly true, there are factors such as; more of rotting wood’s carbon is sequestered back into the soil, and that the carbon is released over a longer period of time than if the wood were burnt.
Our off-grid home has a wood stove for supplemental heating, most (90%) of our home heating is passive solar. Having a high efficiency propane stove would be more efficient and release less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but that comes at the cost of being dependent upon the fossil fuel industry. For me, at this point, it is an ethical choice to use as little non-renewable fossil fuels as possible. If I were doing new construction, I would seriously consider not installing a wood stove for home heating. I’m just waiting now for solar-powered hydrogen fuel cells to become economical and available.
This is helpful information. I just found your blog and really enjoy it. We are trying to move near my brother who lives out there so are educating ourselves in off grid living. Thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences!