Log Fires - the future?

[MattF]

Sure I read somewhere that UK electricity prices were some of the highest on the planet!

Probably. But electric is convenient. I simply pay more than I need to during the warmer months to balance things out over the colder months.

 

[Erie Fred]

The future of log fires is dark, as Greta will have banned them all.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

If you have a modern house then I think electric heating is viable.

Won't work in my 1930s build...not without some major surgery.

 

[MattF]

I was just saying as a purely economic choice, it's not the best one.

Absolutely. It's the least convenient choice in several ways. You have dust, tending it, buying in & storing the fuel to deal with etc.

Nothing nicer than a real fire for cosiness though. Nothing matches them on that front.

 

[MattF]

The future of log fires is dark, as Greta will have banned them all.

Try they might, but they'll never succeed.

 

[minimutly]

The future of log fires is dark, as Greta will have banned them all.

Well, in built up areas she has a point....
But out in the wilds I see no issue, it's renewable heat after all...

 

[Erie Fred]

Well, in built up areas she has a point....
But out in the wilds I see no issue, it's renewable heat after all...

Agreed, however she wants worldwide all the same.
With common sense right out the window.

 

[minimutly]

Resist, must resist...

 

[addjunkie]

I agree mostly. But unless basic and gravity run it makes things hard to use if not impossible in a power cut. We toyed with adding our lounge log burner to the thermal store but haven't bothered for this reason partly - plus the pipe run is a pain.

I had such a system, with a Stanley Lismore boiler stove, and an oil boiler both feeding my heat store.. no ziggies no fire as it all had to be pumped. More complex plumbing wise too due to a closed system and open system supplying heat.

Took it out and fitted a nice big log only burner. Looks nice, no complexities.

 

[Onoff]

The future of log fires is dark, as Greta will have banned them all.

What was it that happened to Joan of Arc...

 

[Dragnet]

Heating People Not Places - central heating is a problem, as our assumption that 'a thermostat' sets a household temperature is not conducive to comfort or efficiency (in the sense of using the available energy to most effectively make the occupant feel warmer).

Electrostatic particle filter systems are available to remove tiny pollutants from the smoke.

There is a certain amount of sense in using wood rather than fossil fuels as we can account for the emissions by planting more, and certainly using extant carbon that is part of the current carbon cycle is better than extracting ancient stuff that isn't. The trouble is maintaining that equilibrium when there is no link between production and consumption. Since we're all used to just getting more by plugging things in, the idea of frugality and sensitivity has gone out the window. Using electricity is foolish as it's a complex form of energy, and using it to make the simplest, heat, is not particularly efficient when it can be used for so many more complicated purposes that pure heat can't. Saying that, there is a Swiss architect, Werner Schmidt, who has experimented with solar thermal powered Stirling engines to generate electricity on a domestic scale and power his houses. District heating as applied in Scandinavia and much of Europe has a lot going for it.

I've removed our central heating and instead half the house has underfloor heating, with some small wood stoves in occasional sedentary areas like study or lounge. Entrance room is unheated. The plan is that as much radiant heat energy as possible goes into people when they aren't moving around, and thus need it. Microclimates can be tailored and adjusted to different activities. Radiant panels could be added if it doesn't work as expected. All the hot water and UFH is run from a thermal store and pellet boiler, but the heat source is relatively immaterial as the concept can be applied anywhere.

Saying 'Greta will ban' wood stoves is simplified knuckle-dragging in the extreme. The girl is absolutely right that it is the younger generations that will reap what has been sown. Many of my generation are ambivalent about having children as we are concerned there won't be a worthwhile life for them. At least the MAD of my grandparents' era was human-controlled and the threat could be extinguished through obvious causality. Industrialised climate change requires not only that the entire developed world change their consumption habits, but that some of the really powerful drongos change their belief system.

The other day I was at a party in a field. A bonfire and a sheepskin coat meant that Storm Bert didn't get a look in. Thermal regulation was achieved by moving towards or away from the fire, or changing layers. I didn't feel at all cold despite the air temperature being close to zero celsius. Our relationship with energy is mostly an attitude rather than a carved stone tablet, and we are going to have to appreciate some things that are less convenient (but more fun) without putting everyone off by being holier-than-thou and insisting hair shirts and penance are our only way out.

A humorous article called 'Shrinking into Abundance' explains how, if we were much smaller, how much more resources there would be. In the same way, 'reduce, re-use, recycle' must be applied in that order to make sense. I guess lighting my filtered stoves won't save the world, but at least I can feel I'm doing what I can within the limits of a systemic failure, based on a balance of the human strengths of feeling and rationality.

 

[Onoff]

Up the pub Sunday and it was lovely. Open fire, a few pints of real ale, some random punters mixing with the locals. Unfortunately I overdid it. First time in years.

Next morning I decided to clear some leaves and thought as I'm going to get dirty I'll wear yesterday's T shirt. The smell of smoke! I couldn't wear it and almost vomited...again.

 

[MattF]

Heating People Not Places - central heating is a problem, as our assumption that 'a thermostat' sets a household temperature is not conducive to comfort or efficiency (in the sense of using the available energy to most effectively make the occupant feel warmer).

Electrostatic particle filter systems are available to remove tiny pollutants from the smoke.

There is a certain amount of sense in using wood rather than fossil fuels as we can account for the emissions by planting more, and certainly using extant carbon that is part of the current carbon cycle is better than extracting ancient stuff that isn't. The trouble is maintaining that equilibrium when there is no link between production and consumption. Since we're all used to just getting more by plugging things in, the idea of frugality and sensitivity has gone out the window. Using electricity is foolish as it's a complex form of energy, and using it to make the simplest, heat, is not particularly efficient when it can be used for so many more complicated purposes that pure heat can't. Saying that, there is a Swiss architect, Werner Schmidt, who has experimented with solar thermal powered Stirling engines to generate electricity on a domestic scale and power his houses. District heating as applied in Scandinavia and much of Europe has a lot going for it.

I've removed our central heating and instead half the house has underfloor heating, with some small wood stoves in occasional sedentary areas like study or lounge. Entrance room is unheated. The plan is that as much radiant heat energy as possible goes into people when they aren't moving around, and thus need it. Microclimates can be tailored and adjusted to different activities. Radiant panels could be added if it doesn't work as expected. All the hot water and UFH is run from a thermal store and pellet boiler, but the heat source is relatively immaterial as the concept can be applied anywhere.

Saying 'Greta will ban' wood stoves is simplified knuckle-dragging in the extreme. The girl is absolutely right that it is the younger generations that will reap what has been sown. Many of my generation are ambivalent about having children as we are concerned there won't be a worthwhile life for them. At least the MAD of my grandparents' era was human-controlled and the threat could be extinguished through obvious causality. Industrialised climate change requires not only that the entire developed world change their consumption habits, but that some of the really powerful drongos change their belief system.

The other day I was at a party in a field. A bonfire and a sheepskin coat meant that Storm Bert didn't get a look in. Thermal regulation was achieved by moving towards or away from the fire, or changing layers. I didn't feel at all cold despite the air temperature being close to zero celsius. Our relationship with energy is mostly an attitude rather than a carved stone tablet, and we are going to have to appreciate some things that are less convenient (but more fun) without putting everyone off by being holier-than-thou and insisting hair shirts and penance are our only way out.

A humorous article called 'Shrinking into Abundance' explains how, if we were much smaller, how much more resources there would be. In the same way, 'reduce, re-use, recycle' must be applied in that order to make sense. I guess lighting my filtered stoves won't save the world, but at least I can feel I'm doing what I can within the limits of a systemic failure, based on a balance of the human strengths of feeling and rationality.

The simple core problem is that most folk are good at paying lip service to things, but don't & won't change. No matter the intent, unless someone finds a way to control human nature, nothing will ever change much. Some care, most don't. The latter simply like to appear as if they care.

 

[addjunkie]

Up the pub Sunday and it was lovely. Open fire, a few pints of real ale, some random punters mixing with the locals. Unfortunately I overdid it.

Sounds like a normal Sunday round here

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The simple core problem is that most folk are good at paying lip service to things

I had someone recently bending my ear about this stuff.....so I asked "what are you willing to give up".

The response was as expected..."what do you mean?".

 

[Erie Fred]

Saying 'Greta will ban' wood stoves is simplified knuckle-dragging in the extreme.

Ha Ha Ha..... .....

 

[Smallfry]

Seems to work ok for the ISS.

Yes it does, but I don't think a row of oxygen cylinders and changeover valves outside is very practical, or aesthetically pleasing

Might be considered a fire risk too.

 

[roofman]

The future of log fires is dark, as Greta will have banned them all.

I am hoping she gets pregnant with quads and has her hands full, that's her out the equation.

 

[addjunkie]

I am hoping she gets pregnant with quads and has her hands full, that's her out the equation.

Shes actually gone very quiet of late.

 

[roofman]

Shes actually gone very quiet of late.

Yes she has funny enough..