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Christchurch City Scene
September 2002

Lead Stories

Sustainability: Just good housekeeping

Thousands discover lost world

This LYFE's for living

Do right with dogs

Something for everyone at Parenting Week

 

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Did You Know? - Dry wood boosts heating value


The regional council’s rules about dry firewood make sense for the environment and for the wallet. Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) recently released Air Chapter prohibits burning wood with a moisture content of more than 25 per cent dry weight.

This rule is there to help cut air pollution, but it also makes economic sense to make sure firewood is dry. Burning wet wood means a lot of the fire’s energy is wasted driving out the moisture, so it does not heat as well as drier fuel. The loss can be significant.

If you are buying wood to use straight away, ask your supplier for wood which meets the ECan rule. If you are getting in stocks for next winter, or collecting wood yourself, make sure you get it early enough to store it under cover for at least three months before use.

Time is needed to dry the wood to the required moisture content. Doing so not only reduces pollution but also provides better-value heating.

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