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| September 2002 |
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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. |