Biomass Boilers Help Fight Climate Change
Author: TalPotishman Total views: 14 Word Count: 502
In the last few years it became impossible to get away from the hype about green technologies versus fossil fuel technologies. Solar panels, solar thermal and wind turbines have ruled the headlines with major projects undertaken around the world. However, let us not forget the humble wood burning stove. Although not as flashy as a gleaming white wind turbine rotating at a steady speed over a green hill or a high-tech solar photovoltaic cell generating electricity out of simple sun light, the wood burning stove has some important benefits to bring to the table.
In order to fairly evaluate biomass boilers, it is important to explain how they work. Biomass boilers burn wood, which is an organic fuel (hence the bio-fuel label), rather than fossil fuels that come from the ground (oil, gas, coal). The boilers burn untreated wood (such as logs, wood chips) and treated wood (most common being wood pallets).
The most effective fuel is wood pallets, which are highly compressed sawdust. This timber dust is a waste product that would otherwise be discarded into landfills. It is a by product of carpentry workshops, sawmills and joinery workshops. Because of the compression, the pallets pack a higher level of output to weight and require less volume or fuel to get the same amount of heat within the boiler, and still leave very little waste on the burners.
When we burn fossil fuels, we release a high volume of carbon that was previously captured underground for millions of years. During the burning process, the resulting carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere and contributes to the climate change phenomenon. Boilers that burn wood, however, are much less harmful as they only release carbon that was captured by the plant during the years. They do not bring any more carbon into the delicate balance of our plant and are generally considered to be carbon neutral.
Before installing a biomass boiler it important to consider a few aspects of this technology:
* Wood supplier - it is much easier to run a biomass boiler if you have a local sawmill or carpentry workshop that can provide you with a reliable source of sawdust, wood chips or even wood pallets.
* Space consideration - unlike modern gas and oil boilers, a biomass boiler is larger in size and requires a large area nearby to store the wood. It is wise to plan for this space in advance.
* Chimney consideration - a biomass boiler requires a chimney, and more specifically a lined chimney that is designed for wood fuel. However, in most cases such lining can be retro-fitted to carry the smoke.
* Smoke limitations - if your house is located in a 'Smoke-Free' zone you may have to look for a specially labeled product which is 'exempted' under the Clean Air Act.
* Other considerations - It is wise to check with your local authority's planning department regarding fitting a flue in the property. This is very important in cases where the property is a listed building, or within a conservation area.
My Articles Directory Free Web Content Provider
About the Author
Tal Potishman, member of Heating Central, publishes content about central heating, Fulham plumbers, boilers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating
Copy and Paste Article Code.
Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.