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Heating

Nov 04
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First Ever Wood Stove Design Challenge

By Heating
Masonry Stove Design by Lars Helbro

One of 14 finalists in the Wood Stove Design Challenge

The first ever Wood Stove Design Challenge and Decathlon is set to go down soon, hosted by the Alliance for Green Heat. The Decathlon will take place on the National Mall in D.C., and is open to the public Nov. 15 and 16. What’s the big deal? This is an amazing event, the first of its kind dedicated to testing all manner of unique wood fired heaters for optimum efficiency. Wood still proves to be one of the most universally common energy sources, but unfortunately, most burning of wood is done in a highly inefficient, unclean manner. These contestants are all hoping to help change the tide.

Fourteen stove design finalists have made it this far, including everything from classic masonry heaters, to DIY rocket stove-inspired designs, to high tech computer-controlled heaters. I totally wish I could be there for the event, but alas, I will have to settle for the news coverage online.

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Oct 29
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Cob & Cold Climates: What You Need To Know

By Moisture, Winter, Heating

cold-cob-climate

Some time back, I wrote up an article about why cob is not appropriate for cold climates, based on our experiences living in Gobcobatron for several winters. I continue to get emails from folks saying something like “hey, I live in northern Illinois and really want to live in a cob house… can you recommend some resources?” My usual response is then something like “hold on a second there… I think you need to reconsider… cob may not be the best choice for your location…”

Anyway, it seems clear that folks may still not be up to speed on why cob is not a suitable choice for more northerly or cold climates. I have revisited my original post and added some new information on why cob is not suitable for cold climates.

I hope you’ll check it out. There’s even more to be said, but the basic gist of the issue is there!

Jan 03
Love0

Morso 1410 Squirrel Wood Stove and Ecofan Update

By Winter, Heating

Morso 1410 Squirrel Wood Stove

Reader Peter Davidson wrote in with a question about the small wood stove we use, the Morso 1410 “Squirrel” Wood Stove, and the Caframo Ecofan, a thermoelectric stovetop fan that helps push warm air around. Here is his email:

In reading your blog post about wood stoves I’m very interested in your follow-up opinion on the Morso stove and Ecofan that you’re using.  Do you have any new perspectives or updates after using them for an extended period of time? Looks like life is good!
Be well,
~Peter

Read ahead for my response!

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Oct 28
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Wood Stove Installation: Our Unique Stove Install Job

By Winter, Heating, Strawtron, Living Sod Roof
Wood Stove Installation

Through the wall and up… avoiding our living roof!

Well, I ended up with another weird wood stove installation in the new straw bale house. Back in 2010, I described how I penetrated the living roof of my cob house to install our new small wood stove at the time. (It was equally weird, and awkward.)We did a somewhat successful job (although every now and then we get water dripping into the mudroom).

This time, I wanted to completely avoid penetrating the EPDM pond liner, so I opted for a through-the-wall stove installation. There were a few tricks along the way.

Here’s how it went.

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Apr 02
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3 Reasons To Build Your Own Attached Greenhouse

By Winter, Heating, Strawtron, Design
Attached Greenhouse Design

Inside a beautiful attached greenhouse full of life…

Building your own greenhouse is a great idea if you are a gardener and want space to start seedlings, or grow plants that require a longer growing season than your climate can normally provide.

But a standalone greenhouse is one thing — an attached greenhouse design for your house brings in a whole other host of benefits to be considered that extend beyond the conveniences of growing food more easily.

Read on ahead to learn about all the reasons to consider an attached greenhouse design for your home — they include providing additional free heat, extending living space, and supplying space to grow food for a longer period of time.

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Jan 14
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Photo: Cob House in Winter Landscape

By Photos, Winter, Heating

Wow, it finally feels like winter. We’ve had a ridiculous number of mild days thus far, and it decided to snow a couple days ago, but only immediately after a 60+ degree day. Hrmmm… for some reason, it’s hard to turn one’s mind from wandering to climate change…

We are faring much better this winter (in no doubt due to the warm days), but I actually want some cold to test all of the changes we’ve made to the house this summer!

By the way, click the panorama image for a larger version!

Dec 08
Love0

Cabin Stove: Small Wood Burning Masonry Heater

By Heating

I’ve been in contact with Max of Firespeaking recently, and he pointed me to a very interesting masonry heater in response to my question about small masonry stove designs appropriate for small homes.

The Cabin Stove, built at Aprovehco Research Center, is a compact multi-functional wood burning masonry heater. A rather attractive one, I might say, that has cooking and water heating functions, in addition to slow-releasing radiant heat.

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Oct 13
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4 Reasons You Should Consider Wood Heat at Home

By Winter, Heating

I figure many of the readers of this here blog are familiar with wood heat, but perhaps that is just an assumption. Anyway, I want to mention this post I recently wrote for sustainablog about wood heat — it’s called Wood Heat Stoves: 4 Reasons You Should Consider Heating with Wood.

Check it out. I love wood heat, and the benefits are many. What it all boils down to, though, is that nothing really compares to having a live fire in your home. It just feels so… human.

Mar 03
Love0
cob house cold climate

Cob Building is Not Appropriate For This Cold Climate

By Moisture, Winter, Heating

Cob House Cold Climate

There’s something I’ve had to come to terms with living in our cob house, Gobcobatron. Cob is not the most appropriate, responsible building material for this cold climate of northeastern Missouri. This applies to similarly cold climates as well. Sad to say, but that is the reality.

Here are my thoughts on why cob building is not appropriate for cold climates, based on personal experiences and understanding more about the thermal properties of cob.

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Dec 14
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Small Wood Stove Review: Morso 1410 Squirrel

By Winter, Heating
Morso 1410 Squirrel: Small Wood Stove

The Morso 1410 is a very small, clean-burning wood stove

The Morso 1410 “Squirrel” is a sleek, small wood stove. And I’m very glad to have its company. It’s been getting a fair workout these days, and I’m happy with its performance. Here’s a little rundown on my experience with the small wood stove out of Denmark.

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