stove-wood / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Unused chimney? How to seal it successfully... That charming old chimney in your home might be a major source of heat loss, acting like a permanently open window that costs you money every single day. An unsealed chimney is one of the single biggest sources of air leakage in a home's building envelope, leading to uncom...

These wood pellet stoves need no electricity Burning wood to heat a home does not make you an eco-terrorist, let's get that one point out of the way first. Trees are a renewable resource and they are, in effect, solar energy batteries whose energy is accessed when we burn them.  After the 1998 Eastern Canada ice storm,...

Wood burning inserts and stoves - which are best & which burn cleanest? Reading the specifications to find the best wood burning fireplace inserts or wood stove can be rather complicated, so how do you choose? Let's shake loose the important points from all the technical jargon and make the process a bit more enjoy...

There is a specific quality of warmth that comes from a masonry heater that is unlike any other heating source. It is often described as feeling like the warmth of the sun on a rock. While standard wood stoves can overheat a modern, well-insulated home, a masonry heater acts as a massive thermal battery, storing intens...

First rule for choosing the hottest firewood? Before we get into which wood is best for burning, or which wood burns the hottest as a home heat source in a wood-burning stove or fireplace, remember this:  First rule for wood burning? Make sure it's dry or seasoned wood, or most of the heat will be lost on evaporating ...

This is the fourth piece in a blog series written by Craig Anderson as he documents the design and construction of an off-grid LEED Gold passively-heated home. See post 1 of the off-grid homes blog here, the overview . or post 2 in the off-grid homes blog here covering design and construction choices. or here see post ...

Can you put wood burning stoves in airtight homes? There is an inherent feeling of resiliency that comes with having a wood stove, in that you know you can keep your home warm in the case of a power outage. The concern with wood burners in modern airtight homes is that fire needs a supply of oxygen. This guide covers t...

Carbon monoxide prevention and detection: protecting your air quality from dangerous gases Carbon monoxide (CO) is often referred to as the silent killer in homes because it is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that can reach lethal concentrations inside a home without occupants ever realizing it. For homeowner...

Home fire safety: a homeowner's and pro's guide Ensuring your home is safe from fire is one of the most critical responsibilities for a homeowner and a key consideration for building professionals. A home fire would no doubt be emotionally devastating, but with the right preparations and design choices, the risk can be...

All framing materials for the Demo House are FSC certified, and provided by our sponsor Kott Lumber. Kott engineered the plans for us , supplying detailed framing documents including a cut list for each framing member. We were also provided with a wood order to match, along with pre-cut lengths whenever possible. This ...

Understanding how firewood burns, the technical details Stage 1: The evaporation of moisture – otherwise known as “getting the d@mn thing going” If you’ve ever tried to burn wet or unseasoned wood in your fireplace you’ll know how very frustrating this stage can be. Gathering crumpled paper, kindling, an armful of smal...