| With gas and oil prices rising, consumers, | | | | used the same way as wood pellets. Either or |
| particularly in cold winter climates, are | | | | both can be found at a variety of outlets |
| looking at a variety of alternative fuels for | | | | including nurseries, garden suppliers, and |
| home heating. Wood, a traditional fuel, is | | | | fireplace and stove dealerships. Shop around |
| regaining popularity while more modern | | | | to compare prices and other information on |
| alternatives, such as wood and corn pellets | | | | wood and corn pellets.Some homeowners are |
| and waste oil, are more routinely used.Wood | | | | substituting Waste oil for number 2 fuel oil |
| has been used since the beginning of time as | | | | in specially designed furnaces; others are |
| a source of heat. The fuel was brought inside | | | | successfully converting their conventional |
| to heat shelters centuries ago; open fires in | | | | furnaces for its use. Waste oil is actually |
| fireplaces were replaced in the eighteenth | | | | used vegetable oil collected from restaurants |
| century by self-contained stoves, which are | | | | and filtered before use. Biodiesel is a |
| still in use today in a number of designs. | | | | manufactured oil consisting of a mixture of |
| Franklin stoves and pot-bellied stoves, | | | | fuel oil and oil manufactured from vegetable |
| popular for generations, have been augmented | | | | sources; B20 is 20 percent vegetable-based |
| by efficient Scandinavian designs like Jotul | | | | oil and 80 percent conventional diesel oil; |
| stoves. In recent years wood furnaces, | | | | B100 is all vegetable oil. B20 is more |
| designed to burn longer than stoves without | | | | readily available and can be used in |
| refeeding, have upped the efficiency of wood | | | | conventional oil furnaces without adaptation; |
| burning tremendously.The type of wood burned | | | | B100 requires some adaptations (for instance, |
| varies in different regions based on | | | | natural rubber in the furnace will need to be |
| availability, but some practices are | | | | replaced with manmade substances, as the |
| standard: the wood burned is generally | | | | vegetable oil degrades rubber over time). One |
| hardwood rather than softwood; wood is aged | | | | problem with using waste oil is that below |
| (cut and stacked) for at least a year before | | | | certain temperatures it stops flowing; so the |
| burning; and it is well known that the | | | | fuel needs to be kept warm; biodiesel |
| heating energy available for a particular | | | | contains an additive which keeps the oil |
| wood (measured in BTUs, or British Thermal | | | | liquid at low temperatures.Any time fire is |
| Units) is greater for more dense woods than | | | | present in a home, as in a wood stove, |
| for less dense woods, so the heavier the wood | | | | fireplace, or furnace, the fire hazard has to |
| the more energy it will provide as it burns. | | | | be considered and prevented. Additionally, |
| The Iowa State University Forestry Extension | | | | wood burning in particular builds up |
| Service lists a number of woods by weight, | | | | creosote, a sticky, flammable substance which |
| listing Osage Orange at 4792 pounds per cord | | | | coats stovepipes and chimneys and can cause |
| of wood, and Basswood at 1984 pounds per | | | | chimney fires and even burn down a house. |
| cord. To find out what woods are available in | | | | Wood and corn pellets and waste oil are |
| your area and to estimate how many cords of | | | | considered relatively clean-burning, but |
| wood you will need, contact your local | | | | still require attention and |
| Extension Service (sometimes listed under | | | | maintenance.Choosing an alternative fuel can |
| state or county government listings in your | | | | be not only safe and economical, but a good |
| phone book).Wood pellets are manufactured | | | | deal for the environment; many of these fuels |
| from recycled wood waste and are considered a | | | | are produced locally, cutting way down on |
| very safe, clean-burning, and economical | | | | transportation costs, and many of them burn |
| alternative to fuel oil and to traditional | | | | more cleanly than fuel oil, having a more |
| wood burning. Special stove designs have been | | | | positive impact on the environment. Add to |
| created especially to burn wood pellets; | | | | that the fact that relying on alternative |
| inserts are also available to adapt existing | | | | fuels cuts down on reliance on foreign oil, |
| fireplaces and furnaces for this fuel. The | | | | and it becomes clear that opting for one of |
| Pellet Fuels Institute offers a | | | | these fuels is a great idea.Aldene Fredenburg |
| | | | is a freelance writer living in southwestern |
| list of manufacturers of pellet fuel in | | | | New Hampshire. She has written numerous |
| every region of the U.S., along with advice | | | | articles for local and regional newspapers |
| on how to buy and use wood pellets. Corn | | | | and for a number of Internet websites, |
| pellets are manufactured from dried corn and | | | | including Tips and Topics. |