Everyone likes an open fire but burning logs in a grate is very inefficient. Open fires use air from the room, which is replaced by cold air from outside, so they create draughts.

Whereas open fires are only about 25% efficient, modern wood-burning stoves can run at over 80%. So if you burn logs in a stove instead of on a fire you benefit from at least three times the amount of heat. You may also be able to use the top of the stove to boil a kettle. Some models even have ovens built in. They’re carbon neutral. When wood burns it releases carbon dioxide but the amount given off is the same as tree was storing when it was growing and if the tree were left to rot it would produce the same amount of carbon emissions as are released by burning it.

However, new technology makes wood-burning stoves even greener. In a cleanburn or cleanheat system the gases created are circulated back into the stove and burned which increases heat output and reduces emissions. In terms of smoke and ash produced modern wood burners are very efficient. Even used daily, a stove should not need cleaning out more than every few weeks.

Modern stoves can burn just wood, they can be multi-fuel, or pellet burning - small pieces of compressed sawdust. Most people burn logs or scrap wood. You would be amazed how much wood people throw away. You can even pick up untreated wood pallets from a local merchants whose alternative is to pay to have them taken  away. As long as wood is not painted or treated most is ideal for heating your house and these days kiln dried logs are widely available. Eco Fires hold good stocks of kiln dried logs.

Photograph courtesy of Charnwood Stoves. You can view their complete range of eco-friendly stoves by clicking on the above link.