| In the last few years it became impossible to get | | | | they release CO2 as part of their natural chemical |
| away from the hype about green technologies | | | | reaction. This gas was captured within the fuel for |
| versus fossil fuel technologies. Solar panels, solar | | | | millions of years in underground deposits. By |
| thermal and wind turbines have ruled the headlines | | | | burning it now, we release this gas into the |
| with major projects undertaken around the world. | | | | atmosphere. Biomass boilers are considered to be |
| However, let us not forget the humble wood | | | | carbon neutral heating technologies, because they |
| burning stove. Although not as flashy as a | | | | only release CO2 that was captured by the plant |
| gleaming white wind turbine rotating at a steady | | | | during its growth years, thus not bringing new |
| speed over a green hill or a high-tech solar | | | | CO2 into the global equation. |
| photovoltaic cell generating electricity out of simple | | | | Here are some pointers on what to check before |
| sun light, the wood burning stove has some | | | | installing a biomass boiler: |
| important benefits to bring to the table. | | | | * Local supply of wood - do you have a local |
| First let's understand how it works. Biomass | | | | sawmill or joinery workshop that can provide a |
| means that the energy is produced from organic | | | | steady supply of wood chips, or even wood |
| sources (bio-energy). The energy is released | | | | pallets. |
| when organic sources (wood in this case) are | | | | * Space and location - biomass boilers have larger |
| burned, in the same way as mankind was doing | | | | footprint than a typical boiler and require further |
| for centuries. The fuel used in biomass boilers is | | | | space to store the wood. It is essential to |
| either untreated wood or treated wood. Most | | | | calculate the amount of space that would be |
| common fuels are logs, wood chips and wood | | | | available for wood storage next to the boiler |
| pallets. | | | | * Chimney - biomass boilers require chimneys. |
| Wood pallets are the most efficient of the wood | | | | And more specifically, chimneys that are lined for |
| fuel types. They are made from sawdust which is | | | | wood burning. However, it is a problem that can |
| compressed at high pressure into small pallets | | | | be solved by adding a lined flue within the |
| (roughly the size of AAA batteries). They are | | | | chimney. |
| made from by-products of local carpentries, | | | | * Smoke limitations - if your house is located in a |
| joinery workshops and sawmills. The high pressure | | | | 'Smoke-Free' zone you may have to look for a |
| compression removes moisture and increases | | | | specially labeled product which is 'exempted' under |
| their output to weight ratio, meaning you need | | | | the Clean Air Act. |
| less fuel to get the same amount of heat. | | | | * Other considerations - It is wise to check with |
| Another benefit is that they don't leave as much | | | | your local authority's planning department |
| residue on the burner due to full burning reaction. | | | | regarding fitting a flue in the property. This is very |
| Fossil fuels are normally associated with global | | | | important in cases where the property is a listed |
| warming and climate change. When fossil fuels are | | | | building, or within a conservation area. |
| burned (e.g. natural gas in your domestic boiler), | | | | |