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Slow-burning wood stoves: The most ecological choice

These days, it is essential to opt for ecological choices when it comes to heating. Low greenhouse gas emissions improve air quality and help preserve our natural resources.

Slow combustion stoves have many ecological advantages, provided they are EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) certified.

Find out in this article why choosing a wood stove with a long combustion time is the best choice for a healthier environment!

Slow combustion stove: what are the advantages for the environment?

Slow combustion stoves help reduce air pollution by burning wood more efficiently, emitting fewer pollutants and fine particles. These high energy efficiency stoves limit deforestation and the carbon footprint. Benefits that contribute to the preservation of the environment and ideal air quality for all.

What is the difference between slow combustion stoves and traditional wood stoves?

Stoves with optimal energy efficiency

Slow combustion stoves are known for their ability to burn wood more efficiently and completely than traditional wood stoves. They maintain precise control of the air supply, promoting high temperature combustion.

As wood burns cleaner, it releases less CO2 and air pollutants. They therefore help to minimize the environmental impact, while maximizing their energy efficiency.

Traditional open fireplaces are energy inefficient because they pollute the atmosphere and are potentially harmful to health. This type of system draws a high flow of air through the chimney, thus evacuating a large part of the heat from combustion, without heating the building.

Furthermore, a traditional fireplace can generate up to 42 grams of fine particles per kilo per hour, making it the most polluting wood heating system!

Reduced wood consumption

In addition, an energy-efficient wood stove reduces wood consumption thanks to its combustion efficiency. Its ability to extract more heat from each log means that less wood is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature, compared to traditional heating systems which are less efficient. More ecology and more savings!

Slow-burning stoves: the advantage of wood as a fuel source

In addition to allowing you to heat your home even in the event of a power outage , using wood as a renewable fuel is an ideal choice due to its sustainability. Responsible logging and reforestation practices help keep our forests healthy. Avoiding excessive deforestation is therefore crucial to balancing the carbon cycle. On the other hand, it is essential to choose wood from sustainable sources. A word of advice: get FSC-certified wood or other eco-responsible certifications.

The carbon life cycle and environmental impact

The carbon life cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that is equivalent to the entire of carbon exchanges on the planet. This cycle is essential for assessing the carbon footprint of a stove or wood fireplace. Indeed, wood is one of the only energies that could almost be described as carbon neutral.

Why that? Because during its life, a tree absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide. When wood burns, the carbon absorbed by the tree is released into the atmosphere. In other words, when burning, wood releases carbon dioxide, but it does not add any to the atmosphere: we are therefore talking about biogenic carbon and not fossil carbon!

How to assess the carbon life cycle?

This involves collecting data at every stage of the process, from extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, use and disposal of the product. This data is then used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, which makes it possible to measure the total carbon footprint.

Need advice on choosing a slow combustion wood stove?

For expert advice on the best heating method for your home, contact the specialists at Foyer Gaz. They will be happy to help you make the best choice for a heating system that is both efficient and environmentally friendly!

 

Sources :
ÉCO HABITATION. Foyer ou poêle à bois homologuée EPA. [EPA approved fireplace or wood stove]. 2012.
RENOQUOTES. How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Fireplace. 2023.
HEERO. Bilan carbone d’un chauffage au bois : quelles émissions de CO2 pour la biomasse ? [Carbon footprint of wood heating: what CO2 emissions for biomass?]. 2023.