Welcome to The Wood Heat Organization Inc.

A reader's comment by email:
October 10, 2009
I helped my Dad with the wood, and now, as an adult, have my sons and wife help me with our winter heating fuel of choice. I have never lived in (other than the Army) or owned a home not heated by wood, and I don't envy those who have gas, oil, or coal, even if it easier. I enjoy my time cutting and splitting our wood supply. I truck it with a restored 1963 International 1 ton 4 x 4, and skid most firewood with our 1942 Farmall M. Keep on telling people the benefits of not being dependent on foreign oil! Good job! (By the way, I am a Forest Management major).
Frank
More reader's comments.

Welcome to the home of the Wood Heat Organization Inc., a nonprofit, nongovernmental agency dedicated to the responsible use of wood as a home heating fuel.

We start from the premise that heating a house with wood, partly or totally, is environmentally appropriate (conditionally) and economically beneficial. That doing it is physically healthful, and that experiencing it is comforting to the body and soothing to the spirit. Big claims for a heating fuel.

Like any other human endeavor, wood heating can be done badly or well. Firewood can be harvested poorly, burned dirty and its heat wasted. The harmful behavior of those who burn wood badly has led to continual attacks in the media on the whole idea residential wood heating. The increasing public backlash and government response to wood smoke, particularly in urban areas, is of such concern to us here at woodheat.org that we created a new site called The Woodpile to serve as a place to discuss the future of wood heating. Please visit The Woodpile and give your views on the state of wood heating today.

While some users give wood heating a bad name, there are hundreds of thousands of responsible homeowners who burn wood well. By that we mean their firewood is harvested sustainably, it is burned cleanly and efficiently, and its energy is used to reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. Here, you will find support for your efforts to use wood well. We'll also clear up some misconceptions about wood heating – there are a lot of them around. At woodheat.org, you'll get a balanced view of the merits of wood heating.

Whatever energy source you choose, its use will have an impact on the environment. The best energy sources are renewable and the best of those are solar power and wind power because their environmental impacts tend to be low. As good as they are, though, they do have their problems and limitations. Wood is another renewable energy source with its own problems and limitations, some of which can be managed and minimized, others of which cannot. But when it is used effectively, wood is a fine fuel compared to all the other options we have available.

We hope you learn something useful and enjoy your visit.

More about woodheat.org

To woodheat.org
and The Woodpile