Put That Fire Out!

[Pappa]

Many people choose to use wood burners for environmental reasons. As long as the wood is sourced sustainably, the net carbon released is only that connected to the processing, transportation and distribution of the wood, and there are supplies that offset that too. I think the choice between the risk to human health and the risk posed by global warming is then a matter of personal taste, as the specific risks can't be easily quantified.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There's something primordial about a wood fire. There are always one or two people at our campfires who spend the whole time staring at the fire. I suspect these are the folks who don't see wood burning much. Their sterile world doesn't have room for ashes.

[Warren Dew]

Many people choose to use wood burners for environmental reasons. As long as the wood is sourced sustainably, the net carbon released is only that connected to the processing, transportation and distribution of the wood, and there are supplies that offset that too. I think the choice between the risk to human health and the risk posed by global warming is then a matter of personal taste, as the specific risks can't be easily quantified.

The natural course for wood is for some it to be sequestered into coal. Burning it prevents that, putting the CO2 into the atmosphere instead.

In addition, albedo effects of particulates are a bigger effect on arctic ice loss than are greenhouse gases.

[MiM]

Many people choose to use wood burners for environmental reasons. As long as the wood is sourced sustainably, the net carbon released is only that connected to the processing, transportation and distribution of the wood, and there are supplies that offset that too. I think the choice between the risk to human health and the risk posed by global warming is then a matter of personal taste, as the specific risks can't be easily quantified.

This requires high efficiency burners so that the heat does not "go up the chimney". Those also produce much less particles or harmful chemical compounds. I understood Harris' article to be about recreational burning, that open fireplace in the corner of the living room does nor utilize the heat efficiently, neither does it burn cleanly. So your argument is somewhat beside the point.

[Pappa]

The natural course for wood is for some it to be sequestered into coal.

Not really. Coal comes from the great forests of the Carboniferous. Most of our forests won't become coal.

Burning it prevents that, putting the CO2 into the atmosphere instead.

The CO2 released into the atmosphere doesn't add to the total CO2 released by us if the trees cut down are replaced by enough new trees to offset the carbon released.

[Pappa]

Many people choose to use wood burners for environmental reasons. As long as the wood is sourced sustainably, the net carbon released is only that connected to the processing, transportation and distribution of the wood, and there are supplies that offset that too. I think the choice between the risk to human health and the risk posed by global warming is then a matter of personal taste, as the specific risks can't be easily quantified.

This requires high efficiency burners so that the heat does not "go up the chimney". Those also produce much less particles or harmful chemical compounds. I understood Harris' article to be about recreational burning, that open fireplace in the corner of the living room does nor utilize the heat efficiently, neither does it burn cleanly. So your argument is somewhat beside the point.

I don't think it's beside the point. I'm suggesting that for some people the environmental reasons may be more important than the heath reasons. There's no obvious right or wrong there.

[Azathoth]

There's something primordial about a wood fire. There are always one or two people at our campfires who spend the whole time staring at the fire. I suspect these are the folks who don't see wood burning much. Their sterile world doesn't have room for ashes. want to set fire to the world

Cleanse it all with FIRE

[MiM]

Many people choose to use wood burners for environmental reasons. As long as the wood is sourced sustainably, the net carbon released is only that connected to the processing, transportation and distribution of the wood, and there are supplies that offset that too. I think the choice between the risk to human health and the risk posed by global warming is then a matter of personal taste, as the specific risks can't be easily quantified.

This requires high efficiency burners so that the heat does not "go up the chimney". Those also produce much less particles or harmful chemical compounds. I understood Harris' article to be about recreational burning, that open fireplace in the corner of the living room does nor utilize the heat efficiently, neither does it burn cleanly. So your argument is somewhat beside the point.

I don't think it's beside the point. I'm suggesting that for some people the environmental reasons may be more important than the heath reasons. There's no obvious right or wrong there.

There will be no environmental benefits, if you burn wood in an open fireplace, because you have to burn so much wood,to get the heat you need, that any benefits are outweighed by the sheer wastefulness.

[Warren Dew]

There will be no environmental benefits, if you burn wood in an open fireplace, because you have to burn so much wood,to get the heat you need, that any benefits are outweighed by the sheer wastefulness.

A regular fireplace fire actually increases heating expenditures in a normal home, because it draws in room temperature air and sends it up the chimney, to be replaced by frigid outside air that then gets warmed by the heating system.

[Warren Dew]

Most of our forests won't become coal.

... because we'll cut them down and burn them.

[Pappa]

Most of our forests won't become coal.

... because we'll cut them down and burn them.

No, we don't have the right global conditions required for forests that later become coal and we haven't for a long time before humans came along.

[MiM]

Most of our forests won't become coal.

... because we'll cut them down and burn them.

No, Pappa is right here. Forest on dry land will never make any significant amount of coal. Peaty bogs is another story, but they are not the best growing ground for trees.

[Svartalf]

Convinced me that I should carry on using electric heating powered by the local coal fired power station.

My power is nuclear, and I am not bothered to draw on it... for as long as the damn greenies will let us have it.

[Svartalf]

But I like the smell of smoke.

and I like smoked meats, I know I'm taking carcinogens in when I indulge... but at least, that only affects me, not the neighbors.

[Svartalf]

Where the fuck is the heat supposed to come from? ANYTHING we do will pollute.

We gather in large naked groups and use animal heat to keep ourselves warm under thick blankets in well insulated houses