3 ms·

Wood specifically is like 50% carbon by weight, no?

by dmoy 10y ago

daurnimator 10y ago
That would imply 50% non-carbon.
- DougWebb 10y ago
  Most of that is probably water.
TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
Long-term exposure to burning wood for heating and cooking can cause heart and lung disease.[1] The main air pollutants in wood smoke are particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and a range of other organic compounds like formaldehyde, benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.[1][2] Using reverse-cycle refrigerant heating (or 'heat pumps') is probably the least worst polluting method of heating. Modern heat pumps can generate (well, move) four times more heat energy than used to drive the pump[3], with the added benefit of moving the source of pollution away from populated areas, or being carbon neutral via window, solar, hydro, geothermal. 1. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/wood-smoke.aspx http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/wo... 2. https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/wood-heater-particle-emissions-and-operating-efficiency-standards https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/wood-heater-particle... 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump#Performance_Considerations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump#Performance_Consider...
- theoh 10y ago
  Aarg, sorry for downvote. Finger slipped. I think you're right about the cleanness of heat pump systems. Unfortunately they do not have the libertarian freedom flavour of a wood fire.
- Retric 10y ago
  Heat pumps only really work well when they have access to fairly warm temperatures. They are kind of worthless in the far north and direct fuel use is significantly more efficient. If you burn coal for power at 40% efficiency and run a heat pump at 400% efficiency that's only 1.6x heat gain ignoring transportation losses. Drop that heat pump down to 150% efficiency and heating oil can become a better option. In most areas using solar thermal heaters with backup resistance heating is actually the best overall option. But, in most of Alaska heating oil is much more viable.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
    Very good points, yes I hadn't thought about much colder areas. I'm at 41 degrees south where heat pumps still work okay.

Wood specifically is like 50% carbon by weight, no?

by dmoy 10y ago

Wood specifically is like 50% carbon by weight, no?

daurnimator 10y ago

That would imply 50% non-carbon.

DougWebb 10y ago
Most of that is probably water.

TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago

Long-term exposure to burning wood for heating and cooking can cause heart and lung disease.[1] The main air pollutants in wood smoke are particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and a range of other organic compounds like formaldehyde, benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.[1][2] Using reverse-cycle refrigerant heating (or 'heat pumps') is probably the least worst polluting method of heating. Modern heat pumps can generate (well, move) four times more heat energy than used to drive the pump[3], with the added benefit of moving the source of pollution away from populated areas, or being carbon neutral via window, solar, hydro, geothermal. 1. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/wood-smoke.aspx http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/wo... 2. https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/wood-heater-particle-emissions-and-operating-efficiency-standards https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/wood-heater-particle... 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump#Performance_Considerations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump#Performance_Consider...

theoh 10y ago
Aarg, sorry for downvote. Finger slipped. I think you're right about the cleanness of heat pump systems. Unfortunately they do not have the libertarian freedom flavour of a wood fire.
Retric 10y ago
Heat pumps only really work well when they have access to fairly warm temperatures. They are kind of worthless in the far north and direct fuel use is significantly more efficient. If you burn coal for power at 40% efficiency and run a heat pump at 400% efficiency that's only 1.6x heat gain ignoring transportation losses. Drop that heat pump down to 150% efficiency and heating oil can become a better option. In most areas using solar thermal heaters with backup resistance heating is actually the best overall option. But, in most of Alaska heating oil is much more viable.
- TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
  Very good points, yes I hadn't thought about much colder areas. I'm at 41 degrees south where heat pumps still work okay.