Posts by — northof60girl

As we worry about the cost of heating our homes this winter, a wood burning stove is an increasingly attractive option.  Be prepared to spend money on a high quality product.

Avoid cheap Chinese imports. And householders should know the dangers of trying to install a wood burning stove themselves

As energy companies announce another hike in fuel prices, many will be thinking about cost effective ways to keep warm. Chinese imports combined with DIY installation could prove a lethal combination.

Tristan Johnston, product development engineer at Broseley Fires, said: “it is not worth putting lives at risk by skimping on the cost of installation or buying a stove on an internet auction site that doesn’t meet stringent safety standards.” The company has seen an increasing number of cheap stoves with false safety markings. More alarmingly, many people think they can install the stove themselves or with the help of a friend.”

Why are stoves so popular? There are four main reasons: (more…)

The Department of Energy reported in 2007 that natural gas or propane is still the cheaper form of energy compared with electric. Comparing previous years indicates that the cost of using electricity to power and heat our homes will continue to rise. Using alternative forms of power to generate electricity such as solar panels and wind turbines enables us to get out from under the electric companies high bills, unreliable service, and help protect the environment.

That being said however there are some limitations to the types of appliances that we as off-gridders’ are able to use with just solar or wind power.

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