I came across an interesting article via the Futurebuild newsletter regarding wood burning stoves and their costs to run when compared to a boiler or heat pump, but for me the thing that also caught my eye was the findings on their environmental impact. Although the report is not conclusive in this respect, it does show that when considering cost, environmental impact, and pollution the better option for heating a house would generally be an ASHP.
We took the decision to replace our gas boiler with an air source heat pump 18 months ago, largely due to the rising cost of gas and that we also had a solar PV system generating electricity which the heat pump would use. (more on this in another blog)
We also had a small wood burning stove installed, a Chesney Shoreditch 4, a few years ago when we renovated and extended our bungalow. However, last year, after reading various environmental impact information regarding the air pollution that wood burning stoves produce, we decided to stop using the stove and gave away what remaining kiln dried logs we had. Not an easy decision in terms of how we used to like the effect of a nice wood fire in living room on a cold winter’s day, particularly as its staring to get to the point in the year when it would ave been lit. That said, our heat pump can produce more than enough heat without any associated pollution, so it does beg the question, why did we put it in anyway? Its maybe one of situations where just because one can, doesn’t mean to say that one should.
The full report can be accessed here:
