Comments on: Shedding a Load of Gas http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2008/04/29/shedding-a-load-of-gas/ Your Earth, Your Home ~ in South Africa Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:58:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: boroughs http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2008/04/29/shedding-a-load-of-gas/comment-page-1/#comment-14633 boroughs Thu, 08 May 2008 14:39:04 +0000 http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2008/04/29/shedding-a-load-of-gas/#comment-14633 Before someone writes to correct me, let me correct myself. Jetmaster has recently begun manufacturing locally-made stove that use the same technologies employed by the European stove companies. They have not been as rigorously tested for emissions as the imports, but after a long conversation with the head of R&D at Jetmaster, I am convinced that they are roughly in the same league. They are also much less expensive. One reason is that they are made from mild steel instead of cast iron. Jetmaster is convinced that they will last just as long, but since these are new products, it's hard to be sure. Another company, Heatwave, also manufactures a closed-combustion stove in South Africa, under the brand name Bogen. I know nothing about this product at present. Before someone writes to correct me, let me correct myself. Jetmaster has recently begun manufacturing locally-made stove that use the same technologies employed by the European stove companies. They have not been as rigorously tested for emissions as the imports, but after a long conversation with the head of R&D at Jetmaster, I am convinced that they are roughly in the same league. They are also much less expensive. One reason is that they are made from mild steel instead of cast iron. Jetmaster is convinced that they will last just as long, but since these are new products, it’s hard to be sure. Another company, Heatwave, also manufactures a closed-combustion stove in South Africa, under the brand name Bogen. I know nothing about this product at present.

]]> By: boroughs http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2008/04/29/shedding-a-load-of-gas/comment-page-1/#comment-14463 boroughs Wed, 07 May 2008 08:32:11 +0000 http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2008/04/29/shedding-a-load-of-gas/#comment-14463 I would have to disagree, much as I like Ben Franklin. Any closed wood stove is more efficient than an open fireplace, but there is a big difference between an old-fashioned wood stove and modern wood stoves. According to www.woodheat.org: <strong>Smoke (particulate) emissions from older conventional wood stoves average at least 25 grams per hour of operation . . . In contrast the EPA regulation limits emissions of certified wood stoves to no more than 7.5 g/h. However, since the regulation was first established in 1988, the average emissions of certified stoves has declined steadily due to advances in technology and competition among manufacturers. Today, most current wood stove models emit only 2 to 4 g/h. </strong> For example, much of the energy in wood is released in the form of gases, which normally go up the flue unburned as pollution. The modern stoves inject hot air at the top of the box, which causes the gases to combust. Ben Franklin missed that one. Sadly, there are no South African-made stoves that incorporate these technologies. (I would be happy to be proven wrong on this one.) If you live in a rural area where air pollution is not an issue and have an ample supply of wood, any old stove is fine. In the cities and suburbs, however, we owe it to our neighbours to use the latest clean technology. I would have to disagree, much as I like Ben Franklin. Any closed wood stove is more efficient than an open fireplace, but there is a big difference between an old-fashioned wood stove and modern wood stoves. According to http://www.woodheat.org:

Smoke (particulate) emissions from older conventional wood stoves average at least 25 grams per hour of operation . . . In contrast the EPA regulation limits emissions of certified wood stoves to no more than 7.5 g/h. However, since the regulation was first established in 1988, the average emissions of certified stoves has declined steadily due to advances in technology and competition among manufacturers. Today, most current wood stove models emit only 2 to 4 g/h.

For example, much of the energy in wood is released in the form of gases, which normally go up the flue unburned as pollution. The modern stoves inject hot air at the top of the box, which causes the gases to combust. Ben Franklin missed that one.

Sadly, there are no South African-made stoves that incorporate these technologies. (I would be happy to be proven wrong on this one.)

If you live in a rural area where air pollution is not an issue and have an ample supply of wood, any old stove is fine. In the cities and suburbs, however, we owe it to our neighbours to use the latest clean technology.

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