[Greenbuilding] Fireplace options

[RT]

On Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:27:21 -0400, Erin Rasmussen <erin at trmiles.com>  
wrote:

> EPA certified inserts or wood stoves is a minimum requirement in some  
> areas.

>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kirsten Flynn

> We would like to reuse the existing masonry, demolishing and
> rebuilding would be way out of this client's budget.


I'd venture that the words "fireplace" and "Greenbuilding" probably  
shouldn't used in the same sentence unless there's a "not" in there  
somewhere.

I'd venture that the best option would be to completely air-seal and  
outsulate all of the masonry associated with the existing  
fireplace/chimney so that it becomes beneficial thermal mass instead of a  
massive thermal bridge and then use the fireplace as a masonry surround  
for an EPA-approved (as a minimum) woodstove + insulated steel chimney  
liner, one with a glass door to enable viewing of the fire without sending  
all of the conditioned interior air up the chimney.

As for fuel options for the urban Californian house, perhaps the firelogs  
that are made out of compressed, reclaimed waste hardwood sawdust might be  
pretty sensible.

The "logs" that are made/sold locally (Ottawa Ontario/Gatineau Quebec) are  
hexagonal in cross-section (so that they stack neatly) about 60 mm (2.5  
inches) in diameter and 275 mm (10.5") long with a 22mm dia void running  
through the core and weigh about 1 kilogram each (ie very dense) and  
considerably easier to handle/store than "real" logs.

(I've heated exclusively with wood every since Second Year university days  
(I did install a furnace in my home when I built it back in '85 but it has  
only been turned on once, to test it after installation/air-balancing) so  
I have no experience with pellet stoves but I can't imagine myself ever  
wanting one.)

Since heat output of a volume of firewood is directly proportional to  
density, as expected the little "eco" logs do burn very hot and of course,  
since they are so dry, burn very cleanly.

(I know these things about the "eco" logs because the manufacturer gave me  
a sample pile to play with years ago. I had a Siberian Husky pup who  
seemed to like gnawing on the "eco" logs, just like she would on a real  
stick.)

-- 
=== * ===
Rob Tom					AOD257
Kanata, Ontario, Canada

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