Biomass Boilers - Traditional, Eco-friendly and Here By Tal Potishman At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

If you ask the public what is the most popular renewable energy technology, you are likely to hear solar panels and wind turbines. These technologies probably have the highest profile within the much hyped green energy sector. Solar panels and wind turbines have good credentials and should be viewed as true alternative technologies nevertheless. Still, most people forget a much simpler and humbler technology that has been around for many centuries. Wood burning stoves are not only effective and proven, but are also categorized as green, which makes them attractive yet again.

In order to fairly evaluate biomass boilers, it is important to explain how they work. Biomass boilers are a recall of a simple heating generation technique used for centuries. Biomass boilers burn wood, which is an organic fuel (hence the bio-fuel label), rather than burning fossil fuels that come from the ground (oil, gas, coal). The boilers burn untreated wood (such as logs, wood chips) and treated wood (most common being wood pallets).

From the types of wood used by biomass boilers the most effective and 'user-friendly' is the wood pallets fuel. Wood pallets are actually sawdust, which is compressed under high pressure into small pallets (roughly 5 cm in length). During the compression, the saw dust loses its moisture, making the pallets very dry and highly potent in terms of output to weight ratio. This ensures full burning performance and low residue on the burners.

Because the boilers burn wood they are considered to be CO2 neutral. When fossil fuels are burned to generate energy and heat, they release CO2 that was trapped under the ground. This gas is widely accepted as one of the main drivers of global warming and climate change. In contrast, when we burn wood, we only release CO2 that the plant has captured during its lifetime, thus not adding more of the harmful gas into the general equilibrium.

Before going ahead and purchasing a biomass boiler, there are several points you should consider:

* Local supply of wood - do you have a local sawmill or joinery workshop that can provide a steady supply of wood chips, or even wood pallets.

* Space consideration - unlike modern gas and oil boilers, a biomass boiler is larger in size and requires a large area nearby to store the wood. It is wise to plan for this space in advance.

* Chimney - biomass boilers require chimneys. And more specifically, chimneys that are lined for wood burning. However, it is a problem that can be solved by adding a lined flue within the chimney.

* Smoke limitations - if your house is located in a 'Smoke-Free' zone you may have to look for a specially labeled product which is 'exempted' under the Clean Air Act.

* Other considerations - It is wise to check with your local authority's planning department regarding fitting a flue in the property. This is very important in cases where the property is a listed building, or within a conservation area.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=303994&ca=Home+Management

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.