Firewood consumption

[Lightspeed]

Our highland house is approx. 100 sq metres of living space and we heat it with a wood burning stove, which is also used for coking.

The test we have done was based almost entirely of burning compressed wooden bricks that weigh around 1kg each.

Normally we burn fuel for 3 or 4 hours a day which results in average indoor temperatures of 18C to 21C which we find comfortable.

For the last few weeks an illness in the family has meant that we've needed to increase the indoor temperature somewhat, so we have been burning for far longer each day.

RESULTS
All results using 1kg compressed sawdust bricks. The results are not tolly comparable as from time to time faster and hotter burning pine is added when a burst of heat is needed while cooking. But the amount of additional fuel consumed is minimal, say 1/2 basket over 3 days.

Subsistence mode: 1.5hrs per day consuming approx. 3kg
(house cold, 11 to 18C heavy clothing and hats needed indoors to keep warm)

Normal Mode: 4 hrs per day consuming approx. 6Kg
(House warm/cool, 18 to 21C light jumpers needed to stay warm)

Hot Mode: 14hrs per day consuming 10kg
(House hot 25 to 31C only t-shirts needed)

I'm pretty happy with the efficiency we're getting as it kind of reflects on the energy conservation measures we've installed. The data is very helpful in estimating our fuel stocks in various living scenarios.

I'd be interested to hear how others who are heating and cooking with wood compare?