Wood burning stoves have been given the green thumb print

by Cynthia Taylor

Choosing a wood burning stove installation over any other cast iron burner can save you not only energy costs since burning wood is a cheap and efficient way of not only heating the home, but also to heat water and even to cook!

In almost anything you do, even within the confines of your own four walls there is red tape, regulations that need to be complied with and documents that need to be signed. Installing a burner is no different and stems from the fact that the emissions from solid fuels, with the exception of wood, are hazardous to the environment.

These regulations are different for each country and in New Zealand for example it is unlawful to use a burner that is older than 15 years. In the UK you have what are called smokeless zones, where you are not allowed to have a working chimney. These are usually in areas that already have large amounts of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. The United States also has their various regulations so be sure to check on the regulations in your county.

Wood on the other hand does not produce these dangerous carbon emissions; in fact it has been given the green light for its environmental friendliness. In the UK, the government has even gone so far as to make a sponsorship towards the costs of a wood burning stove installation. Wood burners can replace the use of gas in central heating systems to a certain extent.

So who said that style had to come at a price? The installation of the wood burner along with its sheer mass and its ornate charm immediately makes the stove a feature, and who could miss it! Wood burning stoves have always been designed to look good and have many decorative features despite being constructed of bulky cast iron. This is the place where style, durability and environmental consideration meet.