Warmth From Wood - Cumbria Woodlands

Transcript

A guide to using wood for fuel Warmth from wood  here is a growing need to T become more self-sufficient in the way we produce energy and fuel. Cumbria has rich supplies of wood – a natural fuel. It makes sense to take advantage of it. 2 Wood burning in Cumbria There has never been a better time to discover the benefits of burning wood for heat. Modern wood burning stoves and boilers offer an affordable and attractive way to heat your home, office or business and, as wood is a renewable source of energy, you are doing your bit towards fighting climate change and helping woodlands across Cumbria to thrive and adapt into the future. Burning wood grown and harvested in Cumbria has huge benefits. Cutting down trees may not seem like the most sensible way to create thriving woodlands but doing just this manages the woodlands, allowing younger trees to be planted and existing trees and habitats to be looked after. The latest research into climate change suggests that the best way to protect the forests we have is to manage them, so there is a diverse range of species and ages. Less than half of Cumbria’s woodlands are managed, the rest are fallow. Burning wood creates a much larger market for woodland owners to sell their trees and timber and in turn manage more woodlands. 3 A renewable energy source We are using too much energy, especially non-renewable fossil fuels like gas, coal and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change, and are often sourced from politically volatile countries. We are already seeing fuel scarcity in many parts of the world as fossil fuel resources dwindle. This is leading to rising fuel costs and a growing need to become more self-sufficient in the way we produce energy and fuel. This not only protects habitats and our wonderful landscape, it also means that any carbon dioxide released when wood is burnt is captured by the next generation of trees as they grow. This process is described as ‘carbon lean’ as the growing and burning of the wood is in balance, releasing and then capturing the carbon as the woods grow, but a small amount of fossil fuel is used to harvest and transport timber. Forests and woodlands can help the people of Cumbria to become more self-sufficient in energy production and help tackle the threat of climate change at the same time. The woodlands of Cumbria are protected by laws which ensure that when trees are felled they are replanted. So, when you buy logs or wood chips from Cumbria you can be sure that the woodlands will grow again. Wood can be a more affordable heating option than oil, electricity or LPG. Recent increases in energy prices make wood even more attractive. 4 In this booklet This booklet provides all the information you need to make informed choices about burning wood. The case studies illustrate a range of options for domestic wood fuel to help you decide which is the best for you. Log stoves and boilers are the cheapest but require the most work, having to be fed manually. Chip systems can be automated and work well for larger houses, although installation costs tend to be higher than for either logs or pellets. Pellet stoves work well, can easily be automated and take up less space, but as pellets are not yet produced in Cumbria, this could be an expensive and less environmentally sound option. The reference section outlines all the details you may need to know – from the types of fuel available and where to buy wood to the legal considerations you need to be aware of. 5 Morso Swan Stove Space Heater Wood burning stove Living a lower carbon lifestyle and tapping into renewable resources were the main reasons why Sara, Neville and Finn decided on a wood burning stove. Since installing it in 2002, it has become the centrepiece of the room. They had previously looked at a number of stoves and had spoken to staff in shops for advice. As it was to take pride of place in the living room the look of the stove was key and the Morso Swan space heater, with its multi fuel grate and Swedish design, was chosen primarily because of its aesthetics. Although a multi fuel device, they have decided to burn only wood. “We used hardwood at first but softwood has since become easier and cheaper to source. The only thing is that you need to make sure the wood is well seasoned, and also don’t be afraid to burn conifer.” Sara and Neville buy local timber, which they store at the house before preparing and burning it. “There is a bit of work preparing the fuel,” Neville said, “but that’s all part of the enjoyment. We would certainly recommend a wood burner and are currently looking into other wood based heating options, such as a range.” The Morso Swan Stove has two sliding drafts to manually control air flow. A stove pipe thermometer has been added to ensure it burns with plenty of air to get the stove hot and maximise its efficiency. This also reduces the amount of soot and tar build up in the stove. The owners are incredibly happy with their Morso Swan Stove: “We rarely use the radiator in the living room now and normally the door to the living room is left open so the heat can circulate in the hall and bedrooms.” 6 Image: Sara and Finn enjoy the fireside glow “We would definitely do it again and it’s better to watch than the TV.” House type : V  ictorian mid terrace of sandstone construction. Location : Cockermouth Floors : Three Receptions : Two Bedrooms : Four* Windows : Ten** Radiators : Nine Insulation : No insulation in the walls, though the loft space has 12” of rockwool and the living room has under floor insulation. * One of which is an attic room. ** Three are double glazed, the rest are draughty sash windows. There are also three Velux windows and two exterior doors. The details Name of boiler Morso Swan Space Heater Fuel type Wood Cost of unit/installation  he stove and flue pipe T totalled £800 (installation was undertaken by the owners at minimal additional cost) Heat output 7 kWh Fuel usage per week 0.3 cubic metres Fuel usage per year 5 cubic metres of seasoned softwood per year Cost of fuel per year £225, depending on wood used 7 Charnwood SLX45 Woodburning stove with backboiler linked to solar thermal Night storage heaters and an open fire originally heated Mealohill Cottage, but in 2002 conventional central heating with radiators plus an oil boiler and hot water tank were installed. The owners, Graeme and Sarah, then decided to remove the open fire and replace it with a stove that could link to the existing oil boiler. Deciding on which stove to settle for proved to be quite a lengthy task, the main reason being the fact that many other stove owners and suppliers were not in the same situation. “We spoke to people that had room heaters without back boilers so it was a bit hit and miss,” Graeme explained. “Mostly we relied on searching the Internet. In fact, the only advice for linking both the solid fuel boiler and the oil boiler was obtained from the Internet. The Solid Fuel Association produces a leaflet called ‘Link Up’ which was also very helpful.” Graeme and Sarah were attracted to the Charnwood stove because of its output, which turned out to be greater than they needed for their heat requirement. Its adjustable multi fuel grate and contemporary design also swung it and its adjustable draft is thermostatically controlled via a bimetallic strip – simple to use but effective. The owners are in the fortunate position of being able to source logs very cheaply, only having to pay for the cost of converting and transporting them. They use a mixture of hardwood and softwood and leave it to season, usually for eight to twelve months, before use. Occasionally they burn anthracite alongside the wood. “There is quite a lot of manual work, but at the moment we are happy to do that,” acknowledged Graeme. In order to link the solid fuel boiler with the oil boiler, the owners bought an electronically controlled link up called an H2 Panel. The panel allows independent and combined working of the boilers, sending pre-heated water to the oil boiler when the room or hot water is not up to temperature, and the ability to switch off the boiler when satisfactory temperatures are reached. Though the Charnwood stove hasn’t completely replaced the oil boiler, the owners are happy with its performance. “In the winter, we have the oil boiler timed to come on for an hour in the morning and an hour early evening. The remainder of the time, the stove takes over.” In 2008, the Mealohill Cottage roof had solar panels fitted to provide hot water during the summer months. “On the rare occasions that we had sunshine in 2008,” Graeme laughed, “the panel seemed to work. However, I think we will reserve judgement for another year.” “We linked our stove to a boiler and fitted solar panels.” Image: Graeme enjoying his Charnwood stove 8 Mealohill Cottage House type : S  emi-detached house of sandstone and cobble construction. Location : Near Wigton, Cumbria Floors : Two Receptions : One: large and open plan Bedrooms : Three Windows : Nine* Radiators : Seven** Insulation : No insulation in walls; two layers of rock wool insulation in the loft space. * Poorly double glazed windows, a back and a front door. ** Installed in 2002. The details Name of boiler Charnwood SLX45 Fuel type Sustainable fuel wood Cost of unit/installation  tove, chimney liner and S installation £2,500; H2 Panel £500; plumbing, wiring and larger hot water tank £1,700 Heat output 12.9 kWh Fuel usage per week 0.25 tonnes during winter months Fuel usage per year 6-7 tonnes, 0.5 tonnes of anthracite Cost of fuel per year Around £660-£800 9 Solid Fuel Rayburn Kevin of Highside Farm, a detached farmhouse near Sedbergh, wanted a range that would provide cooking facilities, domestic hot water and central heating, as well as looking good in the sandstone farmhouse. A range that would use renewable resources was also very important. Kevin looked at Aga first, but found that Rayburn could offer heating, hot water and cooking facilities. Shop staff and a local plumber offered advice as to which of the three units would be best for Highside Farm. A plumber was called in to install a larger capacity water tank and circulation pump. “We were really keen to assist with the plumbing and thankfully the plumber didn’t object,” Kevin said. “It gave us a sound understanding of how everything worked and gave us great confidence in the skill of the plumber and the Rayburn itself. This was extremely important to us.” Though a multi fuel stove, Kevin has decided to burn only wood. “It has proved easier and cheaper to source softwood, which we buy locally and split at the house,” he explained. The Rayburn has a single boiler but a number of variable settings depending on whether you want hot water, heating or to cook – the greater the use for cooking, the greater the amount of hot water produced. The hot water boiler has an adjustable thermostat, whilst for cooking and maintaining the fire there are four main controls: the adjustable draft at the bottom of the fire box, the boiler/cooker damper, a damper on the flue and a diluter on the flue. “It is important to experiment with the Rayburn to find out your optimum settings,” advised Kevin. “This is partly because of variation in fuel type and moisture content, but also because of the difference in draw on windy or still days. It took us a little while to get used to cooking on the Rayburn because of our windy location, but we enjoyed the learning experience.” It is also useful to get some advice about the number of radiators the unit can run. “We think that more than five radiators would stretch the Rayburn, but in all honesty, our house is poorly insulated and can be very draughty,” Kevin said. Nevertheless, they are delighted with their range. “We had the Rayburn installed in 2006 and we’ve never looked back,” Kevin enthused. “Admittedly it takes a bit of work – emptying the ash pan once a week, cleaning round the boiler fins and lower flue to ensure all the heat exchange surfaces work efficiently – but we’re of the mindset that we are using a renewable fuel and that we are saving money. Plus it’s difficult to keep a new born lamb or piglet warm in an electric oven!” “We are using a renewable fuel and we are saving money.” Image of similar stove supplied by www.esse.com 10 Highside Farm House type Location Floors Receptions Bedrooms Windows Radiators Insulation : Detached farmhouse : Near Sedbergh : Two : One : Two : Seven* : Five** : A thin layer of insulation in the roof; no insulation in the walls. * Double glazed windows and two outside doors. ** Four upstairs and one downstairs. The details Name of boiler Rayburn 355SFW Fuel type Sustainable fuel wood Cost of unit/installation Rayburn £3,500; flexible chimney liner £500; plumber, larger capacity hot water tank, circulation pump and all fittings for £1,500 Heat output 16.1 kWh Fuel usage per week 0.5 tonnes Fuel usage per year 20-25 tonnes Cost of fuel per year £1,600 to £2,000 (Kevin is a forester so can source his wood for around £200) 11 Arimax Log Boiler and Accumulator Tank Log batch boiler Lamb Beck Ing, a partially renovated detached stone and cobble farmhouse, is home to a family of four. Before switching to energy provided by an Arimax Log Boiler, the house was heated by open fire, supplemented by gas heaters and the frequent use of an immersion heater. As with all wood fuel boilers, experimenting with it was the best way of getting used to it. “The key is knowing how much fuel to use for a single burn and that you don’t overload it,” the owner, Alasdair, explained. “The routine is to light it, go back forty-five minutes later to throw a lever that diverts the heat over the heat exchangers and then to check it again towards the end of the burn to see if it needs any more logs.” The importance of getting a good supplier cannot be underestimated. “There is a good range of this type of boiler available, mainly Scandinavian like ours,” Alasdair said, “though we had an excellent local plumber who was keen to fit the boiler, the information and diagrams supplied by the importer were taken directly from the Finnish manufacturer’s handbook. Luckily the plumber spotted that we wouldn’t need much of the pipe work and valves to prevent freezing, else we would’ve ordered expensive equipment we didn’t need.” Image left: Batch boiler The owners tend to use a wheelbarrow full of fuel per burn, which works out to be between twenty and twenty-five logs. The fuel is burned quickly for maximum efficiency, the draft is controlled automatically via a thermostat and the heat produced is stored in a heavily insulated accumulator tank. This means that the stored heat can be called upon for radiators and domestic hot water as and when required. Image right: Alasdair splitting hardwood logs for his Arimax log boiler In terms of fuel, the owners buy unconverted hardwood by the lorry load and convert it into split logs themselves – this means they’re saving around £65 per tonne compared to ready converted logs. “We tend to buy partially seasoned timber,” explained Alasdair, “or if we can, leave the timber to season for twelve months before use. The cost of hardwood has risen so much recently that we might consider using seasoned softwood in the future.” Image above: Accumulator tank 12 “Make sure the unit will fit through the door, it avoids having to knock walls down!” Lamb Beck Ing House type : P  artially renovated detached farmhouse of stone and cobble construction. Location : Skelton Floors : Two Rooms : Nine* Windows : Fourteen** Radiators : Eleven Insulation : No insulation in walls of original building; two layers of rock wool insulation in the loft space; extension made of insulated block construction with thermofleece insulation in the roof. * The original building had seven rooms; a recent extension of two rooms has been added. ** Plus three external doors. The details Name of boiler Arimax 35 Fuel type Wood Cost of unit/installation £8,700 to purchase and install Heat output 35 kWh Fuel usage per day In winter, the boiler is lit once a day for a 3-4 hour burn (including accumulator tank) (costing around £2.00) Fuel usage per year 10-12 tonnes Cost of fuel per year £500 13 Veto-Mat Boiler and Stoker Unit Wood chip boiler In 1996, the former kennels at Ashgill were transformed into a new 1,500 sq ft office suite. A couple of years later, the old night storage heaters were replaced with a more efficient way of heating the building and providing hot water – an automated wood chip fed Veto-Mat boiler and stoker unit. “There was very little advice available regarding small boilers at that time,” explained one of the office owners, Graeme. “The Forestry Commission Technical Development Branch were trialling a number of larger units so they could help us out, but we were mainly reliant on suppliers and importers, and a little bit of advice from the Internet.” The office owners needed a unit that was affordable and generated an output of under 50 kWh, and getting hold of one proved problematic. “There were a number of manufacturers that sold log boilers, but we were interested in newer technology. We now know that we should have looked to Scandinavia and Germany where the technology already existed, but the range of equipment available today is far greater and costs have probably come down,” Graeme said. It was decided that burning logs in an office environment would be impractical. The Veto-Mat boiler was chosen on the strength that it was wood chip and pellet fed. When the boiler was first installed there were no suppliers of wood chips specifically for burning. “We tried sourcing our own timber and chipping it ourselves, sometimes we sourced our own timber and someone else to chip it, and occasionally we bought in ‘non wood fuel chips’ meant for equestrian use,” Graeme said. “More recently we have been able to buy in chips that are produced as wood fuel, which does make it easier.” 14 The rate at which chips are fed by the auger into the burner head and the amount of air provided by the fan need to be accurately controlled in order to maximise the efficiency of the unit. To achieve this, a small control panel allows the operator to adjust the pulse length, the duration of time in which the chips are fed into the burner head, and the pause length, the time elapsed between pulses. Once up to operating temperature, the stoker switches over to slumber mode with extended pause lengths. “As a combined unit, this system is more complicated,” Graeme admits, “but the unit has performed pretty well for the last ten years and the only problems we’ve encountered have stemmed from incorrect chip size or high moisture content. We would definitely do it again.” “We would definitely do it again.” Image: Loading the wood chip into the Veto-Mat boiler Ashgill Offices House type Location Floors Windows Radiators Insulation : : : : : :  ffices O Ashgill Two Thirteen* Ten Rockwool insulation in the roof; rendered 6” block with 1” of expanded foam insulation on existing building; insulated cavity wall blocks with 1” foam insulation on extension. * Five large double glazed windows at the front, four small double glazed windows at the rear and four skylights. The details Name of boiler VETO B28 Boiler Fuel type Wood chip Cost of unit/installation  oiler £5,500; around £1,800 B for a plumber and electrician Heat output 40 kWh Cost of fuel per year £1,600 15 Kalorina Mini Pellet Boiler Wood pellet boiler Set at the end of Bassenthwaite Lake with stunning views over Skiddaw, Barf House is a brick built Edwardian semi-detached house. The owners, Bob and Elaine, decided to replace their ailing boiler with an automated pellet boiler in 2008. The owners had undertaken extensive research into alternative and renewable fuels looking at log, chip and pellet boilers. Additional information from internet searches and speaking to suppliers gave them a really good understanding of what was available and what was best for them. The final decision to purchase a pellet boiler was based on availability and storage of fuel. Chips and logs required lots of storage space whereas pellets were more convenient, cleaner and easier to handle. The Kalorina Mini was chosen based on the compact size of the unit and its output. “The suppliers offered a fitting service but travelling all the way to us in Cumbria from Devon isn’t really cost effective so we decided to use a local plumber to install it,” Bob said. “The suppliers did send an engineer to commission the boiler, check the plumbing and wiring and so on and to show us how to operate and maintain it. As it turned out, this was essential as the warning and operating symbols were in Italian!” The Kalorina Mini K25 automated pellet boiler has a 29 kWh output and, although it currently runs on wood pellets, it is also designed to burn cereals and logs or, with the addition of a burner head, oil and gas. It has an automatic ignition controlled by a timer or by the room or hot water tank thermostats. The pellets are manually loaded into the integrated hopper, from where they are fed automatically by two overlapping augers into the fire box. Air flow to the fire box is provided by a fan and flue extractor and all the 16 systems are controlled by a computer on the unit, which uses information from temperature probes in the fire box and flue to adjust the draft and flow of pellets. Looking after the pellets is a key requirement. “The pellets absorb moisture through the tiniest of holes and when they get damp, they crumble into sawdust so it’s really important to keep the pellets dry,” Bob explained. “We keep ours in the garden shed and a few day’s supply by the boiler.” Looking after the boiler does require some physical input. Transferring the bags to the shed, lifting them into the boiler and giving the heat exchange tubes a weekly clean can be a dusty job. The Edwards take this in their stride though, “It’s a little like living with an animal, it requires feeding and cleaning but after a while you just get used to it!” The environmental reasons were the main driver for choosing the Kalorina boiler and, on this basis the Edwards are happy. Buying the pellets could prove expensive but they are committed to their choice. Their advice is to “go into the whole venture with your eyes open, be aware that it will involve some physical and dusty work and that it’s not as simple as traditional fossil fuels.” Image: Bob loads the Kalorina Mini pellet boiler “It’s a little like living with an animal, it requires feeding and cleaning but after a while you just get used to it!” Barf House House type Location Floors Receptions Bedrooms Windows Radiators Insulation : Edwardian semi-detached : Bassenthwaite : Three : Four : Five* : Twelve** : Thirteen : Rockwool insulation in the roof, insulated plasterboard in the attic room. * Rockwool insulation in the roof, insulated plasterboard in the attic room. ** Mixture of secondary and double glazing, including two large bay windows and three Velux windows. The details Name of boiler Kalorina Mini K25 Fuel type Pellet Cost of unit/installation £8,500 Heat output 29 kWh Fuel usage per day 30kg pellet (average) Fuel usage per year 10,000kg pellet Cost of fuel per year £2,400 (estimated) (manufactured by Tatano) (includes flue pipe, flue liner, pumps valves, sundries and labour) 17 Less common ways to heat your house with wood Heat retaining stoves have been used for many centuries in Scandinavian countries. They burn quickly in a firebox, but they differ from a conventional wood burning stove because they are surrounded with stone or brick which retains or stores this heat. The heat is then gently released over a long period of time. There are few examples of these stoves within the UK and very few companies who will sell and build them for you. Some makes of wood burning stove have moved towards this by including tiles and stone within their design. This works on the same principle but the volume of stone is far less, so much less heat is stored to be released later in the day. Convection wood burning stoves are also available. These are normally built within a chimney, with the firebox sitting within a second outer casing with a cavity in between the two. Cool air is drawn in at the base of the stove and heated before rising as hot air into the room. Convection stoves heat a room more fully by circulating the air in comparison with radiant heat from the traditional free standing wood burning stove. Examples of these are available from Esse stoves: www.esse.com. 18 Types of wood heating Efficient fast burn, no smoke Efficient char burn, no smoke Inefficient slow burn. With un-burnt fuel, lots of smoke 120°C steam, air, and CO² (no tar or water) 60°C air and CO² (no tar, water, or steam <100°C air and CO² (tar and water) All hydrocarbons burnt Burning residual charcoal Hot secondary air Primary air 700°C 500°C No steam Seconday air only No primary air 300 - 500°C No secondary air 500°C Primary air only Burning wood well; how to use a woodburning stove Log burning Logs are the cheapest, least processed form of wood fuel. Logs are produced locally and many people find cutting and splitting their own logs is both satisfying and a great form of exercise. Stoves and boilers that run on logs can use seasoned conifers, such as spruce, equally as well as hardwoods, like oak and ash. Coniferous timber contains less energy than hardwood, so for the same volume hardwood will give out more heat. A good average is that conifer contains around 75% of the energy – this equates to four conifer logs for every three hardwood logs. However, conifer is normally considerably cheaper and is more readily available. Well seasoned timber is the key to burning logs, as poorly seasoned timber produces far less energy and can damage your stove and flue. Burning wet, poorly seasoned timber leads to excessive smoke and deposits in the flue, including soot and tars. These tars are corrosive, potentially damaging the lining of your flue and significantly increasing the danger of chimney fires. 19 Types of wood heating Green logs will typically be 50-60% moisture; well seasoned logs will be 20-25% moisture. A seasoned log can have more than double the available energy of a green log. This is because significant amounts of energy are lost in drying the log within a wood burner. The ideal log store keeps the wood dry, while allowing exposure to both the wind and sun. So it will have a weather proof roof or cover to stop rain, but ensures that the sides allow free movement of air/wind. The sides may be slatted or woven to allow air circulation, but prevent rain getting on the timber and hold the wood in place. In addition to this the log store should preferably be orientated to allow maximum exposure to the sun. Special mesh dumpy bags are a great way to do this if you don’t have suitable storage, especially when sat on a pallet to improve air circulation from below. Dumpy bags from builders merchants don’t work as air cannot circulate well, often leading to condensation. A range of mesh bags are available from Bag Supplies Ltd, Penrith. They can be contacted on either 07798723040 or by visiting www.bagsupplies.com. 20 The structure of timber means that it will dry more quickly if it is cut into lengths and split prior to seasoning. So the advice has to be cut, split and then store to speed up the drying process. Conifer will dry more quickly than hardwood, with recommended times for conifers being one year, and two years suggested for hardwoods. running at the optimal operating temperature, especially ensuring the flue gases are not too cold as a result of incomplete combustion, causing increased smoke and soot and a build up of hazardous creosote. These are cheap, around £15, and available from most wood burning stove shops. Obvious signs of a well seasoned log are its weight – it should feel light and dry, will often contain cracks and the bark may come off easily. A small hand held moisture meter will give a good indication of just how dry the timber is. These are cheap, approximately £20, and widely available. A range of wood fuel suppliers are provided in the back of this booklet or you can visit the Cumbria Woodlands website. Many log burning stoves and boilers will run equally well on briquettes. These are essentially huge wood pellets made from either waste sawdust, compressed cardboard or recycled timber. A stovepipe thermometer is easy to attach to the stovepipe of a log burning stove, normally attaching magnetically. The simple reading from the dial shows you if the stove is Images: Stove pipe thermometer and moisture meter 21 Wood chips Using the correct size, quality and moisture content of chip for the right boiler is the difference between a boiler that works well and one that doesn’t. As with logs the moisture content is vital. Many boilers cannot cope with chips that have high moisture content so timber has to be seasoned prior to chipping, usually for 18 months. The higher the moisture content, the lower the amount of available energy. Chips are best bought by the cubic metre – buying by weight means you pay more for wet chips. The fairest method for both the supplier and the user is to buy chips by the kilowatt hour supplied, which is measured with a heat meter attached to the boiler. Chips made by most tree surgeons are not suitable as they are not seasoned, contain chopped up leaves and many of the chippers are not designed to make the right specification of chip. Wood chip boilers are built with a specific chip size in mind so it is important to specify this size to your supplier. Pellets Pellets are currently not produced locally and, as a processed product, have a larger environmental footprint than logs or chips. Pellets track the price of fossil fuels much more closely than either logs or chips which can leave you open to cost fluctuations. However, there are benefits to using pellets. They are much more energy dense than wood chips or logs, they flow easily and take up much less space. They are also much more suitable for automated systems than log boilers. 22 Support and regulation The Renewable Heat Incentive and the Green Deal The Renewable Heat Incentive (details available at www.decc.gov.uk – follow the links to meeting energy demand and then renewable energy) provides annual payments for twenty years from the Government for those who produce heat from most renewable energy sources, providing certain conditions are met. Single domestic dwellings are not eligible unless they are predominantly for business use. However the Government has announced that there will also be support of around £15 million for households through the Renewable Heat Premium Payment, with a one off payment of £950, which should then lead to the second phase of the scheme aligning with the Green Deal during 2012. Please note this is a fast changing picture but is correct as we publish this during the summer of 2011. 23 Support and regulation There are two routes to legally install a domestic solid fuel, wood or biomass burning appliance – you can use a registered installer who must certify that the work complies with the relevant Building Regulations; or you can apply to your local authority building control department for a building notice and pay a fee for them to check the installation and issue a completion certificate. If you would prefer to self install, a copy of the regulations can be found at www.planningportal.gov.uk where you can follow the links to Approved Document J – Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems. The regulations cover flue specification, sizing and quality– these are vital for the stove or boiler to draw well, minimise the build up of tars which can lead to chimney fires, and safely remove any harmful gases created during the burning process. It also ensures that the hearth is safely and correctly constructed and sized. The building regulations are a minimum standard that must be complied with, even for second hand stoves. Meeting these requirements will help you put the heat 24 generated into your room instead of wasting it due to poor installation. HETAS The Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) is the official government-recognised body that approves solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services. If you use a HETAS registered installer they will leave you with a Certificate of Compliance as a record of the job and to show that it complies with Building Regulations. A copy of the certificate is forwarded to HETAS who notify the local authority on your behalf. Failure to use a HETAS registered installer or to register directly with the local authority can lead to enforcement and could also cause problems for future house sales if there is no official record of a compliant installation. To find a HETAS installer in Cumbria either visit their website at www.hetas.co.uk or call 0845 634 5626. Building Control Departments Smoke Control Areas The contact details of Building Control Departments for the various local authorities are detailed below. You must contact them if you decide not to use a HETAS approved installer. Some of the urban areas within Cumbria were declared Smoke Control Areas during the 1950s and 1960s to help control smog. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney or boiler within these areas unless it is used within a boiler or appliance that is exempt from these regulations. Currently there are no Smoke Control Areas within the Borough of Barrow, Eden District Council or South Lakeland District Council. Allerdale Borough Council 01900 702702 [email protected] Eden District Council 01768 817817 [email protected] Barrow Borough Council 01229 876367 [email protected] South Lakeland District Council 0845 050 4434 [email protected] Carlisle City Council 01228 817184 [email protected] Copeland Borough Council 0845 054 8600 [email protected] Carlisle City Council, Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council all contain some Smoke Control Areas. To find out where these areas are contact your local authority. If you live within a Smoke Control Area you can still fit a wood burning appliance but you must have the emissions tested and approved. A host of these stoves can be found at: www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk 25 Fuel suppliers Logs Pellets Wood chip Briquettes Company address Contact details Arbor-Tec Tree Care Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4HY Company address Contact details 01768 780789 / 07919 386737 [email protected] www.arborectreecare.co.uk Weasdale Nurseries Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4LX 01539 623246 [email protected] www.weasdale.com Bowland Bioenergy Ltd Preston, Lancashire, PR3 2TQ 01995 61829 [email protected] www.bowlandbioenergy.co.uk Witherslack Woodlands Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6RT 01539 552353 [email protected] www.witherslackwoodlands.co.uk Cumbria Green Fuels Bridge End, Ainstable, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 9QG 01768 896634 [email protected] www.cumbriagreenfuels.co.uk John Ackerley Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 1JD 01697 746003 [email protected] www.wooden-gates-uk.com Eden Energy Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9GR 01228 670926 [email protected] www.edenenergy.co.uk H Barker Timber & Transport Ltd Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6LF 01539 532526 K&A Thompson & Sons Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6HX 01768 352884 Charlesworth Tree Care 01524 271840 & Fencing Specialists [email protected] Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6 2HS www.charlesworthwoodyard.co.uk Lakeland Logs Ltd Cumbria, CA11 8SH 01768 895204 [email protected] www.lakelandlogs.co.uk Scott Davnall Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8UA 01946 694280 [email protected] William Irving Kiln Dried Logs, Wigton, CA7 5HR 01697 351575 Lisa Binloss Lisa’s Logs Shap, CA10 3PH 01931 716844 26 Fuel Fuel Company address Contact details A M and D Dickinson Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8LE Fuel Company address Contact details Fuel 01229 860235 South Lakes Tree Surgeons Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 9EE 01229 580741 / 01539 46600 [email protected] www.southlakestreesurgeons.co.uk Thomas Ewbank Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6AL 01768 362746 [email protected] T Knipe Ltd 01539 532404 Allithwaite, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7QH Danny Frost Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 2JN 01697 371075 [email protected] www.dannyfrost.co.uk Arnold Lancaster Torver, Nr Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8BG 01539 441505 Derwent Charcoal & Tree Services Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4DF 01768 775288 [email protected] www.derwentcharcoal.co.uk R&M Lowther Timber Merchants Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 8QA 01228 560579 [email protected] Fern Tree Services Roweltown, Carlisle, CA6 6LX 01697 748481 [email protected] www.ferntreeservices.co.uk Calderbridge Sawmill Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1AJ 01946 841410 [email protected] Lowther Forestry Group Ltd Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HG 01931 712218 [email protected] www.lowther-forestry.co.uk Cliburn Logs Cliburn, CA10 3AL 01931 714260 Will Chaplin-Brice Keswick, CA12 4TS 01768 779242 Dave Pearce Arborist Dave Pearce Tree Services Ulverston, LA12 7SP 01229 861137 / 07753 472229 [email protected] 27 Fuel suppliers Logs Pellets Wood chip Briquettes Company address Contact details Newrough Woodland Services Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1NP 01768 870892 Sam Ansell 07990 952473 Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9TD [email protected] William Rudd Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9TT 01768 484441 [email protected] N Park Fencing & Forestry Services Carlisle, Cumbria, CA5 7BS 01228 710547 [email protected] Tony Scott Seaton, Cumbria, CA14 1PT 01900 604227 [email protected] Devonshire Road Sawmill Millom, Cumbria, LA18 4JS 01229 771188 [email protected] Sheffield & Co Ltd Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 OLR 01697 473218 [email protected] www.sheffieldandco.co.uk Ambleside Tree Services Ltd 01539 433889 Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QY [email protected] www.amblesidetreeservices.co.uk Sandyriggs Nursery Carlisle, Cumbria, CA5 6QH 01697 344275 [email protected] www.logsrus.co.uk Property Landscape Services Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3ES Trevor Slater Ltd Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7RD 01229 861631 [email protected] Company address Contact details TG Norman Timbers Ltd Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 5TR 01228 791777 www.tgnorman.co.uk 28 01946 812972 [email protected] Fuel Fuel Company address Contact details David Steel Fuelwood Holmrook, Cumbria, CA19 1YG Fuel Company address Contact details 01946 24665 [email protected] Alan Wilkinson Kendal, Cumbria, LA89 5LS 07796 322046 Mark Steele Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 OST 01768 779130 [email protected] Johnny Hind Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9UX 01900 85742 Lakeland Coppice Products Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5DY 01539 738835 [email protected] www.lakelandcoppiceproducts.co.uk Will Barden Biomass Lupton, Cumbria, LA6 8QD 01539 566073 / 07971 660794 [email protected] www.wbardenbiomass.com R E Firewood 01524 734157 Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6 1DE W H Paterson Brigham, CA13 0XJ 01900 828840 AW Walton Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4 TQ 01768 774223 [email protected] Skogs Logs Little Salkeld, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 1NP 01768 870892 Colin White Tree Surgery & Forestry Contractors Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 5AB 01434 674550 [email protected] www.colinwhite.co.uk Fuel 29 With rising fuel prices and the realities of climate change, there has never been a better time to discover the benefits of burning wood for heat. 30 31 www.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk [email protected] In partnership with: The production of this book was fifty percent funded by the European Social Fund as part of the Green Ways to Work project Designed by Creative Concern www.creativeconcern.com Printed on 100% post consumer reclaimed material, using vegetable inks