More Attleboro, Mass., area residents will be heating their homes with wood pellets, coal and fireplaces next winter than anytime in the recent past, as they seek alternatives to skyrocketing fuel oil and natural gas costs. More

Historically, heating technology was pretty simple: mankind huddled around a basic campfire to stay warm and cook dinner.

In more recent centuries, fireplaces were constructed with brick or stones and this allowed the fire to come "inside" but left the smoke out of the picture. Compared to modern wood stoves these basic fireplaces are very inefficient. It is not uncommon today to see wood stoves with efficiency rating in the low to mid 80's and emissions of less than 3 grams per hour. If you want to heat your house with wood, there are some pretty efficient ways to do so, which I'll tell you about right here.

Large scale masonry wood stoves: If you really want to impress someone (or like really big whole house heating systems) a Masonry wood stove is the ticket. Some of these are custom built in a home during initial construction as they require substantial support, its not uncommon for these to weigh in at over 3000 to 8000 pounds. My favorites are the soapstone versions from Tulukivi and the 2700 model is my dream stove.

Soapstone wood stoves: Soapstone was used to build fireplaces because it retained heat well and was pretty easy to shape. Add some traditional cast iron to hold the panels together and you can build a high thermal mass stove that will continue to keep you warm even after the fire has died away. In my home we set up our master bedroom with a mid-sized Hearthstone Heritage.

Cast iron...with colors: Keeping warm is only half the issue. The other half is that wood stoves "live" in the same space as we do (unlike a fossil fuel eating monster hidden away in your basement). Many wood stoves command a focal point in the main room of the house. You can be stylish and stay warm with a Vermont Castings Encore stove.

Top loaders are a breeze to use: When most people think of a wood stove the old image of a door comes to mind. One problem with doors is they limit the amount of wood that can be added and this will limit the burn time. The Lopi Leyden is a top loader that can handle 65 pounds of wood and burn for up to 12 hours and with an emissions output of only 2.4 Grams per hour it is well under the EPA guidelines of 7.5 grams per hour.

Get a small stove for a small space: If the 9000 pounds of masonry and soapstone is a bit over the top for you, or you worry the 50,000 to 75,000 BTU's of some of the midsize stoves will turn your home into a pizza oven or sauna... consider a small unit like the Jotul 602 the micro-sized Sardine from Navigator Stove Works.

What ever your needs are, chances are good, you can find a super-efficient wood stove that will put winter's chill in the back of your mind, and can cut your fossil fuel consumption.

Winter is just around the corner, which means that an increasing number of Americans will start their preparations for the colder weather. While many households make use of electric or gas heating sources, as many as 4.8 million homes use a wood stove , according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. Despite rendering exceptional heat and being very economical, many homeowners wonder whether wood stoves affect indoor air quality. Although excess smoke can pose a problem, there are a number of ways to ensure that your wood stove is as safe and eco-friendly as possible in its maintenance and usage.

Use dry wood

Dry wood not only creates substantially hotter fires but less smoke as well. Where possible, collect your wood, chop it, and leave it to air dry for at least a year before using it. This will not only result in a reduction in indoor air pollution but also save you money as no heat will be wasted on evaporation. You can make your fires even more eco-friendly by collecting branches and trees that have already fallen or using wood that would otherwise have been destined for the landfill. You can even try and source offcuts from your local joiner or sawmill but take care to not use anything that has been painted or treated in any way.

Allow enough air to circulate

If you want the air inside your home to be as clean as possible you need to ensure that there is adequate ventilation . Apart from making use of a sound chimney system, you also need to make sure that there is no furniture blocking the vents. You should also consider opening a window or two a bit in order to have fresh air enter the home while letting any excess smoke and gas emissions escape. Take care not to open your windows too much, however, as you don’t want all the lovely heat your stove is generating, to escape.

Give your stove and chimney some TLC

One of the simplest ways to make your wood stove more environmentally-friendly is to keep both the stove and your chimney well-maintained. Remove creosote build-up from your stove on a regular basis with a special detergent and limit future build-up by only making fires with seasoned, dry wood. Your chimney is a very important component of your wood stove. Apart from posing a fire risk, a chimney that is filled with soot and creosote can also leave the house filled with an unpleasant smoke. In order for a chimney to remain clean, it has to be thoroughly inspected and swept at least two times a year.

A wood stove can be a great addition to any home, especially during the colder months. As long as you take the necessary steps to combat any indoor air pollution as much as possible, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful heat omitted by your stove without suffering from any adverse effects.

With colder weather taking hold and the official start of winter less than a week away, the Department of Environmental Protection is urging New Jersey's residents to be thoughtful of their neighbors when burning wood for heat. More

1.9 percent of US households still use wood for their heating needs as opposed to electricity or utility gas, according to a report by the US Census Bureau . Many people still rely on wood not only since it's usually cheaper than the other alternatives but also since it is better for the environment . While woodburning stoves are mostly installed in the living room or kitchen, you can find them anywhere in a home including in a bedroom, home office, or even your mancave. If you are lucky enough to have a mancave, adding a woodburning stove is a surefire way to make it so much better than it already is, especially if you live in an area that gets cold from time to time. However, being an addition that could potentially be dangerous, you must be careful to ensure that you install it correctly.

Choosing an ideal spot for your woodstove

You must make the decision of where you're going to be putting your stove in your mancave long before going out to buy one . Since a wood stove is a space heater, you want to have it installed in a central position where it can heat every corner of your mancave. To maximize its efficiency, pick a spot with good insulation so that the heat from the woodstove is not lost through windows or walls. You also want to install it in a spot where it won't cause your TV, gaming console, or other electrical appliances in your mancave to overheat. Keep in mind that your woodstove will require a chimney, which ideally should be vertical and with as few bends as possible.

Make it multifunctional

One of the things that people love most about mancaves is that they give you a safe spot where you can hide away from the rest of the world and be alone for as long as you want. To further cement this feeling in your mancave, you can choose a woodstove that allows you to cook on it. There are various wood stove options that are specifically designed to allow people to cook while still performing their primary function of heating, but any with a flat surface on top that's large enough to hold a cooking pot will do. This addition can transform your mancave from a place you hang out in from time to time to a prepper's dream space where you can live, eat, have fun, and stay warm for as long as you need to, even when there are power outages.

Choosing a wood stove

After identifying an ideal spot in your mancave to install your woodstove, the next step is to choose one. Modern wood stoves come in various sizes, designs, and finishes and not all of them will be a good fit for your mancave. The first thing to consider is the size of your woodstove which will depend on how much space you have in your mancave and your heating needs. You want a stove that is big enough to meet your heating needs but not too big that it makes your mancave uncomfortably warm or takes up too much room. Another thing to consider is the stove's clearance rating, which is the minimum distance you should maintain between the stove and nearby walls, furniture, and appliances. You must also consider the design of the woodstove and how it fits in with the overall design or theme of your mancave . Whatever you end up choosing, make sure that it is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

A woodstove could be the thing that is missing in your mancave to take it to the next level. Not only will it make your mancave warm and cozy but it can also add to the aesthetic appeal and make it feel more homely. But, to be on the safe side, make sure your installation is done by certified professionals who'll follow safety guidelines to the letter.

During the cold winter nights, you want to stay warm and cozy inside, than you need a wood burning stove. When you think of winter nights, you will also think of warm fires. Having a cozy wood stove in your home can make your winter nights more romantic and comfortable with your family. You can find some great wood stove designs at Copperfield Chimney Supply.

Wood Burning Stove are Constructed with Sturdy Materials

Wood burning stoves are a sturdy, reliable method of heating your home. With the solid construction of the stoves sold at Copperfield Chimney Supply on their web site www.woodstoves-fireplaces.com . You can rest assured that your home will be safe from the flames dancing only a few inches away. With steel top and sides, a cast iron door, a firebrick lined interior and thick, resistant glass for viewing, their wood stoves will provide your home, and family, with many days and nights of warmth and beauty.