Choice of Fuel

HEAT SOURCE:

The first thing to consider are the fuels available, the cost of the fuel, and if you are concerned about the environment. Then, you need to be aware of the effect your choice will have on the environment.
The leading cause of pollution associated with the home is the inefficiency of the structure itself. The loss of heat through the structure causes thermal pollution directly and causes more fuel to be burned indirectly. The next effect on pollution is the type of fuel, how efficient the appliance, and how clean are its emissions.
1. WOOD: Although most wood burning boilers can be made to burn somewhat clean during testing, in actual use they perform poorly both in efficiency and emissions, and should be considered only if wood is readily available. We do offer the one exception, the Seton Wood Boiler is the cleanest burning wood boiler in the world. See www.rohor.com
2. OIL: Fuel oil is the same as the diesel used by trucks and some auto's. It comes in two grades, number 1 and number 2. No.1 burns slightly cleaner than No 2 but uses more fuel and costs more. The best oil burning appliance is only 86% efficient. Some manufactures claim 98 % or better, but their claim is based on being 98% of 86%. Oil boilers require regular maintenance. After cleaning and servicing, an oil boiler will lose 12% efficiency in 12 months. If not maintained properly oil boilers cause a lot of pollution. An oil water heater have the same efficiency as all oil boilers and require minimum maintenance
3. ELECTRIC: Although electric boilers are 100% efficient and clean in your home, the power generating plants fuel and efficiency must be considered, also electric resistance heating is very expensive. We have designed some off-peak power systems, but there is no guarantee that these programs will continue.
4. GAS: Natural gas, if available is inexpensive and relatively clean burning. The boiler you choose will effect the efficiency and amount of pollution created. The standard gas boiler is between 80% and 86% efficient. A boiler that is 96% efficient will burn at least 20% less fuel than an 86% boiler and reduces pollutants dramatically, but they are more expensive.
5. PROPANE: Propane has all the advantages of natural gas but is more expensive. It should only be considered in small, very well insulated homes and only with a high efficiency boiler (96%+).

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND AT LEAST 96%+ FOR NATURAL GAS AND ESPECIALLY FOR PROPANE

A oil combo heater combined with a properly designed radiant floor heating system will cost less to operate than a 96% propane heating system. Although propane is a cleaner burning fuel I feel that propane will become far to expensive fuel in the near future to use anything but smaller homes.


	The fact is, burning wood is good for the environment if burned cleanly: The efficient use of wood fuel is more eco-friendly than more convenient fuels like fuel oil and natural gas. LPG emits 15 times more CO2 per kg than wood, and fuel oil nearly 10 times as much. CO2 is the main source of global warming and if wood burning is sustainable and doesn't cause deforestation, its CO2 emissions are neutral -- the CO2 released in the fire simply gets recycled back into more trees. KNOW THE FACTS Outdoor wood-fired boilers are substantially dirtier and less efficient than other home heating technologies. An investigation by the New York State Attorney General's Environmental Protection Bureau found that even when used properly, one of these units emits as much fine particle pollution as: 2 heavy-duty diesel trucks 12 EPA-certified indoor wood stoves 45 passenger cars 1,000 homes with oil heat 1,800 homes with natural gas heat The Seton, the Tarm and the Wood Gun are the only clean and efficient wood burning boilers I recommend.