Wood energy equipment for domestic use
ADEME, May 2006
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Source Wodtke |
In France, wood represents 20% of the domestic thermal energy.
Almost one household out of two is equipped with a wood heating equipment, eg 6,75 millions appliances and 1,4 million opened fireplaces.
The log firewood consumption is estimated in France to 51 millions of steres, ie 8,6 millions toe per year. |
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Source Godin |
Many possibilities exist for the domestic use of wood energy :
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Wood energy can be used for the convenience of the wood heat - the view of the flames is and will always be a pleasure shared by many users.
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Wood energy can be used as a ideal complement to solar energy or energy saving houses. It is appropriate in order to heat the ‘life’ zones. Wood energy is an ideal complement for houses heated by electricity, which are houses with high energy bills. Wood energy enables then a substantial savings.
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Wood energy can also be used as main heating source all year round. Nowadays, wood energy technologies can compete with other energies offering the same service. |
Domestic applications
Domestic heating is possible with numerous technologies such as stoves, fireplaces, inserts and closed fireplaces, boilers which uses a large range of biofuels such as logs, briquettes, pellets, or even wood chips.
Public baths, hammams and swimming pools : The use of biomass to heat water for hygienic or leisure purposes is particularly interesting because it is very consuming on short periods. The use of a local and cheap fuel is a guarantee of economical interest and therefore of durability.
Cooking : Wood energy is widely used in the world for domestic cooking, especially in less developed countries. In developed countries there are technologies adapted to modern life.
Sanitary hot water production : Sanitary hot water production in highly consuming buildings on a regular basis is particularly interesting because of the low cost of the fuel. This is applicable to hospitals, rest-homes, specific food industries and district heating at least during the heating season.
Texts reproduced with the kind permission of ITEBE 
