For the ultimate in low carbon heating in rural areas, wood combined with solar has to be an early consideration. Heating with wood has advanced greatly compared to open fires or simple cast-iron stoves. Now, it is possible to heat whole homes throughout winter using fully automated appliances which self-ignite and maintain an even temperature.

Although good old-fashioned logs are still a viable option, the newer fuels that include briquettes or pellets provide a much drier source of wood and therefore more efficient to transport and burn. Modern appliances also allow greater flexibility of location such as remote position in outhouses and then using piped heat underground. They can also burn more than one fuel such as oil with logs or pellets. More information about wood fuel.

The choice of fuel much depends on each location such as whether there is a reliable supply of split logs, storage of such logs for drying up to 2 years or whether a HGV can deliver the alternative of wood pellets and the flue position.

Solar and wood make excellent companions, as it is generally not advised to use wood during summer when the space heating is not required. The solar then takes over to heat the domestic hot water, exactly when the sun becomes most plentiful. Other fuels such as electricity can provide extra back-up and security.

View one of our grant funded past projects with the Chickenshack Housing Co-operative (107kb PDF).