Is Heating With Wood a Bad Idea?

Heating with wood can create a lot of pollution and waste natural resources if it isn't done well, but here are two options that are very efficient and low on pollution.

Rocket Stoves are fairly easy to build yourself, and provide a way to burn small pieces of wood really hot, which is required for reduction of creosote and pollution. The Aprovecho Research Center has done significant research on rocket stoves and are now producing inexpensive rocket stoves for third world countries. Ianto Evans, from the Cob Cottage Company, is building heated couches with rocket stoves and has a book out about them.

Masonry Heaters are the big brother to rocket stoves. They work under the same principles as rocket stoves: small pieces of wood that burn very quickly (usually 30 minutes or less) and get very hot.  The addition of large amounts of thermal mass in the surrounding masonry and maze-like chimney capture this heat and radiate it out slowly over many hours, heating your house all day. There are many different designs for masonry heaters, and they are also known as Russian, Finnish, or Scandinavian fireplaces.

Give a Poop, Don't Pollute

I am very intrigued by the idea of composting human excrement.  Joseph Jenkins has been evangelizing this method of recycling for many years now, with his book The Humanure Handbook. In it, Jenkins describes a simple system for safely composting poop using thermophilic methods, which basically means that the compost needs to reach a certain temperature in order to properly kill the pathogens.  The resulting compost, when properly processed, is safe to use even on vegetable gardens (Jenkins has been doing it for over 20 years).  Not only does this increase the fertility of our soils, it also significantly decreases pollution.  When combined with the composting of other organic matter, the impact could be tremendous.  Poop could save the world!

For a crash course in humanure composting, including a documentary about bringing this concept to Haiti, check out Jenkins' videos at http://humanurehandbook.com/videos.html.

Here's the challenge or the catch, depending on how you look at it.  "Above-ground sewage treatment" is illegal in many parts of the United States because of the health hazard to the community if it is not done properly.  Mustering up the courage to help guide and educate the Board of Health in your county, city, or state and lead the legislative reform is not something to be taken lightly, yet it is a leadership opportunity that matters. This is one of the next steps for me, in my long "to-do" list of things that will make a difference.  I'm not especially looking forward to it, but I'm sure I will be stretched and learn a lot in the process.

Have you noticed any trends with these simple yet effective methods of environmental stewardship? Joel Salatin hit the nail on the head with his book, Everything I Want to do is Illegal.  More thoughts on this to come...

Beautiful Hand-Sculpted Homes of Cob

One of the least expensive methods for building a house is to use a mixture of clay, sand, and straw to make little loaves, called “cobs”, and form them into the wall while they are still moist.  This method of building is labor intensive, but the labor often is satisfying and has the potential to foster teamwork and a sense of community among the crew working on the project.  The end result is a beautifully sculpted house, with curving walls that seem you hug the occupants and provide a strong sense of security.  The walls are typically 12-18 inches in depth, and act as a heat capacitor to store solar heat during winter days, and release that same heat at night. Nooks, niches, bookshelves, and benches can be formed right into the wall system.  People building with cob often build smaller houses because of the labor involved, which can lead to a stronger family life and lower utility bills. The walls are non-toxic, and cost little if anything.

The downside?  In the United States, it is difficult to get a building permit for cob structures.  Most of the owner-builders actually build illegally, without a permit or inspections, and therefore also avoid the property taxes that would come as a result of a certificate of occupancy.  This is enough reason for me to avoid building my own house with cob.  I would, however, like to try to get a building permit to build a cob shed or barn.  When I finish my own house (timber frame + straw-bale), I will probably try it out.

For more information about cob, visit the Cob Cottage Company online (its worth checking out just for the photos!), or read The Hand-Sculpted House by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, and Linda Smiley. These guys are really living lives of voluntary simplicity and practicing what they preach.  I called them several years ago to apply for a position in their company, and they explained their health care benefits: "you get to eat from an organic garden, drink pure water, and breath clean air". 

There are several great videos about cob houses online.  Here is a quick one that gives a good intro to cob building:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frkps9jmCVM