Tag Archives: smoke

The Pros of Kiln-Dried Logs

  By | | ,
Leave a comment

Armed with the knowledge on kiln drying and how it handles itself against seasoning, let us add to that the positives that come from using the logs produced through kiln drying. When kiln-dried wood is put side by side with the usually seasoned wood, it seems way more superior. If you remain sceptical of the fact, below is a list of pluses from certainly wood about using kiln-dried logs:

Benefits of of Kiln-Dried Logs

1. It Burns Cleaner

A common complaint among the many, from using the usually seasoned wood, is the fact that it leaves creosote and soot. Creosote, if you don’t familiarize yourself with it, is a sticky substance that is usually deposited by burning wood. After the fire cools down the substance is left stuck inside the fireplace or even your woodstove. When you light your fireplace again when it is there, it can catch fire resulting in a safety hazard. Moreover, creosote has been considered to be a poisonous substance that may cause several health issues when inhaled. It can cause serious effects, especially to those that have respiratory problems.

Kiln-dried logs, compared to seasoned wood, are a safer option as they do not produce creosote during combustion. This is a better investment since it burns cleaner and also because, in the case of families with children or seniors, they are safe from the effects of the creosote substance.

2. It’s Easily Ignited

Consider occasions like camping when it is usually grizzly, cold, and wet, kiln-dried wood can relieve you of this discomfort. You know that to fully enjoy a camping trip, you need wood not only to cook but to also keep you warm.

Kiln-dried wood saves your time, and effort when lighting a fire because it ignites quickly from just a spark. Kiln-dried wood can be a camper’s way to keep everyone in the camp warm because the fire from this wood is quite long-lasting.

3. It Burns For Longer

Typically firewood is not very costly, but using a lot of firewood for only a short while can be. kiln-dried wood can save you money since it will be more economical compared to seasoned wood.

By only lighting a few of these logs they can keep you warm for the rest of the night. This way, the moments spent chatting with your family or even reading a book will not be interrupted by the need to add a few logs to the fireplace. Not only are you able to save money through this but you also play a positive active role in reducing the amount of wood consumed hence the environment is protected.

4. It Does Not Produce Smoke

Imagine those scenarios in movies where stars or heroes put out their campfires to avoid being spotted by the bad guys. Well with kiln-dried logs this would not be necessary. This is because they burn clean, meaning that they do not produce smoke. Other options of wood like seasoned or greenwood do produce smoke.

Greenwood is especially known that when burned can result in pitch-black smoke, which can be very stinging to the eyes, nose, and lungs. Even when seasoned wood does not produce as much or stinging smoke as greenwood, it still produces a degree of it. Kiln-dried wood is still a better and cleaner option compared to the two.

5. It Smells Great

Regardless of whether you enjoy camping or not, the smell that is left behind cannot be ignored. This terrible smell can linger on you for days, on your clothes or hair even after attempts of getting rid of it. This smell usually comes from the wood used to light your campfire.

As noted earlier, seasoned wood and greenwood produce smoke, in which the scent from it can be smelt on clothes, or the food cooked using this wood can have a burnt taste. So why go through all this, when you could use a way better option? Kiln-dried wood does not mess with the food’s taste or even leave an awful smell on your clothes.

6. It Can Be Easily Stored

Traditionally, firewood is stored in an outside shed. This is because the wood can contain pests, as well as bug eggs hence storing it in your house, is not a good option, since it can add to developing an infestation that can be hard to get rid of.

On the flip side, kiln-dried logs are perfectly safe to be stored inside your house. Arrange them in a raised place, keep them on a platform to avoid the logs touching the floor or getting moisture in them.

The Advantages of Eco-Friendly Energy Sources

  By | | , ,
2 Comments

You’ve heard all about it before: global warming and pollution have been steadily impacting our planet little by little each year. Sure, we’ve all probably been asked to write an essay about how to help solve our environmental problems, but do we really live our lives as sustainably as we should?

With all the talks about climate change, one of the most significant changes consumers can make is to switch to renewable energy. True enough, its growing popularity has made it the fastest-growing energy source in the country. You might be thinking, “Does the source of my electricity really matter?” The answer is a resounding yes! To prove it to you, we’ve rounded up the advantages of eco-friendly energy sources down below.

1. It Reduces Greenhouse Gases

Using traditional energy creates a huge environmental impact on air, water, and land resources. Currently, the world mainly produces electricity through coal and gas—two of the biggest contributors to the rising levels of CO2 on the planet.

solar-energy-diy

The accumulated greenhouse gas is responsible for the greenhouse effect, increasing the earth’s average surface temperature. Additionally, this temperature change disrupts the ecosystem,  causing more plant and animal species to decline in number, ultimately affecting our biodiversity.

In contrast, the use of renewable energy (e.g., solar, geothermal, biomass) does not require burning fossil fuels. Thus, it drives down carbon emission and significantly reduces the total amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

2. It Gets Cheaper Every Year

The growing popularity of eco-friendly energy sources has resulted in a lot of positive changes for the economy. For instance, at least two-thirds of the world now offer clean energy as a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels.

To add to that, Eligo Energy’s report discovered that 65% of Americans are willing to pay for green electricity despite it being more expensive. Due to the increased investments in new technology and government subsidies, renewable energy is steadily becoming more affordable.

Moreover, renewables, like solar and wind energy, do not have price hikes. The same cannot be said for fossil fuels which become more expensive over time. Finite resources also have extreme market volatility, something that companies have no control over. Effective policies can be done easier around renewable energy, as it offers long-term stability in the market.

3. It’s Beneficial to Your Health

It’s no secret that factories powered by coal produce dark smoke that rises to the sky. What’s worse, this smoke contains traces of mercury, arsenic, and sulfur dioxide—all toxic pollutants that pose many dangers to public health.

The smog and air pollution make us more vulnerable to respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. WHO even estimated that seven million lives are lost each year due to air pollution.

air-pollution-repurcussions

Choosing to make use of renewables will definitely be the healthier option, as it decreases the need for more coal to be burned. Green energy answers the problem of air pollution and will pave the way for improved air quality, saving millions of lives worldwide.

4. It Saves a Lot of Water

While the earth is mainly made up of water, only a very few percent of that is usable for us humans. Therefore, water is a precious commodity we should conserve. However, power plants use hundreds of thousands of gallons of water just to generate electricity. Likewise,  the extraction and production of fossil fuels rely on a lot of water too.

drone-wind-farms

Switching to green electricity greatly helps in conserving water. For instance, wind and solar energy plants barely need water to operate; the occasional washing of solar panels and turbine planes are most probably the only times you’ll ever need water. Indeed, renewable energy sources are a long-term water-saving solution.

5. It Provides Job Opportunities

As more companies and governments venture into increasing the accessibility of green energy, more jobs have been opened to workers around the globe. In fact, these opportunities are also available for those without college degrees! Building factories, solar panels, and wind turbines are great examples of the many jobs high in demand on the market right now.

solar-rebates-faqs

There is also a growing need for specialists and experts. Engineers, financial analysts, renewable energy consultants, and even farmers are all needed to study the endless possibilities of clean energy for different industries.

Automakers, for example, have invested in renewables to create electric-powered vehicles. Apart from electrical and mechanical engineers, they will have to hire more assembly line workers. As these newer cars become more efficient, it won’t be soon enough for consumers to choose them over the traditional gas-fueled vehicles.

Conclusion

As climate change takes a toll on the world, we have to make significant changes to our ways before it’s too late. Fortunately, our technologies have advanced enough to be able to generate electricity from eco-friendly sources.

With all the advantages it brings, green energy is predicted to run the world a few decades from now. Indeed, renewables are the energy of the future, and it’s high time for you to make the right switch.