Hard Elms Thursday, March 5th 2009 Editor’s Note: This article, which appeared in the May/June 2008 issue of Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine, is part of S&W Publishing LLC’s “Tree Species” series and is not intended for reprint or republication. It is posted here with permission from Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine. Read More FOREST HEALTH ALERT: Jumping Oak Gall Wednesday, March 4th 2009 By Rob Lawrence Forest Entomologist Forest Health Program Missouri Department of Conservation – June 2008 Problem: Leaves on entire crowns of white oak trees turn brown in early summer. In some cases, whole hillsides appear to be browning. Read More Winter Stresses on Trees & Shrubs Wednesday, March 4th 2009 By Tchukki Andersen Tree Care Industry Association, www.tcia. Read More Arbor Age Pest of the Month: Golden Oak Borer Wednesday, March 4th 2009 Editor’s Note: This article, by Jesse Lee, appeared in December 2008 issue of Arbor Age magazine. It is posted here with permission from Arbor Age and is not intended for reprint or republication. Read More Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next		Beat the Cold and Lower your Energy Bills Tuesday, November 13th 2007 Beat the Cold and Lower your Energy Bills By Jeff Hansen, President of Hansen?s Tree Service Do you heat your home primarily with natural gas? If so, the U.S. government?s Energy Information Administration says expect to spend about 48 percent more this winter on energy bills than in previous years. But you don?t have to suffer in a cold house this winter if you use an old-fashioned yet effective way to heat your home: firewood. Heat that Doesn?t Burn your Wallet- or the Environment In order to use firewood as an effective energy source, one must understand the basics of firewood. Using firewood to heat your home can be both economical and good for the environment. For example, one cord of firewood- or 460 pieces of wood- priced at about $200 generates the same amount of usable heat as 200 gallons of No. 2 fuel oil, which can cost more than $1.50 per gallon, totaling over $300. This means that you can save at least $100 in heating costs by using firewood. As for its impact on the earth, firewood can be environmentally appropriate if it is harvested sustainably, and if it burns without producing a lot of smoke. Unlike oil, firewood is a conditionally renewable fuel that doesn?t contribute to greenhouse gases. Seasoned Versus Green Firewood Before using firewood, you should know two important terms: ?seasoned? and ?green.? Seasoned refers to firewood that has finished the drying process and has 20 to 25 percent moisture content. Green refers to firewood that is freshly cut, which contains up to 50 percent water. If you want to collect or purchase ready-to-use firewood, stick with seasoned firewood. This type of firewood is easier to kindle, produces more heat, creates less smoke and generates less chimney buildup than green firewood. Green firewood can become seasoned by storing it properly and allowing it to dry for six to twelve months. How can you tell if firewood is seasoned or green? Seasoned firewood is relatively lightweight, has dark ends with splits and cracks, and has splinters that can easily be snapped off. Green firewood is heavy, has ends that look fresh and smells like a tree. If you still can?t tell which is which, try this foolproof test: knock two pieces of wood together, and listen to the sound that it makes. Seasoned firewood will make a clear ringing sound whereas green firewood will make a dull thud sound. Choosing the Best Firewood Almost all wood has about the same energy content per pound, but their varying densities make some produce more heat than others. For example, one cord of seasoned hardwood weighs about twice as much as a cord of softwood, which means that it has almost twice the amount of potential heat. Due to their high densities, ash, hickory and oak are great for firewood. Other suitable species are beech, locust, cherry and hard maple. Elm, sweet gum, polar and white pine are fair, and the poorest type of firewood is spruce. It is best to avoid firewood that contains a lot of resin, such as fir, pine and spruce, because resin build-up can produce chimney fires. A Cord of Firewood Measures Up Firewood is usually measured by its volume, with the common unit of measurement being the ?cord.? The standard cord is a pile of firewood that is eight feet long by four feet tall by four feet deep, which measures at 128 cubic feet. If a dealer sells you a cord of firewood, these are the exact measurements that the pile should have. One cord of firewood should last about two years, unless you use your fireplace very frequently. Some retailers use units of measure other than cords, which makes it difficult for consumers to know how much wood they are really buying. A ?face cord? is eight feet long by four feet tall, but is only as deep as the wood is cut. For example, a face cord of 16 inch wood is only one-third of a cord. Other businesses sell their firewood by the ?pile? or ?truckload,? and both of these measurements can vary greatly. If you decide to purchase firewood, make sure that you understand the units of measurement so that you don?t pay extra money for less wood. You can also ask some dealers to custom cut your firewood, which ensures that you get what you paid for. As the weather in St. Louis gets colder, explore firewood as a heating option for this winter. Like fine wines and quality jewelry, long-lasting firewood that generates more heat is pricier than other types of firewood. But you can find affordable, quality firewood that will keep you warm and toasty as you save money on natural gas. Jeff Hansen is president of Hansen?s Tree Service, a full-service tree and lawn care company that performs diagnosis, treatment, pruning, tree removal, stump removal and lawn care. Hansen?s is fully accredited by TCIA and ISA, and serves residences and companies throughout the entire St. Louis metro area. With nine fully certified arborists on staff, Hansen?s educates the public on the values of proper tree and lawn care, its maintenance and the importance of environmental responsibility.