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Andris Piebalgs: Nuclear and the EU's Energy Policy | 51 comments (51 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Information is just what I need. (none / 1)
I was thinking about asking for just such advice from ETers. I have to say that my knowledge of the energy cost of recycling paper is very low; I assumed - as most of us here - that there was a substantial benefit.

As to heat generation from wood waste - we are a very low-population density, somewhat spread-out county. Fitting heat generation from 'waste' logging detritus to our needs will be difficult, except for individual wood stoves (which make up a fairly substantial portion of home heating around here). Do you have any leads/information on the best approaches for this type of heating? (I have a catalytic stove, and I'm not happy with much of anything about it, but it does seem to put out a relatively low amount of smoke.)

About biodiesel - the point is that we have one bus that makes three trips per weekday from Stevenson to Vancouver, WA. I want to expand the service somewhat and reduce the number of cars and trucks making cold starts for short runs in this area. Biodiesel works from several points-of-view to make the whole project more attractive: local source, local labor, lower cost, and (so I'm told) cleaner-burning fuel.

As far as electrical generation - I'm 100% interested. One of my main 'planks' is to generate electricity locally. If you look at a wind chart, you will see that the Columbia River Gorge is rated highly, so that's where I see the main emphasis. However, we are 90% forested, so it's a huge resource, too. In any case - as I say - I'm 100% interested.

Another of my projects will be - assuming election - to kick-start regional participation in a conservation/generation consortium. We've had such a project before, and it was actually quite useful - house insulation, weather-stripping, and such - but Bonneville Power Authority was the main funding source, and you can imagine what's happened there since 1994 - one cutback after another in any project that made sense for the general population.

As to the woods and logging - we are the heart of the Douglas Fir forests. Our 'plantation' timber (we don't cut old-growth nowadays) is still some of the best structural wood in the world. There is a downturn in the market, but there is still demand for our lumber. We cut to metric and ship to Japan, which tells you something about the quality right there. I'd rather have a strictly local market, but with this type of product there will be a distant demand as well.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (paulgspencer@gmail.com) on Thu May 22nd, 2008 at 04:24:30 PM EST
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Re: Information is just what I need. (none / 0)
The most efficient stoves are the Russian/Finnish masonry stoves with a typical over 80% use of available BTUs. Properly built, you can put your hand over the chimney and feel only a slight warmth escaping.

They burn very clean - but it depends on the wood and how dry it is. I lived through several harsh winters  with two these at each end of a large wooden house in the forest. They are economical with wood: we had a winter's worth stacked up outside under the eaves.

The easiest biodiesel is locally pressed oil from say rape seed. Your diesel engine will have to be slightly adapted, but it is not major mechanics. It's much easier to adapt an older diesel engine. An old Perkins in a boat would probably burn the stuff as it is.

The building research division of VTT the Finnish state technical research centre was been developing new timber construction techniques. One of these is massive  laminated load-bearing beams that have been used to span 20-30 metres.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Thu May 22nd, 2008 at 06:28:13 PM EST
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Re: Information is just what I need. (none / 0)
not these things?

the standard traditional heating in Polish homes, but they're generally coal fired

by MarekNYC on Thu May 22nd, 2008 at 06:42:22 PM EST
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Re: Information is just what I need. (none / 0)
Similar.  The point is the massive brick encasement to soak up and then radiate heat. And the somewhat convoluted flue path to expose as much surface area to rising heat, plus a method of closing off the flue when the fire has burned out to prevent cold air entering above.

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Fri May 23rd, 2008 at 04:22:25 AM EST
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Andris Piebalgs: Nuclear and the EU's Energy Policy | 51 comments (51 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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