Is Wood Good for Heating a Home?

Oklahoma weather is what I like to call bi-polar meaning that we get it all. If you don't believe me look at these weather stats. Coldest Day 2011 saw us get down to -31 degrees and our hot summer saw 41 days over 100 degrees this year. Heating and cooling a home are important topics here.  As is saving money while doing it.

What is the most efficient cost effective way to heat a house?
Winter weather is settling in for most of us. We have had a cold snap here with overnight lows below 20 degrees. Not that cold for some of you but colder than normal for this time of year here. I took the recent cold snap as a cue to stock up on fuel for the winter. This past week I ordered another cord of wood and 100 gallons of propane. While I was arranging for my orders I began to wonder what is the most cost effective and at the same time ecologically sustainable way to heat our home for the winter. My daughter being a smart teenager suggested solar, while we do enjoy passive solar heating during the winter, thanks to a well designed home. However passive solar heating does nothing when it is cloudy. We need another option. Living in Oklahoma our winters are generally milder than most. Our average temperatures for winter are in the mid 40s to lower 50s with  overnight lows in the 20s and 30s. Add to the mix a house that is built into the side of a hill and we have a pretty efficient house to heat or cool. Until the ground freezes our downstairs remains a pretty constant temperature, about 55 without heating. If the sun is shining we have the advantage of the passive solar heat with large windows and wood floors absorbing that heat.

According to Popular Mechanics the average 2400-square-foot house, proud to say we are an average size home,  burns around 100 million Btu of fuel per year. The chart below is a great graphic for breaking down the cost of heating homes. Now our cost for wood is actually less than what is listed here. We happen to pay $150 for a cord of wood. For those of you unfamiliar with the measurement a cord of wood is defined as a well stacked woodpile 4 feet (122 cm) wide, 4 feet (122 cm) high, and 8 feet (244 cm) long.

We use a mixture of propane, because the house came with a propane furnace, and wood. We have a fire place with an insert, glass doors and a blower. This make our fireplace more efficient than a wood stove, but not as quite as efficient as a ceramic heater, although our brick chimney does begin to heat up and radiate heat after a day of the fire going. Properly designed fireplaces also can decrease heat loss. Modern fireplaces may have metal side walls and backs with space for air to circulate between the walls and the fireplace setting. Inlets near the floor and outlets near the mantel provide convection-air heating and circulation in addition to the radiant heat from the fireplace.
I was dismayed to see that propane was not that efficient but at the same time I was VERY happy to see that burning wood is a  good choice for not only for efficiency and cost effective wood is also a prudent choice for sustainability. Trees while are a sustainable resource. In our case we harvest only standing dead wood on our property and most of our suppliers do the same. In fact one of them is harvesting wood from river beds. In essence they are clearing out the the river. Some of this wood is wood that may have sunk during logging days.
Our Plan
So what is my plan. Some of you may remember me joining in with the Freeze Yer Buns Challenge. Well I am proud to say that we have only turned on the heat to make sure that the furnace is working properly. We plan on heating with wood for the most part as in years past.  When the temperature in the main living area gets above 72 degrees we turn on the circulator on our furnace only to help move the warmer air around the house.  The furnace is reserved for those really cold mornings when the temperature in the house has dropped below 65 degrees and we need some motivation to get up. Most of the time we will not see nor hear the furnace come on. Even in the midst of our blizzard and sub freezing temperatures last year we did not have the furnace come on.
Over the years we have found that best woods for heating are the hard woods and the best ones are the ones with the least water content. All woods burn cleaners and hotter when they have been seasoned. .
I always knew we were saving money by burning wood, just the fact that we had an efficient fire place, one with an insert and a heatilator. Now I am relieved and happy to know that we are indeed saving money not just on paper but in reality and we are doing so in a sustainable way.

this post is linked up to Simple Lives Thursday, Homestead Barn Hop

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Avoiding Toxins - Formaldehyde

This post is part of an ongoing series on Avoiding Toxins in our Lives.  To read more on how to avoid exposure from toxins and eliminate them from your home  click here.

Formaldehyde
Just recently formaldehyde was changed from a substance that was listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” to “known to be a human carcinogen “ The EPA has also come out with its own statement on the risks of formaldehyde.  Interestingly enough, the European Union is making plans to phase out all use of formaldehyde by 2014.
Where does Formaldehyde come from?
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic chemical compound.  Most of us first encountered formaldehyde in science class when it came time to dissect specimens. I will never forget that smell. By the time I reached my senior year I could no longer dissect animals because I was highly reactive to it. Most students would get used to the smell but, the smell continued to make me sick all year long. After discussing with my teacher that my mother had been a chemist assistant that worked with formaldehyde when she was pregnant with me, it was decided that I had a bona fide formaldehyde sensitivity.

Why Should You Avoid Exposure To Formaldehyde?
According to the National Cancer Institute  formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can be fatal.
Formaldehyde can cause

• irritation of the eyes, and nose Acute  formaldehyde exposure concentrations > 0.05 ppm can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and sinuses.  Resulting in  burning, dryness, redness and itching of eyes, nasal dryness, soreness, runniness; sore or dry throat, and sinus congestion or post-nasal drip. Secondary effects associated with these symptoms may include cough, chest tightness, excessive phlegm production, repeated sinus infections, eye infections and possibly bronchitis. In very sensitive individuals these respiratory symptoms may progress to asthma and for those with existing asthma exposure to formaldehyde may precipitate asthmatic attacks.
• Formaldehyde exposures even at concentrations as low as 0.04 ppm have been shown to apparently cause sub-clinical respiratory inflammatory responses which can be detected by expired breath analyses to determine nitric oxide (NO) in one’s breath. Such an analysis is the only known test that can demonstrate that formaldehyde can cause adverse health effects at concentrations found in building environments.
• Formaldehyde can also affect the central nervous system (CNS). Common CNS symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposures in buildings include frequent headaches, unusual fatigue, lassitude and disturbed sleep.  Source
• Children can be more susceptible to health effects of formaldehyde. As their immune system is still in development stage, chemicals like formaldehyde can easily trigger reactions in them. In kids, even a small amount of formaldehyde can lead to formaldehyde allergy symptoms like dermatitis, headache, or asthma.
• Some laboratory studies suggest that formaldehyde may affect the lymphatic and blood systems. Based on both data from  studies and the experimental data from laboratory research, NCI investigators have concluded that exposure to formaldehyde may cause leukemia, particularly myeloid leukemia, in humans.
• Menstrual Disorders Several studies have reported that menstrual irregular- ties/disorders may be related to occupational and/or residential formaldehyde exposures
• Formaldehyde has been linked to joint pain,chronic fatigue, birth defects, and genetic damage
•  A great percentage of people are hypersensitive to the irritant effects of formaldehyde (I fall in that category apparently) even at lowest of levels. People often develop hypersensitivity after breathing formaldehyde vapors during a renovation of home or remodeling or working in a carpet or fabric store.   
  

What is Formaldehyde Used For?
If this list seems long it is because it is. Because formaldehyde is used primarily as a preservative and antibacterial it is used in a wide range of products.  As such it is used commonly in

• Cosmetics and Toiletries such as antiperspirants, makeup, bubble bath, bath oils, shampoos, creams, mouthwashes and deodorants . It  is used as a preservative as a preservative and to inhibit bacterial growth.   In a Danish study of 285 shampoos, nearly 30 percent of them were found to contain formaldehyde but none of them listed it as an ingredient. The reason for this, was the formaldehyde was present as an unintentional contaminant, because the raw materials used in the cosmetics had been preserved with it. Source
• Household  Cleaners it is used as an anti fungal and bacterial
• Particle Board Furniture
• Paints
• Disinfectants
• Nail Polishes and Polish Removers
• Building Materials That new house smell is from the vocs and the formaldehyde (mobile homes are notorious for the formaldehyde because of the high use of particle board (think FEMA trailers)
• Wrinkle Free Fabrics that new clothes smell  is formaldehyde.
• Vaccines – as a preservative and to kill the bacteria
• Water Proofing – on rain coats and other fabrics
• Cars  the new car smell is from formaldehyde
• Food =you can find small amounts of formaldehyde in the food you eat – some cheeses, dried fish and food
• Cigarettes
• Melamine Plates
• Insulation it off gasses for years
• Paper Products such as grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels, are treated with urea-formaldehyde to make them stronger
• Carpet, Carpet Backing and Padding  =formaldehyde is used as a fire retardant in floor covering and carpet backings. Ever smell a new carpet?
• Vaccines – formaldehyde is used as a preservative and to kill the bacteria in the vaccine
• Antibacterial (antiseptic) Hand Wash to kill microbes on your hands
• Nail Hardeners, Nail Polishes, and Nail Removers –that That lovely smell at the nail salon most likely comes from formaldehyde, as it  is an important ingredient in some  nail hardeners
•  Health and Beauty Products antiperspirants, makeup, bubble bath, bath oils, shampoos, creams, mouthwashes and deodorants
• Paints, primers and paint-stripping agents
• Diet Sodas if your  do see aspartame be aware that your body will naturally produce formaldehyde as a result of consuming this artificial sweetener. According to Three Fat Chicks Each can of diet soda will produce approximately 20mg of methanol in the body. The methanol, in turn, will produce 6mg of formaldehyde. The EPA recommends a formaldehyde limit of 2mg per day at most. So, if you’re drinking just one can, you’re already in the danger zone. Now just imagine that you probably drink a 20 ounce bottle not a 12 ounce can a day. Most likely you drink more than one bottle a day. You are polluting your body with 10mg of formaldehyde. That is 5 times the recommended limit set by the EPA.

. 
The Problem with Formaldehyde in Your Home
 
Most  of us face our greatest risk of exposure to formaldehyde at home. With the formaldehyde present in so many building products and house hold products it is hard to escape.
How much formaldehyde can cause a problem? The eyes, nose, and throat are irritated by formaldehyde vapors at levels as low as 1 part formaldehyde per million parts of air . Low-level exposure can cause teariness, redness, and burning of the eyes, sneezing and coughing, and sore throat. Liquid formaldehyde solutions contacting the eyes can damage the cornea, possibly causing blindness.
Sensitive individuals have reported symptoms at formaldehyde levels around  1 ppm  (Main et al, 1983; Bender et al., 1983).
Additional studies also have supported that health effects can occur in sensitized individuals at 100 ppm when they are exposed chronically to formaldehyde. (Ritchie IM, et al 1987) These sensitized individuals can have exacerbations of symptoms without noticing the smell.

Formaldehyde products usually only emit vapors for 7 to 8 years. The emissions are most detrimental during the first few 365 days and the intensity gradually eases up over the next 7 to 8 years. Most home insulated with Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation had indoor air concentrations of under 0.1 parts per millions (ppm) one year after installation.However uffi when exposed to extreme heat or moisture can begin to emit formaldehyde vapors no matter how old the insulation.
 
How to Reduce Your Exposure to Formaldehyde

• Ventilation and circulation of outside air into the home is imperative and installing or using exhaust fans is not a mistake. It may reduce your level of contamination to below 0.1 ppm.
• If formaldehyde is in the insulation, particleboard or sub flooring, it is too difficult or expensive to remove the source walls and floors and cabinets they may be covered with vapor-barriers paint, sealants or even covered with carbon materials
• If the source of formaldehyde is paneling, plywood or particleboard, you can coat it with special sealers.
• Air purification to remove chemicals for the air can reduce contamination of your home or office. 
• Since Formaldehyde off gasses more when the humidity in the house is  above 50%, using a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity will reduce formaldehyde levels.
• Common houseplants may be able to filter formaldehyde out of indoor air.
• Solid wood for furniture and cabinets are better for you than particleboard cabinets.
• Consider living free of chemicals. Make your own natural cleaners and laundry powder
• Increase the ventilation in your house. Open windows, install exhaust fans. A tightly sealed new home contains more formaldehyde ppm than an older home. More formaldehyde is off gassed in the first year of a new home than at any other time.
• Wear natural fibers and avoid those that are wrinkle resistant
• Limit the amount of carpet in your house
• Avoid products with the following ingredients on the label. These are different formulations of formaldehyde. Remember to read the labels on what you buy.
  • Formalin
  • Methanal
  • Methyl aldehyde
  • Methylene oxide
  • Morbicid acid
  • Oxymethylene
  • methaldehyde
  • methanal
  • methyl aldehyde
  • methylene glycol
  • methylene oxide
  • oxomethane
  • oxymethylene,
  • paraform, paraformaldehyde
• Try to avoid cheaply made furniture made form particle board and plywood.
• If you have an older house check to see if your insulation is not Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation. It was typically used in hard to reach places.

The purpose of this article is not to alarm but rather open our eyes to every day contaminants. It is my hope that you will make at least one small change in your life after reading this. I know that after researching this I will NOT be drinking diet sodas and I will be on the look out for the other labeled ingredients to avoid them.

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Turning Down the Heat is Good for You

 
This will be my first time joining in on the Freeze Yer  Buns Off Challenge hosted by Crunchy Chicken.  What is this challenge? It is to keep your heat at a lower temperature during the winter. Why would anyone want to do that you ask?

1. Lower your heating bill. For every degree you turn down the thermostat you will save money. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs,
2. You will use less energy overall even when you warm up your house from a cooler temperature.
3. Do you really need to heat the house while you are away? Will the dog care? We have three dogs. Two enjoy being outside. The other is under a blanket when it is 108 outside. They really don’t care about the temperature in the house.
4. People sleep better when a room is cooler. Medical professionals and sleep experts have some variation in what they propose, but in general it seems to fall in the 60 - 70F degree range. However, the majority say that the cooler you can keep it (between 60 and 65) the better sleep tends to be
   Article Source:
5. Reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have a baby studies have shown that not only do baby’s sleep better  in cooler temperatures, but they are also at a lower risk for SIDS by sleeping in a room that is between 61º F and 68º
6. When the house is cooler it is more conducive to baking and making soups and chili.
7. A cooler house lets you use your sweaters.
8. A cooler house is good for snuggling
9. A cooler house gives you an excuse to make hot cocoa.
10. Keeping your house cooler may help you loose weight. Those who keep their houses no warmer than 68 degrees as less likely to be obese.

While this is my first year joining the Freeze Yer Buns Challenge, I grew up in a house that was kept at low temperatures. My parents kept the bedrooms at 55 degrees at night, we even opened windows in our bedrooms to get fresh air. Folks I grew up in New England. I grew up with blizzards and snow during the winter. We are not talking the South. So yes the house did get down to 55 at night. I am pretty sure my Dad would turn up the heat in the morning before he got us kids up. I do know that he stoked the wood stove and got this going again. 
When my husband and I got married we carried on this tradition. When we lived in our little town house we kept the temperature at 65 degrees in the winter. I remember my mother in law claiming that we would freeze her grandchildren when they were born.  But we adapted, we worn sweaters, fleece and sweat pants while were at home. My kids have adapted and survived too.  No they don’t wear mittens. In fact they are quite comfortable going out at 65 degrees in shorts outside.
Now living in Oklahoma we have what I like to refer to as bi-polar weather, no that is not a reference to the North and South Pole. It is a reference to the fact that we arrive at our average temp not the normal way, but rather by having our temperature be 10 degrees above normal on Monday and 10 degrees below normal on Friday. Thanks to this crazy weather we often go until nearly Thanksgiving before turning the heat on.
Do you like to keep your house toasty in the winter, or would you like to join this challenge? You can join up with others on The Freeze Yer Buns Off challenge on Facebook.
What temperature do you like to keep your house at over the winter?

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7 Quick Takes

-1-

I am trying out a new to me diet, in an attempt to clear up some health problems and potentially lose weight. (Which I seriously need to do). If you have not already read about it here you can do so. But in a quick summary it is a gluten-free, dairy free vegetarian diet. Now I have been vegan before and I have been eating gluten free for some time, but never at the same time. After a week of dipping my toe into this diet, meaning I did not know all the requirements I have lost 2lbs without even trying or ever being hungry. I KNOW! I am aiming for a 6 week reboot on this program that, that will be enough to change detox my body. For some it is not and I will have to go to the next step; Juicing for Life.

-2-

Thanks for all your prayers for my mother in law, Judy Stice. She is slowly improving. The doctors are not that positive but only time will tell what sort of recovery she will make.

-3-

Keeping my mother in law in mind, my husband has ordered some relics from Blessed Selios and has her on a prayer list at the shrine. He has been attributed to some miracles lately. Now is the time to pull out the big guns. She was strong enough to make it this far, through 4 surgeries now we need her mind to get strong.

-4-

My daughters are auditioning for their first musical, at school. Right now I have two songs stuck in my head, at the same time. So to get them out I am giving them to you. My youngest is singing this song. It is so appropriate for her personality voice and the fact that even though she is 11 she is still very much a little kid.

Narnia–The Call

Now if my little Peanut can just get past her bashfulness. It would be easier for her to perform on a stage in front of an audience than to audition in front of her friends. And she has a perfectly lovely voice when she can find it.

-5-

Pi has a beautiful voice and when we were looking for songs for her the best choices were blues or classical. Think church music or Adele. Yup my 13 year old sounds like that. In looking for churchy music that would be sellable we settled upon The Sound of Music. My oldest is now s going around the house singing Do-Re –Mi from the Sound of Music, she is doing her best Julie Andrews impression there too. But what gets me going is that she does not sound like a little kid, she has a full voice and knows how to use it . I on the other hand sound like a dying frog when I sing.  An interesting fact. My sister in law’s aunt was once the personal chef for Julie Andrews. Yup, we are hoping to get an introduction one day.

-6-

As I write this is is Friday the 13th. The first of 3 this year. Are you superstitious? Many people have a real fear of Friday the 13th.  There are so many legends and superstitions about Friday 13th. instead of going into them here I am just going to avoid walking under a ladder while carrying a black cat. How about you, how do you feel about Friday the 13th?

-7-

I am a happy flea, today I took care of those little things that make me happy, like getting the oil changed in my car and getting a cord of wood delivered. For those who do not know I heat my house with wood.  Of course, now that I have had the wood delivered the next week will be in the 60’s and 50’s.

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