patrick.net

New Renter says

Be careful with the local ordinances.

Yes, a very valid point - I live far from the Bay Area; the ONLY local codes or permits in my area are for septic systems.

You need heat in the Bay Area enough to warrant a wood stove.

Not to be confused with a pellet stove which does require some electricity (especially to start).

On July 9, 2008, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board adopted Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-burning Devices to reduce the harmful emissions that come from wood smoke. The new rule will:

http://www.baaqmd.gov/?sc_itemid=156191E5-F112-4633-935E-FE9B58272325

Temperature inversions are a bitch.

Forget wood stoves, just wait for global warming to raise temps so you don't need them! Then install a wood burning air conditioning unit! Hmm, how would that even work? Maybe if you set it up outside the home, added a boiler for making steam, a turbine for converting steam to electricity, and ran wires from there to a conventional AC unit, that would qualify as a wood burning AC system, right?

Quigley says

Then install a wood burning air conditioning unit! Hmm, how would that even work? Maybe if you set it up outside the home, added a boiler for making steam, a turbine for converting steam to electricity, and ran wires from there to a conventional AC unit, that would qualify as a wood burning AC system, right?

Sounds like a fun project. Of course I'd probably blow myself up or electrocute myself in the process.

But what a way to go!

Quigley says

Forget wood stoves, just wait for global warming to raise temps so you don't need them! Then install a wood burning air conditioning unit! Hmm, how would that even work? Maybe if you set it up outside the home, added a boiler for making steam, a turbine for converting steam to electricity, and ran wires from there to a conventional AC unit, that would qualify as a wood burning AC system, right?

A natural gas or propane powered powered A/C unit would be more feasible, as would a window unit powered by solar cells or a wind turbine.

zzyzzx says

A natural gas or propane powered powered A/C unit would be more feasible, as would a window unit powered by solar cells or a wind turbine.

I just plug mine into the wall outlet. Economies of scale. : )

I was thinking burning wood was using a renewable energy source and good for everybody. The things you learn about the Bay Area that go against its so-called "green" stance.

Being in New Hampshire I know all about catalytic converters for wood stoves. they are fine if:
1) you are OK with staying awake nights to watch for chimney fires
2) you like to spend $500/year on a new converter when you get your stove and chimney swept
3) you like back-puffing (in effect an explosive sudden burning of smoke that has built-up in the firebox... think of how a piston works... suddenly all those gasses fire up at once... generally all that happens is there is a loud boom, the wood stove shakes, smokes gets pushed out of every crack in the thing... usually back puffing once it starts, only occurs rhythmically every 20-30 seconds)
4) you enjoy looking through all your fire starter materials for the odd piece of trash, such as a gum wrapping, that might destroy the converter
5) you like knowing that the converter is making no environmental difference whatsoever, but at least you are keeping a black Soweto miner a slave in a platinum mine