Ideal stove is a Kochel or masonry oven and it creates more heat from less wood. A traditional woodstove is 30-50% efficient. Newer, cleaner burning stoves have a secondary burner and will burn 85% clean burn with less soot.For those really adventurous check out Rocket Mass Heaters- Super efficient- http://www.rocketmassheater.ca/
Cords used- Depends on size of home, insulation levels, home configuration, temperature of home, efficiency of system- average-5-10 bush cord of dry wood.
Species used- Hardwoods best hickory, oak, maple, elm or longer list from harder to softer – ironwood, beech, ash, red elm, red maple, tamarack, white birch, Manitoba maple, red alder, hemlock, poplar, pine, basswood, spruce, and balsam.
In the shoulder seasons, spring and fall, when not a lot of heat required the softer woods are fine
http://www.woodheat.org/good-firewood.html
Wood Varies widely depending on if you get your own wood- free except for labour and equipment. Purchase wood is usually $200 to $300/bush cord. Tandem load of logs is generally the lowest cost if you need to purchase.
Seasoning of wood until it is dry usually at least one year. Some wood takes longer to dry than others i.e. oak. Other woods like ash dry in a very short time.
Fuel wood, the environment and the 21st Century
