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Fuel Wood

By Tabitha Mishra
Last updated: February 21, 2022

What Does Fuel Wood Mean?

Fuel wood is wood that is burned for energy. It can be used for heating, cooking, or generatig power.

Fuel wood comes in various forms, including firewood, charcoal, pelleted sawdust, and wood chips.

Safeopedia Explains Fuel Wood

About 2.3% of total annual energy consumption in 2020 in the United States was from wood and wood waste like bark, sawdust, wood scrap, and paper mill residues. In addition, wood and wood waste accounted for about 5.5% of end-use energy consumption by industries, and 4.4% of their total energy consumption.

The majority of wood-related fuel consumption in the US is by manufacturers of wood products and paper. To operate their facilities, waste from lumber and paper mills is used to produce steam and generate electricity.

Several power plants in the electric power sector burn wood to generate electricity. Some coal-burning power plants burn wood chips with coal to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

Fuel Wood in the Residential Sector

The residential sector is the second-largest consumer of fuel wood in the US. Logs are the most common form available locally and can be bought from coal merchants, farmers, and tree surgeons.

In 2020, wood energy accounted for 4% of end-use energy consumption in the residential sector, and 2.2% of their total energy consumption.

Logs used as fuel wood should be dry and well seasoned for complete combustion to take place. Wet and unseasoned wood is less efficient and results in the buildup of harmful deposits over a short time, especially in chimneys over the fireplace. Deposit of creosote or resinous material in the chimney can cause chimney fire or malfunction, and allow harmful fumes to enter the home.

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