Heating with wood - warmth that pays off
Cosy, economical and sustainable
Wood is the oldest fuel known to humankind and at the same time one of the most modern. As a renewable energy source, wood stores the power of the sun and releases it in the stove as comfortable warmth.
Wood is the epitome of renewable energy: heating with wood provides independence from oil, natural gas and coal, offers security of supply and, when burned correctly, remains part of the natural carbon cycle. In terms of cost, firewood also compares very well with other fuels.
Is heating with wood still up to date?
Yes. Like solar, wind and hydropower, wood is a renewable energy source and is available regionally in many places. A modern stove combines this traditional fuel with efficient, low-emission combustion technology.
For a long time, wood was the only way to heat living spaces. With industrialisation, coal, oil and natural gas almost completely replaced wood, and by the early 1970s heating with wood had become rare in western industrialised countries. However, with oil and natural gas becoming scarcer and more expensive, growing environmental awareness and the desire for greater independence, a clear turnaround has taken place.
Today, heating with wood is once again regarded as a modern, environmentally friendly and economical method of heating. Wood cannot solve every energy challenge, but as a renewable resource it makes an important contribution to the energy transition – whether as logs in a stove or as pellets in a pellet stove.
Why wood is considered CO2-neutral
Wood is considered CO2-neutral because burning it releases only the amount of carbon dioxide that the tree absorbed from the atmosphere during its growth. Growing trees absorb this CO2 again, creating a closed cycle.
Whether wood burns in a stove or decays in the forest, the same amount of CO2 is released in both cases. Additional emissions arise only from harvesting, processing and transport and these remain low for regionally sourced firewood, as it does not need to be imported or transported over long distances.
Fossil fuels are a completely different matter: oil, natural gas and coal contain carbon that was locked away underground for millions of years. Burning them releases this carbon into the atmosphere in addition. Every cubic metre of wood that replaces fossil fuels therefore relieves the climate.
Europe as a whole also shows how important sustainably managed forests are for the climate. According to Forest Europe, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, the growing stock of European forests has doubled since the 1990s, and in 2020 forest biomass absorbed an average of around 155 million tonnes of carbon per year, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of EU greenhouse gas emissions. Read more about climate protection in heating in our knowledge article Sustainability.
Cosy warmth with a comfortable stove
Alongside environmental friendliness and cost savings, the real appeal of a stove lies in the special atmosphere it creates in a room. The play of the flames, the crackling of the wood and the radiant heat create a mood that no other form of heating can offer.
Gazing into the fire is relaxing and lets your thoughts wander freely. A stove is therefore a cosy and at the same time sensible addition to any home and anyone who heats with wood makes a personal contribution to the energy transition.
Does a stove make you independent of electricity & gas?
Yes. A log-burning stove or fireplace insert is connected neither to the power grid nor to a gas line and needs no auxiliary energy, just a match to light it. Your home stays warm even during a power cut, a severe cold snap or a gas supply shortage.
Firewood can easily be stored at home and is immediately at hand when it matters. The warmth of a wood fire is independent of geopolitical crises, periods without wind and sun, and extreme weather. Especially in uncertain times, a modern stove gives you the certainty of being able to heat self-sufficiently at any time. Find out more in our knowledge articles Energy security and Crisis-proof heating with wood.
Heating with wood is also environmentally friendly and economical: one cubic metre of stacked, dry hardwood has roughly the same heating value as 200 litres of heating oil. Per kilowatt hour, wood is one of the most affordable energy sources. A stove is particularly efficient as a supplement to an existing heating system, for example in combination with a heat pump, which it relieves on cold days.
Modern vs. old stoves - the difference in emissions
Modern stoves produce up to 85 percent fewer emissions than old appliances and need less firewood for the same heat output. The reason lies in an optimised firebox with targeted air flow and high-quality lining, which ensure high combustion temperatures and clean burning.
Particulate emissions from domestic wood heating have fallen noticeably in recent years, above all thanks to technical progress in modern stoves and the replacement of old appliances. The difference is considerable: older appliances can emit up to 100 times more than modern stoves. Replacing an outdated stove with a modern model is therefore one of the most effective ways to achieve cleaner air.
Austroflamm continuously develops its combustion technology and falls below the statutory limits by up to 50 percent. Thanks to its special balance of thermal insulation and thermal conductivity, the patented Keramott firebox lining quickly reaches a high combustion chamber temperature, enabling clean, low-pollutant combustion. The patented Heat Memory System stores heat for up to 8 hours, depending on the model, and releases it evenly into the room – so less firewood is needed for the same level of comfort. Thanks to this clean combustion, Austroflamm stoves do not need an additional dust filter. Find out more in our knowledge article Dust filter.
Is it not a waste to burn wood?
No. Firewood is usually wood that is not suitable in quality for construction or furniture. It is a by-product of necessary forest maintenance and of offcuts in sawmills. Using it for energy is therefore a sensible form of recycling, not additional logging.
During thinning, weaker, crooked or damaged trees are removed so that the remaining trees have light and space to grow. This wood, together with crown wood and sawmill residues, is processed into logs, pellets or briquettes. If it were left unused in the forest, it would release the same amount of CO2 as it decays, without replacing any fossil fuels.
Selling firewood is also an important source of income for forest owners. It finances forest maintenance, the upkeep of forest roads and the conversion to stable, species-rich mixed forests - an investment that is becoming ever more important in view of drought, storms and bark beetles.
Our tips for sustainable heating with wood
Light the fire correctly
Correct lighting is essential to keep emissions as low as possible during combustion. Thinly split kindling and standard firelighters bring the firebox up to the required temperature quickly.
Choose the right firewood
Suitable firewood is untreated, air-dried and has a residual moisture content of 15 to 20 percent. Low-resin hardwood such as beech, oak or birch burns particularly evenly with a calm flame. Add wood in small amounts – fine white ash and little soot indicate clean combustion.
Store heat for longer
Stoves with the Heat Memory System or Xtra stored heat store the heat from combustion and release it gradually into the room. This makes particularly efficient use of every log.
Clean and service your stove regularly
Only a stove in perfect technical condition converts wood optimally into heat. Regular cleaning and inspection by a specialist ensure clean, environmentally friendly combustion. You will find practical advice in our article Clean stoves correctly.