rocket mass heaters in a nutshell

• 
  


• heat your home with 80% to 90% less wood


• 
  


• exhaust is nearly pure steam and CO2 (a little smoke at the beginning)


• 
  


• the heat from one fire can last for days


• 
  


• you can build one in a day or two


• 
  


• folks have built them spending less than $20


• 
  

The verbose details on rocket mass heaters

This could be the cleanest and most sustainable way to heat a conventional home. Some people have reported that they heat their home with nothing more than the dead branches that fall off the trees in their yard. And they burn so clean, that a lot of sneaky people are using them illegally, in cities, without detection.



When somebody first told me about rocket mass heaters, none of it made sense. The fire burns sideways? No smoke? If a conventional wood stove is 75% efficient, doesn't that mean the most wood you could possibly save is something like 25%? How do you have a big hole right over the fire and not have the house fill with smoke? I was skeptical.



And then I saw one in action. The fire really does burn sideways. The exhaust is near room temperature - and very clean. The smoke doesn't come back up because a huge amount of air is getting sucked into the wood hole. Neat! I sat on one that had not had a fire in it for 24 hours - it was still hot!



How it works:







The sticks stand straight up. Only the bottom ends of the sticks burn. The fire burns sideways. Since the heat riser is insulated, it gets freaky hot. This causes a strong convective current. When the hot gasses hit the barrel, it gives off a lot of heat, which cools the gasses which get much smaller and easier to push around. The gasses that exit are usually just carbon dioxide and steam.



The real magic happens with the heat riser. The strong convective current is what makes the air get sucked in through the wood feed so that the fire burns sideways and the smoke doesn't come out. It is also the place where it gets so hot that all of the smoke is burned.







Above is a much better image showing the mighty power of the insulated heat riser, reburning the smoke and powering the whole system.



The first picture below represents the most thorough rocket mass heater design I have ever seen. Followed by the rocket mass heater that was created from that design. These are both the products of the leaders in rocket mass heater innovation, Ernie and Erica Wisner, who have built more than 700 rocket mass heaters.



Source: http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp



Visit us: http://energyhousefresno.com/



from energyhouse http://energyhouse.livejournal.com/36948.html

Modern Hot Tubs

What You Need to Know About Space Heaters

Cold weather means a quest to find warmth, and for many people this winter, that means a space heater.



"A space heater is a relatively efficient way to heat small rooms or large rooms," said Josh Leppek, General Manager of a Lansing Menards. "It's a supplementary heat, as opposed to running your furnace or pellet stove, wood stove."



And walking through the aisles of Menards, it's easy to believe there is a space heater for everyone. They come in all shapes, sizes and strengths.



The heaters can warm an area ranging from a small office to the first floor of a home, Leppek said. The trick can be finding the right heater for you.



"First we would ask what size of area they're looking to heat and then go from there," said Leppek. "A lot of the information is on the box and we can always help qualify people from there."



Most modern heaters have a feature where they automatically turn off when tipped over.



But space heaters, if used incorrectly, can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Public Safety Commission, space heaters cause 25,000 fires a year, resulting in 6,000 injuries and 300 deaths.



"You've gotta make sure you have the right one for your house," said Brian Ball, chief of the Delhi Twp. Fire Department. "Bigger isn't always better. You want one that is going to heat your house but let's not go overboard."



Ball says the "lion's share" of fires in Delhi are caused by the use -- or misuse -- of space heaters.



He says it's important to turn off your space heater when you leave or before you go to bed. And when the heater is on, it's important to leave space between it and any other objects in the room.



"We've gotta make sure we have a three-foot area around and that is not only for the combustible stuff, but also a safety area for kids," said Ball. "We don't want kids to get too close and get burned by a space heater either."



Here are some other tips from local fire departments:



Plug your heater directly into an outlet, not into an extension cord



Look for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.



Have your chimney cleaned by a licensed, professional chimney sweep



Keep a safety screen on your fireplace at all times



Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors



Have a safety escape plan



Source: http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Space-Heaters-287780181.html



Visit us: http://energyhousefresno.com/



from energyhouse http://energyhouse.livejournal.com/36607.html

Top notch! CRANE transformed into luxury hotel with hot tub and rotating suites

You'll have to crane your neck to catch sight of this quirky hotel's penthouse suite, which is built it into one of the world's oldest and tallest mechanical structures.



The luxury crane hotel in Amsterdam features three plush hotel suites a hot tub with breathtaking views, for holiday makers who like to get high on vacation.



The towering 50-metre structure located in the famous Dutch city offers luxury accommodation for the more adventurous traveller.




It is built in one of the world's oldest and highest cranes that was doomed for decay after being branded 'impossible' to develop.



But an ambitious developer has transformed it into a haven of tranquillity and just three years later, the crane is hosting elite guests for its swanky rotating suites decked out by a top team of interior designers and its panoramic-view pool, now called The hotel Faralda in Amsterdam.



The 250-ton crane, rising from the ground at the hip NDSM site on the River Ij's banks, was saved despite the creation of the hotel being dismissed as 'technically impossible', according to its spokesman Edwin Kornmann Rudi.



Mr Rudi said: "But after years of preparation there was a point of no return. Nowhere else in the world is there something as unique, as big and high as this hotel.



"This has put an end to the fight against the decline of the historic harbour crane.



"The Grand Dame has finally reached her destination as the most extravagant Crane Hotel in the world.



"It is also the most talked about wedding location in the Netherlands. We've had people getting married in the studio, sleeping in one of the three suites and having their wedding night start in the hot tub at the top of the crane."



Alongside deluxe dining and sumptuous suites, the steel colossus also boasts a private business club where internationally oriented companies and stakeholders to use the crane for all sorts of sessions.



The suites are the most expensive in the Netherlands after developers splurged £660,000 building EACH room, setting customers back by £340 each.



The crane also boasts a TV studio which is used for high-profile television and music productions, measuring 15-square metres and hosting guests for fancy corporate parties.



The engineering marvel was constructed by hundreds of companies and manufacturers in the Dutch city making a joint effort to turn scrap metal into Savoy-style suites.



Architects say the crane still moves in the wind and is fitted with a thrust bearing made of gold - which allows the suites to rotate.



New foundations were built to withstand the weight of the beast-like structure after the quay of the old wharf was not strong enough.



So if you fancy a holiday that is top notch why not chill out in a plush room in the sky.



Source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/travel/adventure/418746/Crane-hotel-Amsterdam-quirky-unusual



Visit us: http://energyhousefresno.com/



from energyhouse http://energyhouse.livejournal.com/36198.html