WEEAC
Fossil fuels have consistently been slated by scientists as being the main reason for climate change and the emissions of C02 into the atmosphere. For many years before gas and electricity were commonplace, the UK was dependent on solid fuels to heat homes and water. There are still a good proportion of homes in the UK using solid fuels but prices have increased and supply is also not as readily available as it was.
Solid fuel is generally considered to be coal and wood.
The UK has all but finished mining for coal and the coal which is mined is high grade, which is used for steel production rather than domestic applications. Coal for homes is imported and with the advances in technology there are smoke and smokeless varieties.
Wood again has become a carefully monitored commodity and now home owners should only buy from sustainable forests or approved suppliers. Most solid fuels can be purchased either from local garden centres or specific merchants.
Wood for heating may be in the form of logs for fires, which isn't very efficient, up to modern sealed stoves and boilers using wood chip or manufactured wood pellets. These appliances are very efficient and can be as automatic as gas or oil boilers and used to heat water for your domestic hot water and heating system.
When wood chip boilers are installed it will be necessary to have a large storage container for the fuel. Buying wood chip in bulk would then be about the same cost as gas per kWh.
Do remember if you are using solid fuels to heat your home, there is a carbon output and so you may need to think about ways to reduce your usage or how to offset your emissions through other energy saving initiatives around your home.
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