Page 16 RAIN August/September 1978 ForesrfY entries continued Energy Self-Sufficiency Prospects for the British Columbia Forest Products Industry, R. S. Evans, 1977, from: Western Forest Products Laboratory Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T lX2 The B.C. forest-products industry currently consumes 23 percent of all the natural gas u cd in that province. This concise report outlines how most of the industry could become completely independent of natural gas by the on-site utilization of its own surplus unused wood and bark residues, with a net gain in several areas large enough to sustain small, thermal-electric generating station. for local or regional energy needs. Valuable natural gas could then be diverted to more useful markets or conerved for future needs. The Evans study also cites the improved technologies that are available for recovery of wood wastes, including wood gasification. Good data for regional self-reliance straregies and the economic advantages in opting for renewable energy sources. (Thanks to J. R. de Weese) - SA Siocan Valley Community Forest Management Project, $13 from: Siocan Valley Resource Society Box 81 Winlaw, BC VOG 2JO CANADA Not your usual forestry report calling for more and faster c1earcutting-this report was prepared by a citizen's group living in a typical western area where forestry is the main livelihood and is ontrolled by outside interests with a "locals be damned" policy of exploiting the resources. The report recommends forestry practices that support a sustainable local economy, include residents in decision-making, demand implementation of sustained-yield recommendations ignored by Provincial forestry units to the advantage of logging companies, setting up of rural woodlots, an end to underpricing of cedar and other woods for export to the U.S., more local manufacture of finished wood products, etc. Valuable to any citizen's groups trying to deal with private or government timber "overlords." - TB Tbe Otber Face of2,4-D, Jay Lewis and John W. Warnock, an ongoing series in: Acres, U.S.A.: A Voice for EcoAgriculture (604 per issue, $6.00/ year) 10227 E. 61st St. Raytown, MO 64133 Acres, U.S.A. continues to impress us with their outspoken advocacy of ecologically sound agriculture and monitoring of environmental toxins. In April they began an ongoing series on the hazards of 2,4-D, a phenoxy herbicide related to the chemicals used in the forestry industry (see RAIN, May 1978). Based on a definitive study prepared by a team of Canadians, The Other Face of 2,4-D is a thorough investigation of the potential health hazards of phenoxies, including their careinogenic and mutagenic properties. Solid information for people becoming involved in the fight against chemical-intensive land-management practices and the promotion of the organic, labor-intensive alternatives. - SA WOOD HEATING NEWS by Bill Day The brilliant spotlight placed on chimney maintenance has created increased demand for the required tools. Clean chimney are neces ary for safe operation of wood or coal fired appliances. Soot deposits on the interior walls of your stove's firebox may decrease the heat output by 30 percent or more. 'him{ley cleaning tools are readily available in reputable wood stove outlets. Kristia Associates has expanded the selection of their top quality chimney brush (Eva's Chimney Brushes). Worcester Brush Co. and Ace Brush o. have expanded their production of good serviceable bru hes and cleaning accessories. Information about nearby dealers or distributors can be obtained by writing: Worcester Brush Co., Worcester, MA 01601 Kristia As ociatcs, 213 Ash St., No. 209, Portland, OR 97205. or P.O. Box 1118, Portland, ME 04104 Ace Brush Co., 30 Henry St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 * * * Washington Stove Works has begun a new era. Recently, two new efficiency-oriented stoves have been added to their product assortment. The new "airtight Arctic 30" box heater util izes a Scandinavian style horizontal interior baffle plate. Their new "Crest': offers the advantages of an open fireplace decor with the option of use as a high-efficiency space heater. * * * Copies of Scandinavian stoves have proved to be of much worse quality than was previously reported. One group, "Fjord" from Taiwan, incorporates nearly every mistake one could make in producing a cast iron stove. The deficiencies I've noticed arc: (a) The castings are poured from low-grade iron derived from melting scrap without using a proper percentage of pig iron. The resulting castings tend to be porous and quite brittle. The former can include pinholes that allow air to pass c: mp\etely through thin but solid-looking sidewalls, tops or bottoms. (b) Lack of quality control has allowed misshapen castings to be assembled in finished stoves. The resulting wide gaps allow uncontrolled amounts of air to enter the firebox. This reduces burning efficiency and creates localized overheating via the "blowtorch effect" which accelerates the deterioration of the stove body. (c) "Out of register" castings have resulted from lack of sand mold alignment. This creates thick and thin spots, or sometil)1es holes the size of a half dollar in the sides of the finished products. (d) These Fjords have bcen assembled without furnace cement in the joints or seams. After assembly, the cement was smeared over the seams to improve the stove appearance. If one likes the efficiency, quality or appearance of a Scandinavian stove, I would suggest buying the original instead of a sloppy copy. * * * Vermont has become the first state to ban the use of "air siphon- triple wall" prefabricated chimneys for wood stove installations. Instead of containing the heat inside the flue, these chimneys cool the exhaust gases, causing excessive amounts of creosote to be deposited inside the chimney. Clogged chimneys, frequent chimney fires, and an increased need for maintenance are a direct result of using these products. I suggest using chimneys marketed under these brand names: Pro-Jet, Hart and Cooley, Metalbestos, or any other double-wall solid-pack insulated chimney. There are two reasons why these "air-insulation" chimneys are sold. First, the superior and safer solid-insulation chimney is often hard to get because of the high and rising consumer demand. Second, the profit margin all the way from manufacturer to retailer is higher on the lower quality chimneys. Perhaps the rest of the nation should follow Vermont's lead.
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