Wood burning habits and its effect on the electrical energy demand of a retrofitted Norwegian detached house

Abstract

Using firewood as a space heating source is a popular solution in Norwegian housing and can significantly reduce the electrical energy demand of houses. This study analysed habits and reasons for using a wood stove from survey data. From this, typical behaviour patterns were defined. These patterns were imported into a building performance simulation model of a typical Norwegian single-family detached house to evaluate the impact of the stove user behaviour on the electrical energy demand and on the overheating risk. Results showed that up to 32% of the electrical energy demand for space heating can be saved using a wood stove. The number of overheating hours increased when the wood stove was used more frequently. However, it decreased after full renovation because the stove is used less often, as the total space heating demand decreases and the indoor temperature drops less often below the temperature set-point when the stove is started. Active use of the wood stove is effective as retrofitting measure when the aim is to save electricity or fossil fuels. Nevertheless, if the stove power is not adapted to the building, it can be challenging to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.

Dispersion of particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) from wood combustion for residential heating: Optimisation of mitigation actions based on large-eddy simulations

“…To obtain the actual emission rates, one must know consumption of wood per unit time per stove and frequency of using the stoves, i.e., parameters that characterize burning habits in the city. Felius et al (Felius et al, 2019) https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2021-81 Preprint. Discussion started: 24 March 2021 c Author(s) 2021.…”

“…However, the need for heating during cold winter days implies that more realistic policy actions must be considered. Moreover, active use of the wood-burning stoves could be an effective retrofitting measure helping to save electricity and fossil fuels (Felius et al, 2019). There are many uncertainties associated with the current usage and replacement of the stoves, which includes uncertainties related to the emission factor (Seljeskog et al, 2017).…”