|
|
Comparing Firewood To Other Heating Methods
Equivalent heat of other fuels compared to a cord of air-dried wood (80 cubic feet of solid wood content at 20-percent moisture) based on a heating-unit efficiency of 100 percent.
Note
Most wood-burning stoves sold today operate at less than 50-percent efficiency.
| Wood1 |
Available heat per cord in million Btu |
Number 2 Fuel oil2 |
Anthracite3 coal |
Natural4 gas |
LP5 gas |
Electric6 heat |
| Gallons needed to equal cord |
Tons needed to equal cord |
100 cubic feet needed to equal cord |
Gallons needed to equal cord |
Kilowatt hours needed to equal cord |
| Ash |
23.6
|
168.6
|
0.98
|
236
|
259.3
|
6,941
|
| Basswood |
14.7
|
105.0
|
0.61
|
147
|
161.5
|
4,324
|
| Box elder |
17.5
|
125.0
|
0.73
|
175
|
192.3
|
5,147
|
| Cottonwood |
16.1
|
115.0
|
0.67
|
161
|
176.9
|
4,735
|
| Elm |
20.1
|
143.6
|
0.84
|
201
|
220.9
|
5,912
|
| Elm (red) |
21.4
|
152.9
|
0.89
|
214
|
235.2
|
6,294
|
| Hackberry |
21.6
|
154.3
|
0.90
|
216
|
237.4
|
6,353
|
| Hickory (shagbark) |
29.1
|
207.9
|
1.21
|
291
|
319.8
|
8,559
|
| Locust (black) |
28.1
|
200.7
|
1.17
|
281
|
308.8
|
8,265
|
| Maple (silver |
20.8
|
148.6
|
0.87
|
208
|
228.6
|
6,118
|
| Maple (sugar) |
25.0
|
178.6
|
1.04
|
250
|
274.7
|
7,353
|
| Oak (red) |
25.3
|
180.7
|
1.05
|
253
|
278.0
|
7,441
|
| Oak (white) |
27.0
|
192.9
|
1.13
|
270
|
296.7
|
7,941
|
| Osage orange |
30.7
|
219.3
|
1.28
|
307
|
337.4
|
9,029
|
| Pine (shortleaf) |
19.0
|
135.7
|
0.79
|
190
|
208.8
|
5,588
|
| Red cedar |
18.9
|
135.0
|
0.79
|
189
|
207.7
|
5,559
|
| Sycamore |
20.7
|
147.9
|
0.86
|
207
|
227.5
|
6,088
|
| Walnut (black) |
21.8
|
155.7
|
0.91
|
218
|
239.6
|
6,412
|
1Wood available heat at 20 percent moisture 7,000 Btu per pound (128 cubic feet with 80 cubic feet wood volume).
2Number 2 fuel oil available heat 140,000 Btu per gallon.
3Anthracite coal available heat 12,000 Btu per pound.
4Natural gas available heat 1,000 Btu per cubic foot.
5LP gas available heat 91,000 Btu per gallon.
6Electricity available heat 3,400 Btu per kilowatt hour.
|
