More with Less sustainability series - Heat (2/4)

Two: Heating things up, carbon neutral style

Words by Lynsey Burke

Wood heat is a primary net zero way SPL warms the cabinsImage by Tyler Cave

Building a fire on a cool evening in one of SPL’s cabins equipped with a wood stove Image by Tyler Cave

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? Or rather, does it have a biomass capture of C0² that makes it carbon neutral in comparison to the biomass capture of C0² through photosynthesis when it was standing tall?

That is the (ahem) burning question. The answer, like anything to do with humankind and our impact on the environment, isn’t clear-cut.

We humans need our temperatures controlled. Ancient humans gathered around a campfire to get warm and to cook. It was primitive and effective.

Our active pursuit of comfort leaves us wanting to attain the most effortless forms of comfort. But what if these comforts are making us- out of touch with the resource(s) being used?

Comfort at a cost

It’s comparable to cash vs. a credit card. Having something tangible is more impactful and resonates with what has been used and what is left. The invisibility of the thermostat that makes us instantly warm or instantly cool, it’s a beautiful thing – until perhaps the energy bill comes in.

Cash in hand is there until it’s gone. Firewood that has been gathered and stacked becomes a finite resource, which is a reminder that we need to treat the invisible resources as limited, and something that we must collectively conserve.

If your only heat source required you to get outside, source the deadfall, chop, split, stack the wood, make kindling and let it dry for a season. All in order to heat your abode, where you will build a fire, maintain that fire, enjoy the glow of the flame and the dry permeating rays of hard-earned heat warm you?

Firewood stacked and drying for the coming seasonImage by Lynsey Burke

Deadfall from the forest floor is collected, chopped and stacked to keep guests warm in our cabins Image by Lynsey Burke

This with the silver lining of knowing that you helped to maintain the forest floor that is becoming increasingly threatened by dryer conditions and damaging forest fires. That is a pat on the back and a sound sleep for your efforts in carbon neutral heating.

Doing wood heat right

It seems to be a four-part equation when it comes to burning wood as fuel for heat. Let’s break it down:

Where did you source the wood from?
What is the ratio of carbon release of burning wood to letting wood rot?
How energy efficient is your wood stove?
What is the ratio of the C0² biomass capture during the life of that tree, to the biomass release of burning that same dead tree?

While there is still no tool or technique to accurately find a way to measure carbon capture vs. carbon release, we can continue to change our lifestyle behaviours to trend in the direction of ‘earth first.’

Entrance to the Preece cabin with a hearty stack of firewood is a sustainable heat source

Wood stoves and firewood sourced from deadfall heat the cabins Image by Bea Payette

“The ultimate effect of our business’ goal is to be climate positive,” says Jamie. “Our educational impact is our biggest win. If you can change people’s lifestyle behaviours, that’s a huge difference.”

With every environmentally friendly endeavour, there’s a caveat. “Because of the Lodge’s location we have great air,” says Christine adding that while wood burning isn’t accessible to everyone due to regulations or lack of resources — know that during your stay with us your warmth is generated sustainably, either by wood (carbon neutral) or electricity (Blue — the Pelton wheel).

Staying warm at SPL

Doing our best with what we’ve got, that’s our moral philosophy and a gateway to striving for better.

When we ponder the best way to keep our guests and staff warm and cozy there are several considerations – how can we minimize the load by smart design? Is there a multi-fold benefit to utilizing a certain fuel source? What waste or environmental impact will be generated as the result of the usage?

With such thought-provoking questions, we’ve also come up with some equally enlightening answers. Because we have 140 acres there is much forest maintenance required in removing deadfall to prevent the potential risk forest fire.

While leaving logs to rot can certainly be beneficial for the forest floor for reasons such as becoming a nurse log, which is a fallen tree that decays and becomes a growing site for seedlings and young plants, selective pruning and removal of fallen trees is an ideal way to heat our cabins.

The glow of the wood stove creates an ambient warmth for gathering and games

Staying warm and playing games in a sustainably heated cabin at SPL Image by Emma Hay

Design smartly with smart design

Generating heat rays with leaky walls does not a warm building make. Creating airtight spaces with proper insulation by adding fiberglass, styrofoam panels to roofs, rock wool batts under floors — you increase efficiency by orders of magnitude, says long-time staff carpenter Toby Hay.

The original cedar shakes on roofs, which were split on site, have been replaced with insulation and metal. Some cabins have had extensive upgrades including earthquake proofing and radiant hot water in-floor heating (electric).

Wood stoves today all have to pass a WETT (wood energy technology transfer) inspection every two years, which simply ensures that the stove burns wood at a rate that reduces exhaust gasses to release carbon dioxide rather than carbon monoxide or soot, explains Toby.

Stoves today, based on design and materials, are 50 per cent more efficient and utilize 30 to 50 per cent less fuel than older non certified models. Windows that are replaced are double-pane, and the once uninsulated cabins and buildings are now properly all-season.

Playing with fire

Fire is unifying. It brings people together. Education around the tool that is fire has stood the test of time and it has always been a part of our training, a philosophy that carries us through — how to light a fire in the wind and in the rain.

There is a power to fire that draws people together in the dark and in the cold, wet weather. We teach our groups to find what burns, find a pitchstick and gather around the flames admiring our accomplishment. With fire there is effort, and there is warmth and togetherness.

It is our collective efforts and systems in place here that allow operations to work in symbiosis; the natural world is always willing to provide if you’re willing to put the work in. That act in itself is worthy of a ‘kumbaya moment’ fireside.

***