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A wood stove in the 21st Century? Guidelines for proper design and maintenance

Installing a stove in a modern home can not only provide an economical source of heat, but also energy independence. Choosing the right stove, optimal positioning in the room and proper maintenance are essential factors to ensure long-term thermal efficiency.

Tudor Burac has been a stovemaker for many years and knows what it means to build a stove that not only provides warmth, but also long-term energy efficiency. From choosing the perfect place for the stove to its annual maintenance, every detail matters when it comes to enjoying comfort and economy during the cold season.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "When building a house, together with the architect or designer it's good to analyze where the stove will be placed. The strategic positioning of the stove can increase the thermal comfort of the home, especially when it is placed between the central areas of the house, such as the living room and kitchen. In this way the stove functions as a main heating point and can distribute heat efficiently."

Another important factor for a durable stove is the material from which it is built, the foundation and the chimney. If these elements are correctly determined, the specialist guarantees that the stove can provide years of thermal comfort. Tudor Burac also recommends annual maintenance to prevent slag deposits that can reduce the efficiency of the stove.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "Cleaning the interior walls of the stove contributes to better heat transmission and prevents increased wood consumption. Over time, slag deposits on the walls of the stove create a layer that prevents heat from transferring to the brick, acting as a thermal insulation layer, similar to mineral wool. So instead of the heat being absorbed by the brick, it is lost through the drains and goes straight up the chimney. Essentially, we end up wasting money down the chimney."

The stovemaker points out that the way the wood is arranged in the stove also matters to produce the necessary heat. Furthermore, he does not recommend that the fire in the stove should be kept going continuously because the brick from which the stove is built has a limited capacity to store heat.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "A well-made fire involves arranging the wood from bottom to top, with the thicker pieces at the bottom and lighting from the top, thus ensuring a clean burn and a constant temperature. For maximum efficiency, I recommend using well-dried wood stored for at least two years."

Whether you are a homeowner, a handyman or a local mayor, in the framework of the “MĂ IMPLIC” project, the “Energy Efficiency” component, dedicated experts and specialists have developed for you a series of free informational materials (guides, leaflets, brochures) with practical recommendations for the energy efficiency of houses. These resources are available to citizens, technicians and local public authorities, providing clear and affordable solutions to reduce the amount of resources consumed and increase thermal comfort in all seasons. All materials can be downloaded from this website – www.ma-implic.md/eneff/.

The informational campaign on the importance of energy efficiency in rural areas of the Republic of Moldova is implemented through the project “MĂ IMPLIC” by Skat Consulting and the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED), with the support of the Swiss Government.

How mayors across the country are transforming localities through energy efficiency projects

A locality can thrive when residents protect their environment, use resources wisely, and feel comfortable in their homes. And when householders use less energy for lighting and heating, while being more comfortable, they also benefit from reduced costs. With this in mind, mayors across the country are increasingly involved in energy efficiency projects and are informing citizens about ways to make their homes more energy efficient.

Elena Savițchi, mayor of Borogani village in the Leova district, is among the LPA representatives who have managed to attract funds to improve the efficiency of 10% of households in the village. She thinks that the role of the mayor should not be limited to attracting investments for these efficiency works, but that constant support in informing and educating the residents is also necessary.

"At first it was difficult to convince people of the long-term benefits of these measures, so we personally went from household to household and explained the benefits of energy efficiency in detail. We used a variety of informational materials to answer their questions and dispel their skepticism. Direct communication with residents was key to the success of these initiatives."

Out of the approximately 1000 households in the village, nearly 100 have already benefited from partial energy retrofitting works, both by replacing windows and doors and by other measures to improve the efficiency of their homes.

"The role of the town hall has not been limited to attracting investment for these efficiency works, but has also included ongoing support to inform and educate residents. We have promoted the benefits of energy efficiency through a variety of communication channels - from social media and posters in the town hall, to public meetings and best practice examples."

As the work has progressed, local people have become more involved and were asking for support to retrofit their homes. Those who had already benefited from the work became role models for the rest of the community, helping to promote the initiatives through their own experiences. The mayor of Borogani village encourages other local administration heads in the Republic of Moldova to be as close as possible to the local population, through continuous support and involvement, so that all localities in the country become modern and have a developed infrastructure.

"I recommend other mayors to take advantage of every opportunity to attract support in their communities, because energy efficiency not only reduces costs for residents, but also contributes to the development of local infrastructure and improves the quality of life for everyone."

A wood stove in the 21st Century? Guidelines for proper design and maintenance

How mayors across the country are transforming localities through energy efficiency projects

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