Is Firewood a Sustainable Source of Energy?

Published on 22 February 2022

The simple answer is, yes. Firewood is a great example of a sustainable source of energy. A renewable resource is defined as one which can be replenished or replaced as it is used, and will not jeopardise future generations’ energy needs or their climate.

The difference between logs and other renewable resources such as wind or solar is the need for human management to maintain its sustainability. Wind and solar are not used up in the process of creating energy. Forests need to be managed to ensure they are not depleted and are left for future generations.

Sustainable forestry involves the process of replanting areas of woodland to be used for future years. Woodland areas benefit through the process of being thinned, where certain trees are removed to allow those remaining to have access to proper levels of sunlight and soil nutrients as well as encourage diversity. Forests that are left alone will not grow as fast or produce trees that are as healthy as those which are managed.

Firewood is also what is known as a carbon-neutral energy source. This means that the only carbon released when burnt is the carbon it absorbs during its lifetime as a result of photosynthesis. This carbon can then be reabsorbed by young trees to replace those cut-down. Woodlands and rainforests are a key to sustaining the planet as a whole, with over 40% of greenhouse gases produced by humans, taken in by plants.

The key is to purchase firewood that comes from sustainably managed sources and as locally as possible. We make sure the logs we deliver to you have made the shortest journey possible by sourcing timber locally from properly managed estates. This year the Cornbury Park Estate in the Cotswolds, only 25 miles from our yard.

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