August 9, 2011
by Andrew Foulds
in Editorial, Environment, News
Tags: Firewood delivery, Firewood Industry, kiln dried logs
We reckon that when world-famous hauliers Eddie Stobart named their first truck ‘Twiggy’ they must have known one day they would be signing up to distribute our firewood!
Logs Direct has just started using these leading hauliers for some of our National distribution work.
From Lands End to John O’Groats the world famous trucks will be making regional deliveries of kiln dried wood, wood pellets, seasoned hardwood and softwood fuels to some of our commercial and domestic customers.
Eddie Stobart is the leading company in the UK for transport and logistics, with more than 2,250 trucks criss-crossing the country every day. In fact, an Eddie Stobart vehicle, with its
distinctive green and red livery, is passed on average every 4.5 minutes when driving on the country’s major roads.
The world famous brand is followed by more than 25,000 members of the Stobart Club, dedicated fans who spend their time spotting the iconic trucks and collecting the individual
girls’ names on each and every one of them.
Nation-wide firewood distribution is a good fit for two British companies which are both doing their bit to look after the environment. Logs Direct, based in North Lancashire, are one of the leading suppliers of carbon neutral fuels in the UK.
Burning wood fuel in the form of wood burner logs is far more environmentally friendly than burning other fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas which release high levels of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere.
We fire our kilns with renewable biomass fuels which reduce our impact on the environment. Furthermore because we are a direct supplier of fire logs and manage our own processing, kiln drying and warehousing, we are cutting out the middle man and reducing our transport costs – a saving we pass on to you.
Eddie Stobart has invested heavily in biomass fuels to make the transport industry more sustainable. They have also introduced modal shift operations which reduces carbon emissions
by using rail, sea and air transport in addition to the road to make their journeys as environmentally-friendly as possible.
As winter approaches, we can ensure that wherever you are in the UK, we can keep your homes warm and cosy throughout the coldest season. We offer free regional delivery of kiln dried logs and other high quality products. This commitment to the environment and to you our customers means that we can satisfy the growing demand for our products, both now and in the future.
July 25, 2011
by Ben Heron
in Editorial, Environment
Tags: deforestation, environment, Firewood Industry, kiln dried logs
With energy costs continuing to rise and no sign yet of a viable low cost alternative, more and more people are switching back to traditional methods of heating their home. Open fires and wood burning stoves are becoming increasingly popular and, as a result, the wood industry has enjoyed steady growth in recent years.
Aside from turning back to these methods in order to save on energy costs, there have been considerable improvements elsewhere that have helped the industry no end.
Some years ago, anything involving the wood industry tended to court a bad press. Deforestation and the affect that it had on the environment were both in the news and the industry was undoubtedly affected. Thankfully, these days wood such as that which is used to make kindling and fuel for fires and stoves is, in the main, taken from renewable sources. The wood industry has certainly woken up to these issues and the positive actions that is has taken have, in turn, produced a positive affect on demand.
The wood industry has also made significant improvements in the products that it is associated with. Far from being a dying trade, people are turning back to traditional heating methods as they fight back against the rising costs of heating their home.
As a result, many logs used in fires and wood burning stoves are purpose made and are therefore more suited to the task.
Purpose made logs, such as Blazers Eco Logs or Kiln Dried Logs are lighter and easier to handle, they light more easily and burn hotter for longer and are therefore far more economical.
The wood industry hasn’t enjoyed this growth by accident: It has recognised the needs for its products and has improved them accordingly along with its overall image. With this greener outlook and improved range of products, it looks set to thrive for many years to come.
July 20, 2011
by Ben Heron
in Environment, Kiln Dried Logs
Tags: heat energy, kiln dried logs, kiln drying, kilns, moisure content
Kiln drying involves the introduction of heat to reduce the water content of the firewood. Heat is traditionally provided by gas or electric heating, by steam heat exchangers or via solar power. Most log drying kilns operate at temperatures of up to 110 degrees Celsius, with typical log drying times of 1-2 weeks. A kiln schedule is used to determine the exact time and temperature required to effectively dry the firewood, based on the type of wood involved.
Traditional kilns are constructed of brick masonry or a hollow cement structure and the wood is stacked in chambers to optimise the air flow around the logs and therefore improve drying. Air circulation is critical, to carry evaporated moisture away from the wood and this is often assisted by fans in the kiln. Dehumidification systems are also sometimes used to maintain the humidity of the kiln at a constant level during drying. In dehumidifying kilns, water vapour is condensed off in the dehumidifier and removed as a liquid.
During the kiln drying process, insects and mould are killed off, meaning that kiln dried logs are cleaner, lighter and better burning than air dried firewood. To determine if the kiln drying process has been effective, there are three practical methods of measuring moisture in wood.
- Physically weighing the timber before and after drying it and calculating the moisture content.
- Using a pin type meter which measures the electrical resistance of the timber.
- Using a meter that uses electro-magnetic technology to measure moisture.
Logs which have been kiln dried produce the highest possible heat output when burned due to a much lower moisture content (kiln dried logs have less than 20% moisture, whilst the driest seasoned logs usually still have 30% moisture). The more moisture present in the logs, the more heat energy is wasted in water evaporation when the logs are burned.
For the best selection of kiln dried firewood including free delivery thoughout the UK, visit Logs Direct. Logs Direct are one of the main kiln dried firewood specialists in the UK with their own kiln drying, log processing and distribution facilities. Because they are a direct supplier, they can offer kiln dried wood at a far lower cost than most firewood distributors.
July 10, 2011
by Ben Heron
in Editorial, Environment
Tags: deforestation, environment, environmental impact, forest management, forests, sustainability, wood
Burning wood to create fuel is probably one of the oldest ways of keeping ourselves warm. Indeed, the discovery that wood can be burned to create fire and warmth could be considered one of mankind’s greatest advances.
In this day and age where environmental concerns are so important, burning firewood is once again a good source of heat. Because burning wood produces no more Carbon Dioxide then would be produced when it naturally degrades, it is considered to be carbon neutral.
However, there are growing concerns about the deforestation of the planet so it is vital the wood is sustainably sourced and maintaining a sustainable long term supply of timber for the firewood market is a concern for the industry.
The logging industry around the world can be too intensive and when too much wood is removed from a forest it can lead to soil erosion and habitat destruction.
However, in many countries firewood is being harvested in a sustainable manor so there is very little environmental impact.
One way of producing fire wood sustainably is to use sustainable forest management. The idea is to manage forests in such a way that they continue to provide wood products without destroying the forest. The key is to maintain the stewardship of the forest so that its resources are still available to future generations.
Here in the UK, the Forestry Commission works to ensure that England’s forests play their part in “enriching people’s quality of life and their environment”. They are also leaders in sustainability in a bid to preserve our woodlands for future generations.
Another way of lessening the environmental impact of firewood is to use wood that is a by-product of natural forestry. Deadfall, which hasn’t started to rot, can be used to supply firewood as it already partly seasoned. Standing dead timber is even better as it is also partly seasoned but usually has little rot.
