Newly Revised Book Updates Wood & Coal Heating Options Due to high gas prices, many growers have shown interest in other sources of fuel. Wood is one of them. Coincidentally, I received the following news release via e-mail a while ago. It may be of interest to some growers. C. Pasian If you are heating your home with Wood or Coal, or are thinking about switching to a solid-fuel heating system, a newly revised book from NRAES (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service) is a must-read. Heating with Wood and Coal, 2003 Revision, NRAES-23, (69 pages; December 2003) provides updated information on technological advances and installation code changes in solid-fuel heating systems. With today's uncertainty about the cost and availability of fossil fuels, many people are thinking about switching to a solid-fuel heating system, while others are opting to supplement an existing system. Consumers quickly learn there are many solid-fuel heating systems to choose from, and being well informed is critical to making the right decision. Since the strong revival of burning wood for home heating in the 1970's, major advances in stove design have caught up with present-day demands for convenience. These newly developed stoves, of which the most significant is the catalytic woodstove, reduce creosote and emission problems and burn solid fuels more efficiently. This highly practical book is full of information to help you evaluate the strengths and drawbacks of various heating systems and how well each meets your personal needs. The book will be useful not only to consumers, but also to extension educators; stove manufacturers and retailers; energy specialists; and woodlot and sawmill owners. Heating with Wood and Coal includes detailed sections on evaluating solid-fuel options; fireplaces; stoves; furnaces and boilers; installation; chimneys; wood as a fuel; and coal as a fuel; and an appendix on cutting firewood with a chainsaw. This comprehensive book is designed to be used as a guide when selecting, installing, and operating a solid-fuel stove for home heating. It offers the pros and cons of wood and coal as fuels; helps you evaluate your needs and decide on available equipment options; provides guidance for working with a professional stove installer; and tells you how to keep your heating system maintained for top performance and safety. While many resources compare relative fuel costs, this book considers the relative costs of the heating units themselves, as well as their costs for installation and maintenance. It also considers the investment in time required to use and maintain the various types of systems available today. Eleven tables, 45 figures, and a stove installation checklist supplement the text. Heating with Wood and Coal was revised by John W. Bartok, Jr., Extension Professor Emeritus, Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering, University of Connecticut. He was one of four authors of the 1985 version entitled Burning Wood and Coal, upon which this book is based. Co-authors and their affiliations when that book was published were Susan MacKay, NRAES; L. Dale Baker, International Harvester; and James P. Lassoie, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University. Heating with Wood and Coal, 2003 Revision (NRAES-23) is available for $12.00 per copy (plus $4.50 shipping and handling for single copies in the U.S.) from MWPS (MidWest Plan Service). If ordering multiple copies, please contact MWPS for shipping rates and possible quantity discounts. Order on line at the catalog section of the MWPS website, www.mwpshq.org, by phone at 800-562-3618, by fax at 515-294-9589, by email at mwps@iastate,edu, or by mail from MWPS, 122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080. Visa and MasterCard are accepted, and checks should be made payable to MWPS. For more information about MWPS and all its publications or to order a free publications catalog, visit the MWPS web site or contact MWPS by phone.