It’s cold today. The snow of the last two days is melting away and I can’t help thinking that March will be bringing us warmer weather. But today it’s still cold.
If you like a cozy fire when it’s cold outside, then Sikken has just the product for you. Before I loose you to the environmental ramifications of wood burning, let me say I’ll deal with that in a moment. The Ray is a real amazing piece — it can be used to heat your home with the added ambiance of a real fire. It cleanly burns wood with an efficiency rating of 83% by comparison a regular fireplace has an efficiency of around 10%. The Ray’s design is a clear nod to radiators of old, but its appearance also serves a purpose. The increased exterior surface area distributes heat so efficiently that it is safe to touch or even sit on.
The very best feature of the Ray is a small shelf, inside just above the fire chamber that can be used to, get this, cook pizza! Who does not love pizza? There is a line of accessory trays to facilitate baking. So you get heat, efficiency and wood-fired oven baked goodness all in one attractive petite stove.
The Ray by Sikken is a very viable green wood-burning stove. I know what your thinking — how can burning wood be environmentally friendly? Good question. Wood is still a very renewable resource. Proper forest management involves clearing dead wood. It is possible to buy ethically collected wood if you look, although it’s not always the cheapest. Wood is also much easier on the environment than collecting coal or natural gas. Burning wood produces carbon dioxide. But did you know that in Europe, where the Ray is made, wood-burning stoves cannot produce more carbon dioxide than wood left to rot in a forest? Its true that, with proper baffling and air control, European wood-burners are remarkable. Via Trendir.
2 comments:
That's so cool. Or, ok. Hot! I grew up with wood stove heat (the oil furnace was only for when it was REALLY cold... or when Dad was away and wouldn't yell at us!). It was a lot of work, as we did our own clearing & chopping, and the franklin we used needed quite a bit of maintenance with the chimney, etc.
This piece looks much more friendly. I love the baffling, and that the surface remains touch-able. I don't see an exhaust. Is there a chimney? How does that work?
~matthew in philly
Ok so my German is admittedly not where it needs to be to read the PDF I have. It does have a vent in the back, which can be vented straight out a wall or rotated to vent up. Either way the exhaust needs to be vented to the outside.
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