Turf or Timber

Effects

How bad is turf for the environment? I'm talking about footing and burning for personal use only, in a stove, in an energy efficient house.

I'm currently working my way though various woods that I have from storm fallen trees. But that will run out eventually. I can cut more trees down for firewood but I'm prevented from planting a lot of new trees by family members that don't want trees planted.

I have access to bog where I can foot and save the turf myself.

It's not my only means of heating as my central heating is gas fired but I prefer to use the stove to heat the main living areas.

Am I better off to fell trees, from an environmental standpoint, while replacing the ones that I do cut down with new trees?

mike_2009

part of the answer is the temperature that the fuel burns at to make sure it's as efficient as possible. New stoves have to meet more stringent EU emission/efficiency levels, not sure if your stove meets those? I read up on rocket mass stoves and they appear to use less fuel and keep their heat a lot longer. Would love to try building one someday....
At least with wood you're using a renewable resource - turf when gone is gone forever? Strange you're not allowed grow trees on your own land?! Economics - turf is free to you, wood you'll end up paying for if you can't plant replacements. I'd keep what you have in terms of trees in that case.
If you've an energy efficient house then you should be looking at the SEAI grants to replace the stove with a different heat source down the road....
Best of luck!

Capt'n Midnight

Turf is not really a renewable resource because of the time it takes to form.
It's about 1mm a year. So if you want to be renewable you can harvest one thousandth of the area down to a depth of a meter every year.

I've no problem with footing turf for own use. In the cultural sense.

It's the mechanical harvesting of it for third parties for profit that's just not on.

In any case there's a lot to be said for extra insulation to reduce your heating needs going forward.

Effects

My stove only went in late last year so hopefully it meets required EU levels.
As for not being able to plant trees on my own land, it's co-owned with siblings. They don't want to do anything with the land but don't want it taken up with trees. I planted a small orchard 8 years ago and it was difficult enough to be allowed to do that. Even after I did, they said I'd done it incorrectly according to REPS guidelines. Which was true, but I was limited in the space they agreed to but there was sufficient space for the trees to grow in.

Last time I was involved in footing turf from this particular bog I was only a kid and it was 1988. I'd like to cut some by hand but just don't have the time to do it so mechanical means makes more sense. I've an uncle nearby so I might suggest working together and alternating between his bog and mine. He's still working through the turf he saved in 2016.