Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Nov 30, 2010 08:18am | #1

   Chris,
   Here's all you need to know: alcohol fuel (ethanol) costs $26.33 per gallon in small quantities, or $15.53 in large quantities (including delivery charges).

   Here's the link:
   http://www.e-nrg.com/

2. 
   homedesign | Nov 30, 2010 08:28am | #2

   You could also get a first generation Plasma TV and the burning log DVD
   that's how I mostly heated my home during the first winter.

3. 
   claumergiddens | Nov 30, 2010 09:30am | #3

   Point taken, Martin!

   John, that might actually work in a Passivhaus!

   So, if we take cost out of the equation, since many of the homeowners that would be interested in this kind of 'heat source' will likely NOT be too concerned about it. They're liked for their cool white flames and ambiance. Does it present a combustion-safety concern?

4. 
   Andrew | Nov 30, 2010 02:51pm | #4

   Chris,

   If it always burns well, that is to say the fire place is maintained well, then it may produce low levels of CO. If it doesn't?

   Almost important as CO is H2O! Raising the relative humidity in the house can be a problem for a variety of reasons.

   To add to Martin's point, ethanol will likely be priced in line with gasoline, as the price of gas rises so will ethanol.

   Check out the graph on page 7 of the WEO key graphs if you want to get a sense of what you might be paying in the future for ethanol...
   http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/docs/weo2010/key_graphs.pdf

   Cheers,

   Andrew

5. 
   Roger Lin | Nov 30, 2010 05:43pm | #5

   I am planning to use an Ethanol fireplace for my passive house. I think EcoSmart is too expensive though. I found this alternative called SEK ethanol fireplace and it's about less than 50% of the cost. I can't imagine it being so difficult to build a fire box.

   I would think if the house has enough CFMs going in and out with an ERV/HRV, in-door air quality should not be a concern. So, maybe the question is one regarding ventilation.

   Some passive houses are being built with gas water heaters, gas cooking appliances. I think if that is not a huge concern providing sufficient ventilation, the ethanol fireplace should be less of a concern. Just my 2 cents.

6. 
   MICHAEL CHANDLER | Nov 30, 2010 07:40pm | #6

   I looked into an ethanol fireplace for a house we're about to start and chose a sealed combustion propane fireplace instead because the fuel had to be ordered from a special supplier to assure purity and the risk that a client might decide to just grab some denatured acohol solvent to burn during a power outage and poison themselves with the impurities seemed too great
   We can be sure of a good supply of safe fuel in the buried propane tank for a week without power if we have a sealed combustion propane burner but definitely not if we rely on special order alcohol fuel.

   And a week without electricity is a very real possibility where I live in rural Saxapahaw North Carolina.

7. 
   Riversong | Nov 30, 2010 07:59pm | #7

   Heck, Michael, anyone down in Saxapahaw outta be able to cook their own ethanol in the backyard still.

   And with the Sellers Co down thatta way, I bet they can also spin a pretty good yarn. ;-)

8. 
   MICHAEL CHANDLER | Dec 01, 2010 10:43am | #8

   Robert we do actually have an intermittently operating whiskey still just down the river from us. Pharmaceutical Phd researcher runs it over fervent spousal objections. I haven't tasted it myself preferring to patronize Maker Mark and Basil Hayden.

   Sellers had their roof torn off by a tornado a few years ago and is now being creatively re-built as housing, a couple of small charter schools, a river outfitter and gourmet gas station with bio-diesel and Saxaco gas. http://www.saxgenstore.com We hope to get a pub sometime this month, "the eddie", overlooking the river from the old mill. this little town is coming up in the world!