Photo essay: wood stoves around the world

(Updated, March 2022) Heating with wood stoves is common in many countries around the globe, particularly in rural areas where wood is plentiful.  Wood heating is also tied to poverty to a certain extent in most countries and can rapidly grow when fossil fuel prices spike.

We show typical wood heating stoves in 40 countries, though its impossible to capture a country's stove heating culture in a single photo.  Most countries where wood heating is popular have a wide range of stove technology, from older, obsolete stoves to modern, expensive models.  We focused on older stoves as they tend to be more common in most countries to show the widespread problem of aging stoves that need to be replaced with newer ones - or other affordable heat sources.  Most countries have no regulations that set particular matter standards for new stoves. The issue of public funding for change out programs is often not an option.

We compiled a separate photo essay of firewood collecting cultures around the globe that tell equally important stories about the benefits of using a free, local fuel as well as the problems it can cause.

A home in the United States

Many countries are neglecting the development of a generation of cleaner wood and pellet heating stove technology.  Wood stove technology is developing in many countries, as shown in some of the photos below. But the pace is far too slow to match the economic opportunity and environmental and benefits that wood offers, and the air quality dangers it can otherwise pose.

Over the last 10 years, we have seen populations turn to wood stoves in large numbers our of political and/or economic necessity. The invasion of Ukraine is driving increased energy prices, and thus the increased reliance on old and new stoves; the 2008 banking crisis in the US and Europe contributed to a meltdown in Greece, leading to widespread unemployment and a nationwide resurgence in wood stove use; incentive structures in the U.K. have led to more wood stoves, instead of pellet stoves.

These photos show how this ancient fuel source persists in helping to affordably keep people warm.

Albania

Armenia

Bhutan

Byurakan, Armenia

Australia

 Austria

Azerbaijan

Belarus


Bulgaria

Canada

Chile 

China 

Czech Republic

Denmark

Ecuador 

Finland

France



Georgia (formerly USSR)

Germany

Greece



Hungary

India

Italy

Ireland


Japan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Korea 

Lithuania

Montenegro


New Zealand

Norway

South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast
(former USSR) 

Peru

Poland

Portugal


Romania

 Russia

Slovakia

Syrian refugees (in Bulgaria)


Tajikistan

Tibet

Ukraine

United Kingdom




United States

Vatican

Meet the Contestants; The Wittus Twinfire

With the first Wood Stove Decathlon only a few months away, we are profiling each of the teams. Learn more about how they hope to win the competition!

Wittus – Fire by Design has entered into the Decathlon their EPA certified Twinfire stove. The stove was originally designed by two German engineers to create an efficient burning method and offset air pollution in developing countries. It uses a patented double combustion chamber to maximize its efficiency through gasification, a process that superheats wood gas to reach a claimed 93% efficient wood burning capacity. The upper chamber is the main firebox used to build and tend the fire. The lower chamber is the exterminator that burns any remaining ash down to bits.

The Twinfire stands in a long line of Wittus products that are dedicated to high efficiency, low emissions, and an attractive design. The Twinfire has won several prestigious European awards including the German Land of Ideas award in 2012. Founder Niels Wittus values the quality of these stoves and strives to create smart stove designs to maintain a healthy environment. Perhaps his background and passion for cooking has brought the health and detail oriented mindset to selecting the best ingredients to making a top quality wood stove.

In Denmark, Wittus was set to apprentice at a high-scale restaurant, but after a trip to the US, he decided to stay. Over 30 years later, Wittus is keeping the Danish brændeovn or wood stove tradition alive, combining it with the modern style and state-of-the-art technology of an American businessman.

Even with the busy schedule, hard work, and resulting success, Wittus still holds on to his passion for cooking. At business gatherings and dinners, he treats his team members, Bodo Specht, Alyce Wittus, Sandra Lena, Patti Boker Elkon, and Gail Jankus to some wood fire grilling.

We are looking forward to seeing the Wittus Twinfire in action at the Wood Stove Decathlon November 16-19, 2013. Vote for your favorite stove at Popular Mechanics.

Here is a link to a video of the Twinfire in action.

Sources include the Lewisboro Daily Voice