Metal woodstoves are a significant improvement over open fireplaces from the standpoint of producing more usable heat. They limit incoming air, thus avoiding heating air not needed for combustion. Another improvement: they use a lengthened heat exchange pathway to improve heat transfer from the heated combustion gases before they exit the chimney.

Unfortunately, metal woodstoves must operate at low, inefficient, and polluting combustion temperatures. Why? Because wood combustion requires high temperatures to be clean and efficient. Wood burns starts to burn cleanly at around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, with continuous improvement up to about 2000 degrees. Cast iron begins to glow red and fail at about 1200 degrees. See the problem?

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When cooking on your stove, use lids as much as possible. It will help you boil water faster, cook foods quicker, and save energy. Of course, you'll want to use the lid that matches with your pot or pan whenever possible. If the lid fits, it's much less likely that you'll be letting out precious steam.

You'll probably even find that something that you cooked on high heat without a lid can cook on medium heat with a lid, and in less time! Now that's what we call efficient. This site tells us that a "saucepan covered with a well fitting lid uses a quarter less energy when boiling than a saucepan without a lid." Plus, they make another great point: steam in the pot = steam not in the kitchen.

So don't forget, next time you cook, and especially boil - don't forget to put a lid on it!

Rebecca says: The quickest win on this is when boiling water - what time you save!