permaculture

[eric + michiko <emstorm@metro.net>]

I ran into a list of BTU's per cord for different species of trees in a
1978 book titled "547 Easy Ways to Save Energy in Your Home."  I thought
some of you may find if useful, so I'm copying it below.  It is not an
exhaustive list, but a good start.  It seems to be more for the (North?)
Eastern US.  If anyone has info on more species, especially Western US
species, I'd be interested.  It makes a good point; choose your wood for
BTU's.  BTU's keep you warm, not volume of wood.

Eric Storm
Sebastopol, CA

Species                 BTU's per cord (in 000's)

Shagbark Hickory                24,600
Black Locust                    24,600
Ironwood (Hardhack)             24,100
Apple                           23,877
Rock Elm                        23,488
White Oak                       22,700
Beech                           21,800
Yellow Birch                    21,300
Sugar Maple                     21,300
Red Oak                 21,300
White Ash                       20,000
Black Walnut                    19,500
White Birch                     18,900
Black Cherry                    18,770
Tamarack (Larch)                18,650
Red Maple                       18,600
Green Ash                       18,360
Pitch Pine                      17,970
Sycamore                        17,950
Black Ash                       17,300
American Elm                    17,200
Silver Maple                    17,000
Red Spruce                      13,632
Hemlock                 13,500
Black Willow                    13,206
Butternut                       12,800
Red Pine                        12,765
Aspen (Poplar)          12,500
White Pine                      12,022
Basswood                        11,700
Balsam Fir                      11,282