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  • From: eric + michiko <emstorm@metro.net>
  • To: permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: wood species and BTUs
  • Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 16:11:50 -0800


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



  • wood species and BTUs, eric + michiko, 01/26/1999

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