keeping warm through winter

hello all! it's suddenly turned very chilly, hasn't it. now when we take teddy out we have to wear warm clothes...teddy loves the autumn leaves in greenwich park, though!

today i'll be telling you a little more about the latest project that More Trees/ LIFE311 charity are implimenting to keep the residents of the wooden prefabricated houses warm during the cold winter months. you will remember my blog update telling you about the charity project earlier this year- we are supporting this very worthwhile cause by donating 100% profit from our 'wish we were there' furoshiki and tote bags.

in japan, winters can get extremely cold, and for those left without permanent housing after the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year will be struggling to keep warm inside. though the wooden structures are insulated to an extent, there is no central heating installed, so for the colder months something else must be done in order to maintain a comfortable living environment. this is where the concept of the 'pellet stove' comes in.

we would love to experience and enjoy the warmth of a pellet stove!

pellet heaters are an environmentally friendly, renewable source of energy and heat. they are free standing, natural material burning stoves powered by 'pellets', a 100% recycled product made from manufacturing by-products that would otherwise end up in landfill. these 'pellets' can also be made from wood chips, bark, waste paper and other organic materials. another advantage to the pellet heaters is that they leave minimal mark on pollution levels- the burners don't produce much ash, and only contains 5% moisture- wood has up to 50%- ensuring that smoke pollution is kept low. for a project that relies on sustainable resources, this small detail is very important.

these are the 'pellets'. they look a little like bran cereal, don't they...! 

we like this new project because it really emphasises the importance of sustainable energy and of warmth in not just in the body, but in the spirit too. one new owner of a stove, living in the housing project, said 'It's kind of nostalgic, isn't it?' - another resident said 'With the warmth of this stove, we can warm our hearts throughout the cold winter'.

another comforting factor about the stoves is the cost to keep them running through the colder months: for 10kg of pellets, it costs 399¥ - that's approximately £3.20 or $5.10. such a small price for a large bag of pellets is great news, and heartening to the residents of the houses. 'If you compare [the price] to typical winter heating bills, it is a lot cheaper, which puts us at real ease', said one young resident.

as you can see here, the pellet stove produces enough external warmth to keep water warm, reducing the cost used for electric warmers.

the reason for such low costs of manufacturer is the local production for local consumption ethos that LIFE311 maintain. by using a local stove maker in the town to make the stoves and provide the pellets to the houses' residents, they can cut down on the costs used for importing from elsewhere in Japan. not only that, but the installation is performed by the manufacturer and his team from the factory- this way labourer fees are kept to a minimum, but the factory is still able to promote its craftsmanship whilst keeping costs down, as well as keeping locals employed. below are some photos of the installation in progress:

the installation is practical, and because the stoves are a special compact and slimline version, they fit cosily into the home without too much distraction.

LIFE311 say about the project: 'The pellet stove has been a popular heater in the past few years; [the] heaters convert wood base biomass into high quality fuels...there is also the advantage of being able to promote a new energy industry and recruitment opportunities' (source: LIFE311 website). we really are enthusiastic about this project and support it wholeheartedly. there is a video of the pellet stoves arriving in the community by NHK Japan, which you can watch here:

we are glad to think that there is the opportunity for warmth and security during the winter months for those in all of the houses built by this great charity project. we hope you can continue to support them by donating even a small amount or by our 'wish we were there' products.

please also visit the LIFE311 facebook page and twitter- all photos seen here are courtesy of them, and we hope you 'like' their page and follow them too. if you are interested in a pellet burner of your own, this website has some great information that can help you do so.

and please do remember, folks, that we are in the process of sending off as many christmas ornaments as possible to children and families in Fukushima. we need all the help we can possibly get! click here to find out more.

as ever, you can contact me with any questions or comments at kimika@yukarisweeneydesign.com - i can help you with any questions or further informations you may need, as well as translations of the video or anything on LIFE311's facebook page that you want to find out more about. if you haven't already, be sure to visit our facebook, twitter and website for constant updates and information about our upcoming projects and products. until next time:

がんばれ，日本〜！[you can do it, Japan~!]