Wood has been used since the beginning of time as a source of fuel. The fuel was brought inside to heat shelters centuries ago; open fireplaces were in the eighteenth century by self-contained stoves, which are still in use today in a number of designs. The Franklin stove and pot-bellied stoves, popular for many generations, have been augmented by efficient Scandinavian designs. In recent years wood furnaces designed to burn longer than stoves without refeeding, have upped the efficiency of wood burning tremendously.

The type of wood burned varies in different regions based an availability, but some practices are standard; the wood burned is generally hardwood rather than softwood; wood is aged for at least one year and stacked for the same period of time.

Wood pellets are manufactured from recycled wood waste and are considered a very safe, cleaning burning and economical alternative to fuel oil and to traditional wood burning. Special stove designs have been created especially to burn wood pellets; inserts are also available to adapt existing fireplaces and furnaces. The Pellet Fuels Institute offers and wide variety of pellet fuel in every region of the United States along with advice on how to buy and use wood pellets.

Some homeowners are substituting waste oil for number 2 fuel oil in specially designed stoves and successfully converting their conventional furnaces for its use. Waste oil is actually used vegetable oil collected from restaurant and filtered before use. Blodisesl is manufactured oil consisting of a mixture fuel oil and oil manufactured from vegetable sources. B20 is 20% vegetable oil and 80% conventional diesel oil and is readily available and can be used in conventional furnaces without adaptation. Another new type of heating oil called B100 requires that the natural rubber in the furnace will need to be replaced with man made substances, as the vegetable oil degrades rubber after a time. One problem with using waste oil is that below certain temperatures it stops flowing so the fuel needs to be kept warm; blodiesel contains a certain additive that keeps the oil liquid at low temperatures.

Any time fire is present in a home as in a wood stove, fireplace or furnace, the fire hazard has to be considered and prevented. Additionally wood burning builds up creosote, a sticky flammable substance, which coats stovepipes and chimneys and can cause chimney fires and even burn down a house. Wood and corn pellets and waste oil are considered relatively clean burning, but still need attention and maintenance.

Choosing an alternative fuel cannot only be safe and economical, but a good deal for the environment; many of these fuels are produced locally cutting way down on transportation costs, and many of them burn cleanlier than fuel oil having a more positive impact on the environment. Add to the fact that relying on alternative fuels cuts down reliance on foreign oil, and it becomes clear that opting for one of these fuels is a great idea.