RESIDENTIAL FUELWOOD 

ASSESSMENT

STATE OF MINNESOTA

2007 – 2008 Heating Season

Sponsors:

Northern Research Station Division of Forestry

 Forest Inventory and Analysis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project was funded through a grant provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as part of its 

emissions inventory from residential biomass burning. The cooperating partners, US Forest Service –

Northern Research Station - Forest Inventory and Analysis, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources –

Division of Forestry and the Health, Patio and Barbecue Association assisted with the project design.

The report was prepared by:

Mimi Barzen, Minnesota DNR-Forestry, Grand Rapids

Ronald Piva, USFS, Northern Research Station - Forest Inventory and Analysis, St. Paul

Chun Yi Wu, P.E., Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Outcomes Division, St. Paul 

Rick Dahlman, Minnesota DNR-Forestry, St Paul

For more information or to request a copy, contact:

Mimi Barzen

DNR Forestry

1201 East Highway 2

Grand Rapids MN 55744

218-327-4119

mimi.barzen@dnr.state.mn.us

or

DNR Information Center

Twin Cities: 651-296-6157

Minnesota toll free: 888-646-6367

TTY: 800-657-3929 

More information about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Wood Utilization and Marketing 

Program is available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/um
Table of Contents

Page 

Executive Summary 3

Introduction: purpose, methods, and objectives 5

Minnesota map indicating survey units 8

Results 9

Appendices

 Sources of Secondary Calculations of Fuelwood Volumes 23

 Tables 25

 Fuelwood Survey Questionnaire 46

Tables

Table 1: Number of Households Sampled by Survey Unit and Corresponding Population

Table 2: Percent of Households Burning Fuelwood by Survey Unit and Reason for Burning

Table 3: Percent of Volume Burned by Type of Wood-Burning Facility

Table 4: Number of Cords Burned by Survey Unit and Place of Consumption

Table 5: Number of Cords Burned by Fuel Type

Table 6: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Species and Survey Year

Table 7: Percent of Fuelwood Consumption by Procurement Method and Reason for Burning 

Table 8: Percent of Fuelwood Consumption from Roundwood Cut by Households by Reason for

 Burning and Survey Year

Table 9: Percent and Volume of Fuelwood Harvested by Source of Material

Figures

Figure 1: Percent of Households by Survey Unit That Burned Fuelwood During 2007-2008 Heating

Season

Figure 2: Percent of Households that Burn Fuelwood by Reason for Burning and Survey Year

Figure 3: Fuelwood Consumption in Minnesota by Survey Year

Figure 4: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Survey Unit and Reason for Burning

Figure 5: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Reason for Burning by Survey Year

Figure 6: Average Number of Cords Burned per Household by Reason for Burning and Survey Year

Figure 7: Volume of Fuelwood Harvested by Households and Loggers by Source of Material

Figure 8: Volume of Fuelwood Harvested from Growing Stock by Survey Year

Figure 9: Volume of Fuelwood Cut by Households and Loggers in Minnesota by Species, 2007-2008

1

2
Executive Summary

 A total of 1,434 households responded to the Minnesota residential fuelwood study that was conducted for 

the 2007-2008 heating season. Approximately 978,900 cords of fuelwood were consumed by 615,900 

households in Minnesota between April 2007 and March 2008. This represents a 49 percent increase in 

volume and a 57 percent increase in the number of households compared to the 656,300 cords of fuelwood 

consumed by 391,700 households between April 2002 and March 2003, a clear reversal of the steady 

decline in fuelwood consumption recorded since 1985. This upward swing indicates that almost 30 percent 

of all Minnesota households burned fuelwood between April 2007 and March 2008.

 This increase can partially be attributed to the recent spike in the prices of fossil fuels. However, the use of 

fuelwood for pleasure rather then as a heat source has increased significantly since 1985. Of those burning 

fuelwood, 67 percent of the households consume it for pleasure and recreation. 

 

Trends From Past Surveys

 Minnesota has surveyed fuelwood consumption periodically since 1960 when 607,000 cords were 

consumed. Consumption has fluctuated from a low of 224,000 cords in 1970 to a high of 1.42 million cords 

in the 1984-1985 heating season. Shifts in consumption appear to track closely with petroleum and natural 

gas prices. Use increased dramatically following the 1970 oil embargo and began to decline steadily as 

natural gas lines were extended across the state in the late 1980s through the 1990s.

 The steady decline in the use of fuelwood as a heat source from 1984-1985 through the winter of 2002-

2003 also likely reflects a tightening of insurance companies standards for the use of wood burning facilities 

of all kinds. 

Fuelwood Use: Pleasure and Primary and Secondary Heating 

 The way fuelwood has been used often does not follow the volume consumed. While fuelwood 

consumption declined from 1984-1985 to 2002-2003, the use of fuelwood as primary source of heat 

increased from 48 percent of the total volume in both the 1988-1989 and 1995-1996 heating seasons to 53 

percent of the total volume in 2002-2003. It then declined to 45 percent in 2007-2008. At the same time, 

the use of fuelwood as secondary heat source declined from 44 percent 1988-1989 and 1995-1996 to 35 

percent in 2002-2003, and declined further to 26 percent of the total fuelwood consumed in 2007-2008. 

Over the same time period, burning fuelwood for pleasure increased from 8 percent during the 1988-1989 

and 1995-1996 heating seasons to 12 percent of the fuelwood consumed in 2002-2003 heating season. This 

increased dramatically to 30 percent of the fuelwood consumed in 2007-2008. Much of the increase in the 

pleasure category could be due to the popularity of fire pits and chimineas, which has occurred in the past 

few years. While many people no longer burn fuelwood as a heating source, use for recreational purposes, 

including backyard use and camping, is climbing rapidly.

 Even though the volume of fuelwood use increased in the last five years, its use as a primary source of 

heat dropped from 18 percent of the households that burned in 2002-2003 to 13 percent in 2007-2008. 

Burning fuelwood as a secondary heat source fell from 30 percent of the households in 2002-2003 to 20 

percent in 2007-2008. During this same period, use for pleasure grew from 52 percent of the households to 

67 percent statewide. Even though the percentage of households using wood for primary and secondary heat 

declined, these two uses account for 688,000 cords consumed, or 70 percent of all fuelwood burned.

3 
Fuelwood Harvesting

 Along with the increased volume of fuelwood consumed in 2007-2008, the proportion of fuelwood 

harvested by households remains high, with 80 percent harvested by households. In addition, 84 percent of 

the fuelwood harvested in 2007-2008 was removed from private land. The remainder was derived from, in 

descending order: state, county, and municipal lands, with minor amounts harvested from forest industry

and federal lands. This compares to 60 percent of the volume harvested by households in 2002-2003, 62 

percent in 1995-1996, and 51 percent in 1988-1989.

 Households that burn fuelwood as primary heat source are more likely to harvest their own fuelwood, 

with a total of 48 percent doing so. This compares to 58 percent of the volume harvested by households for 

primary use in 2002-2003, 54 percent in 1995-1996 and 51 percent in 1988-1989 heating seasons. Twentyseven percent of those using fuelwood as a secondary source harvested their own fuelwood in 2007-2008, 

while 25 percent of households that burned for pleasure cut their own fuelwood. 

Fuelwood Preferences

 Oak continues to be the species of choice for roundwood fuelwood consumption, with 30 percent of the 

total volume. Ash is the next most popular firewood species, with 18 percent of the total. Aspen, elm, birch, 

and maple combined, account for another 40 percent of the volume of roundwood burned. Other species 

burned include: pine, basswood, cottonwood, spruce, cedar, and tamarack. 

 Secondary fuelwood sources of mixed species, which includes: scrap lumber, pallets, sawmill slabs, 

sawdust, and branches, manufactured fireplace logs, and wood pellets have been highly variable, doubling 

from 15 percent of the total fuelwood burned in 1988-1989 to 32 percent in 1995-1996, then plunging to 8 

percent in 2002-2003 and 2007-2008.

 In 2007-2008, 66,400 cords were derived from wood manufacturing residues. This compares to 2002-

2003, when 45,000 cords were derived from wood residues, an increase of 47 percent in five years. In 

addition, a huge jump took place in manufactured logs and wood pellets. In 2002-2003, only 4,900 cords of 

pellets and waxed logs were purchased. During the 2007-2008 heating season, 12,300 cords were 

purchased, more than 2.5 times the amount bought in 2002-2003. This reflects the recent expansion of the 

manufactured fireplace logs and wood pellet industries.

 A total of about 161,750 cords of fuelwood was harvested from growing stock on forestland by 

landowners and loggers for use as fuelwood. This is a 9 percent increase from the 149,000 cords harvested 

for the 2002-2003 heating season. When compared to the 1995-1996 heating season, this is a reduction of 

14 percent from the 188,000 cords reported during that survey and a 59 percent decrease from the 237,000 

cords reported for the 1988-1989 heating season. 

Conclusion

 Despite the trend toward use of fuelwood for pleasure rather then for heat, the recent economic crisis and 

the associated downturn in industrial demand for wood could increase the consumption of fuelwood for 

primary and secondary heating. The impact could be very significant in a short time because more than 

100,000 additional households have wood burning facilities that currently do not use fuelwood, and nearly

another 40,000 households plan to purchase wood burning facilities in the near future (Appendix Table A).

 The spike in the volume of fuelwood consumed and the number of households that utilized fuelwood 

appear to be closely tied to the cost and availability of fossil fuel, particularly natural gas. With the current 

cost of energy, the volume of fuelwood consumed is likely to fluctuate with the changing prices of other 

sources of fuel.

4
INTRODUCTION

Project Purpose

 During the spring and summer of 2008, the cooperating partners conducted a survey to determine the 

volume of residential fuelwood burned during the 2007-2008 heating season. Similar surveys were 

conducted for the 1960, 1969-1970, 1979-1980, 1984-1985, 1988-1989, 1995-1996, and 2002-2003 heating 

seasons. These surveys are part of a long-term effort to monitor trends in use of the fuelwood by residential 

households in Minnesota.

Survey Objectives

The objectives of this survey were to:

1) Estimate the total volume of fuelwood harvested and consumed in Minnesota during the 

2007-2008 heating season.

2) Identify the suppliers of fuelwood (purchased, given free, or self-harvested).

3) Estimate the volume of fuelwood harvested from different land ownership (state, federal, county, 

forest industry, and private lands). 

4) Estimate the volume of fuelwood from the following wood supply categories: live and/or dead trees, 

logging residue, land clearing, yard/boulevard trees, mill residues, lumber scraps, salvage of wood 

pallets, and commercial fuel products such as wood and paper pellets and manufactured fireplace 

logs.

5) Determine the geographic distribution of households burning fuelwood by type of usage (primary

heating source, secondary heating source, and pleasure), type of wood, and type of wood burning 

facilities used.

6) Identify trends in residential fuelwood consumption over time.

7) Identify types of residential wood burning facilities

8) Identify changes in trends of burning fuelwood

Methods 

 The survey consisted of a mailed questionnaire. It was resent to nonresponders approximately one month 

after the original deadline. The combination of the two surveys resulted in a 1,434-survey sample that 

reflects not only broad distribution of respondents across the state, but is also large enough for each survey

region to meet the statistical sampling standard utilized in previous surveys.

 The survey sample was determined based upon the 2007 census data obtained from the State Demographic 

Center, using the total number of households statewide to identify a statistically adequate sample size. The 

state was divided up into five survey units based on the four USDA-Forest Service, Forest Inventory and 

Analysis survey units for Minnesota forests, with the seven metropolitan counties comprising the fifth unit. 

The units were determined by population densities and consisted of Aspen-Birch in the northeast, Northern 

Pine in the north central part of the state, Central Hardwoods located north, west, and south of the Twin 

Cities, the seven metro counties, and Prairie, the largest unit, consisting of 41 counties. The distribution is 

shown on the map in Figure 1.

 Since all units have at least 100,000 households, the sample size was stratified into five equal-size groups. 

Previous studies were designed to have a sampling error of plus/minus six percentage points at a 95 percent

5
confidence level. Based on calculations from the Minnesota Center for Survey Research at the University of 

Minnesota, it was determined that 272 completed surveys from each unit would satisfy the sample error 

requirement. (See Table 1). Marketing Systems Group, of Port Washington, Pennsylvania provided the 

6,600-address list. This total was determined by assuming a rate of deliverable mail at over 90 percent and 

using an expected response rate of 30 percent. To aid our efforts in obtaining a higher return rate, a postcard 

was mailed approximately two weeks prior to the survey, to alert potential respondents about the upcoming 

mailing. 

 While enough responses were received from the first mailing in the Northern Pine and Aspen-Birch units, 

the expected number of responses was not obtained in the Prairie, Metro, and Central Hardwoods units. A 

second mailing of 450 surveys, or 150 surveys per unit, were sent out in late April to random households in 

the three units with an inadequate return rate, to create a statistically significant sampling.

 Survey forms were edited, keypunched and entered into a relational database. All volumes were converted 

to standard cords. (See “Sources of Secondary Calculations of Fuelwood Volumes, found in the Appendix.)

Expansion factors were calculated by dividing the total number of households in each survey unit (based on 

the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of number of households for 2007) by the number of survey forms that 

were returned from each survey unit. From this database, all tables were created.

 The lists of the state of Minnesota registered loggers and firewood processors/sellers were combined. 

Duplicates, firewood retailers only, and individual members of a single company that were already on the 

combined list, were deleted to determine the total number of possible firewood processors in Minnesota. 

The total number of possible firewood processors in each survey unit was divided by the number of survey

forms that were returned in each survey unit.

 As in previous surveys, responding households were classified by location, county, and fuelwood-use 

class.

Table 1: Number of Households Sampled by Survey Unit and Corresponding Population

Survey Unit

Number of Households Sampled Total Number of 

Households in 

Each Unit

Population in 

Each Unit

2007 census Target Number Actual Number

Aspen-Birch 272 283 111,116 260,185

Northern Pine 272 276 120,089 291,974

Central Hardwoods 272 323 416,067 1,086,451

Prairie 272 308 312,035 764,215

Metro 272 244 1,121,570 2,794,796

Total 1,360 1,434 2,080,877 5,197,621

 Note: Number of households surveyed was based on 2007 census data.

 

Fuelwood use classes:

1. Nonuser – Households that do not burn fuelwood.

2. Primary – Fuelwood provided the main source of heat in the home. The user may have another fuel 

system for back-up purposes, but more than 50 percent of the household heating needs comes from wood.

3. Secondary – Fuelwood is used as a back-up heating system, with another fuel providing the major source 

for heating. Less than 50 percent of household heating needs comes from wood.

4. Pleasure – Fuelwood is burned for pleasure only. Some heating benefit may occur, but fuelwood is not 

considered a heating system.

6
 Households were also asked the type of wood burning unit used, species of wood burned, whether they

purchased or cut their own fuelwood, ownership where fuelwood was harvested, the location fuelwood was 

used (primary or secondary home and/or other building), and the source of fuelwood harvested. Woodland 

included: live trees, dead trees, and logging residue. Non-woodland consisted of: fence rows/windbreaks, 

rural/agricultural land clearing, rural yard trees, and trees inside city limits.

Logger Survey

 A significant portion of fuelwood purchased and consumed by households in Minnesota is from 

commercial suppliers, primarily loggers. In an attempt to identify and quantify the sources of this portion of 

fuelwood consumed, 240 loggers were selected from a statewide list of state timber sale permittees. In 

addition, a list of 60 fuelwood vendors was compiled. Loggers and fuelwood vendors were sent a survey to 

identify the quantity, species of trees, and source of fuelwood harvested between April 2007 and March 

2008. The survey also asked respondents to identify the land ownerships from which they harvested 

fuelwood, and whether the fuelwood sold came from live trees, dead trees, or logging residue from forest 

land, or trees from nonforest sources.

 The results were then extrapolated to an estimated 1,480 logging and firewood businesses statewide that 

harvest 95 percent of all timber in Minnesota. An expansion factor for each returned response was 

calculated based on the number of logging and firewood businesses and the number of returned responses in 

each survey unit. 

7
Figure 1: Percent of Households by Survey Unit That Burned Fuelwood During 2007-2008 Heating

 Season

8
RESULTS

 

Characteristics of Fuelwood Users

 Statewide, 30 percent of households burn fuelwood. (See Table 2.) This is an increase from the 21 percent 

identified in the 2002-2003 survey and the 25 percent identified in the 1995-1996 survey. However, this 

figure was eclipsed by the 33 percent identified in the 1988-1989 survey. In the previous two surveys, each 

geographic unit had a similar reduction in the proportion of households burning fuelwood. As shown in 

Figure 1, the percent of households burning fuelwood within each survey unit varies from 22 percent in the 

Prairie unit where fuelwood is not as accessible, to 44 percent in the Northern Pine unit, which has an 

abundance of fuelwood available. The way households utilize fuelwood also varies, with 13 percent using it 

as a primary source of heating, 20 percent as a secondary heat source, and 67 percent for pleasure only. 

 The percentage of households burning wood as their primary source of heat is highest in the Northern Pine

unit with a total of 37 percent. The Aspen-Birch and Prairie units also have a significant number of 

households using fuelwood as a primary source of heat. As can be expected, the Metro area, where 

fuelwood costs are the highest and availability the lowest, has just one percent of households using 

fuelwood as a primary source of heat.

 The highest proportion of households burning fuelwood as a secondary heat source is found in the AspenBirch unit with 38 percent. Approximately a quarter of households in the Northern Pine, Central Hardwoods 

and Prairie units use fuelwood as a secondary source of heat. Fourteen percent of Metro area residents use 

fuelwood for this purpose.

 The largest increase in households using fuelwood has been for pleasure, not heating homes. Households 

burning primarily for pleasure are most heavily represented in the Metro unit with a whooping 80 percent. 

This is a continuation of the trend moving away from using fuelwood as a primary and supplemental heat 

source to burning fuelwood for pleasure. (See Figure 2.)

 

Table 2: Percent of Households Burning Fuelwood by Survey Unit and Reason for Burning

Survey Unit

Percentage of 

Households 

Burning 

Wood

Reason for Burning

Primary

Heat

Secondary

Heat Pleasure Camping Other

Aspen-Birch 39 29 38 30 3 --

Northern Pine 44 37 24 36 2 2

Central Hardwoods 32 19 23 55 3 --

Prairie 22 25 25 47 3 --

Metro 28 1 14 80 4 --

Statewide 30 13 20 63 4 0

Note: The category “Other” consists of brush clearing/disposal.

9
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Survey Year

P

erc

e

nt

Primary Heat Secondary Heat Pleasure

Figure 2: Percent of Households that Burn Fuelwood by Reason for Burning and Survey Year

Note: Burning for pleasure also includes volume that was burned for camping or other non heating uses.

 Households burning fuelwood identified six categories of wood burning facilities and 14 combination 

categories of two or more types of wood burning facilities. There has been a substantial decrease in the 

proportion of wood furnaces and boilers used, while wood stoves saw a substantial increase in use. There 

also was an increase in the use of fire rings and pits, reflecting the strong shift toward burning wood for 

pleasure. (See Table 3.)

 This data appears to indicate the shift in reasons for consuming fuelwood is largely driven by the cost of 

alternative fuels and convenience. While there has been a strong shift in the use of fuelwood for pleasure 

and access to natural gas continues to rise, the cost of this heat source is also rising, prompting many 

households to use wood stoves as a source of heat. This has caused a resurgence in the purchase and use of 

wood stoves in the last five years, jumping 14 percent.

 It is also important to note that the number of households using fuelwood was relatively constant between 

the 1995-1996 (393,000) and 2002-2003 (391,000) heating seasons, yet the number of households with a 

wood burning facility in the 2002-2003 heating season (513,000) was nearly the same as in the1984-1985 

heating season (520,000). 

10
Table 3: Percent of Volume Burned by Type of Wood-Burning Facility

Type of Wood-Burning Facility Percent of Total

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Wood Stove 46 44 15 29

Wood Pellet or Corn Stove - - - 1

Fireplace 17 9 21 3

Fireplace Insert 2 11 9 6

Wood Furnace or Boiler 26 27 31 16

Fire Pit or Ring - - 1 10

Wood Stove/Fireplace or 

Fireplace Insert 3 4 5 3

Wood Stove/Wood Furnace or 

Boiler - 3 4 3

Wood Stove/Wood Pellet or 

Corn Stove - - - 0

Wood Stove/Fire Pit or Ring - - - 8

Fireplace/ Fireplace Insert - - 1 0

Fireplace/Wood Furnace or 

Boiler 6 - 9 0

Fireplace/Wood Pellet or Corn 

Stove

- - - 1

Fireplace/Fire Pit or Ring - - 4 6

Fireplace Insert/Fire Pit or Ring - - - 2

Wood Furnace or Boiler/Fire Pit 

or Ring - - - 3

Wood Furnace or Boiler/Wood 

Pellet or Corn Stove - - - 0

Wood Furnace or Boiler/

Fireplace Insert - - - 2

Fire Pit or Ring /Wood Pellet or 

Corn Stove - - - 0

3 or More Different Types of 

Wood-Burning Equipment - - - 7

Total 100 100 100 100

Note: A value of 0 = less than .5%.

 

 

 In the 2007-2008 heating season, the number of households with wood burning facilities increased to 

734,300, with 615,900 actually burning wood. Despite the trend toward use of fuelwood for pleasure rather 

then for heat, the recent economic crisis and the associated downturn in industrial demand for wood could 

increase the consumption of fuelwood for primary and secondary heating. The impact could be very 

significant in a short time because of the more then100,000 additional households that have wood burning 

facilities that currently do not use fuelwood, and the nearly 40,000 households that plan to purchase wood 

burning facilities in the near future (Appendix Table A).

11
Volume of Fuelwood Consumed 

 The total volume of fuelwood consumed in Minnesota during the 2007-2008 heating season for heating 

residential homes, secondary building, and burning for pleasure was 978,900 cords (1). This is an increase of 

49 percent, a large upturn in consumption after declining a total of 54 percent between the 1984-1985 and 

the 2002-2003 heating seasons. (See Figure 3.) 

(1) One standard cord is a stack of wood four feet high by four feet deep by eight feet long, or 128 cubic feet consisting of 70 cubic feet of wood

and 58 cubic feet of bark and air space.

FUELWOOD CONSUMED IN MINNESOTA

1960-2007/08

0.607

0.224

0.9

1.4 1.42

1.039

0.751 0.656

0.98

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

19601970

1978/19791980/19811984/19851988/19891995/19962003/20032007/2008

Figure 3: Fuelwood Consumption in Minnesota by Survey Year

 Despite the shift toward burning wood for pleasure, the largest volume of fuelwood is still consumed as a 

primary or secondary heat source for households outside the Metro survey unit. (See Figures 4 and 5.)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

AspenBirchNorthern

Pine

Central

Hardwoods

Prairie Metro Percent of

total

Survey Unit

P

erc

e

nt

Primary Heat

Secondary Heat

Pleasure

Figure 4: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Survey Unit and Reason for Burning

Note: Burning for pleasure also includes volume that was burned for camping or other non heating uses.

12
0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Survey Year

P

erc

e

nt

Primary Heat Secondary Heat Pleasure

Figure 5: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Reason for Burning by Survey Year

Note: Burning for pleasure also includes volume that was burned for camping or other non heating uses

 The volume of fuelwood consumed for heating primary residences was 813,000 cords, an increase of 40 

percent over the volume in 2002-2003 of 581,000 cords. The volume consumed to heat second homes also 

increased by eight percent while heating of other buildings increased 3.5 times to 121,400 cords. (See Table 

4.)

Table 4: Number of Cords Burned by Survey Unit and Place of Consumption

Survey Unit

Place of fuelwood consumption

Number of 

WoodBurning 

Households

Number of 

Active WoodBurning 

Facilities*

Total 

Volume 

(Cords)

Primary

Residence

(Cords)

Secondary

Residence

(Cords)

Other

Buildings **

(Cords)

Aspen-Birch 43,190 78,838 154,218 90,562 13,228 50,428

Northern Pine 52,648 94,207 208,755 175,659 11,470 21,626

Central 

Hardwoods 133,966 183,807 252,066 216,413 9,486 26,167

Prairie 68,891 95,974 146,758 123,864 9,476 13,418

Metro 317,165 376,921 217,098 206,543 766 9,789

Statewide 615,860 829,747 978,895 813,040 44,426 121,429

*Note: Number of wood-burning facilities does not equal number of wood-burning households because some households 

have more than one wood burning facility. 

**Other buildings include garages, business buildings, recreational buildings, and camping.

13
 The largest volume of fuelwood, 83 percent, was consumed at primary residences. The Central 

Hardwoods unit used the most wood at primary residences, but the Metro unit was not far behind in volume 

consumed. The Aspen-Birch unit reported the least volume of fuelwood burned at primary residences. 

 The average volume burned by households using fuelwood as a primary heat source increased when 

compared to 2002-2003 survey, but this figure is lower than survey results from previous years. (See Figure 

6.) Statewide, major users burned an average of 5.6 cords during a heating season, with households in the 

Northern Pine unit burning two cords more wood per household than those in the other survey units. This 

may be a result of differences in severity and length of heating seasons, a lower cost to obtain fuelwood, 

more storage area for a winter’s worth of fuelwood, and/or the use of more efficient burning facilities 

elsewhere. The Aspen-Birch unit, which had the lowest number of households in the state and a high 

percent of those households within Duluth city limits, burned the least number of cords statewide.

0

2

4

6

8

10

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Survey Year

Sta

n

d

ard

C

ord

s

Primary Heat Secondary Heat Pleasure*

Figure 6: Average Number of Cords Burned per Household by Reason for Burning and Survey Year

*Note: Burning for pleasure also includes any volume that was burned fro camping or other nonheating uses

 

Type of Tree Species Burned as Fuelwood 

 Beginning in 2002-2003 survey, more specific information was requested to determine the type of tree 

species (roundwood by species) and other wood products including: wood residues from sawmills (slabs, 

scrap lumber, and recycled pallets), manufactured fireplace logs, and wood or paper pellets, burned by

households. This information was requested in the 2007-2008 survey as well because it is important for land 

managers to determine if there are preferences for the type of tree species burned and to predict potential 

utilization conflicts. Of the 978,900 cords, 92 percent is derived directly from a roundwood source in the 

form of logs or split wood. (See Table 5.)

14
Table 5: Number of Cords Burned by Fuel Type

 

 Oak continues to be the preferred fuelwood species. (See Table 6.) While the use of oak declined from 

2002-2003, it still is the single most important tree species utilized. The proportion of ash consumed more 

than doubled in 2002-2003, and doubled again in 2007-2008 to 157,600 cords. The use of birch took a 

tumble from 13 percent to nine percent, while the use of aspen went up by 50 percent and elm nearly

doubled. 

Table 6: Percent of Fuelwood Burned by Species and Survey year

Species Survey Year

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Oak 32 27 38 29

Birch 13 14 13 9

Ash 8 4 10 17

Elm 14 3 5 9

Maple 8 4 8 10

Aspen 7 10 8 12

Other Species 3 6 9 10

Slabs and 

scrap lumber 15 32 8

4

 Note: Slabs and scrap lumber are included in this species breakdown. 

Sources of Fuelwood 

 Households continue to do much of the fuelwood harvesting themselves. In 2002-2003, households 

harvested 60 percent of the fuelwood burned. This figure fell slightly, to 58 percent, or 570,500 cords, in 

2007-2008. (See Table 7.) In 2007-2008, households purchased 24 percent, or 233,000 cords, of roundwood 

fuelwood for residential use. Another 18 percent, or 175,300 cords was free wood, leftover wood, gift 

wood, wood residues, scrap lumber, manufacture logs, and wood pellets. (See Table M in appendix.)

15

Fuel Type Standard cords Percent of Total

Roundwood/logs 312,517 32

Split wood 587,726 60

Slabs 38,463 4

Wood pellets 11,023 1

Wax/manufactured logs 1,272 < 1

Pallets/crates 17,987 2

Scrap lumber 6,415 < 1

Saw dust 1,667 < 1

Branches/brush 1,825 0

 Total 978,895 100
Table 7: Percent of Fuelwood Consumption by Procurement Method and Reason for Burning 

Procurement Method Reason for Burning Percent of

Primary Heat Secondary Heat Pleasure Total

Roundwood Cut by

Households 55 26 19 58

Roundwood Purchased 33 29 38 24

Roundwood Other* 22 15 63 10

 Total Roundwood 46 25 29 92

Other Fuelwood Types** 31 27 42 8

Percent of Total 44 26 30 100

NOTE: Burning for pleasure also includes any volume that was burned for camping or other non heating uses. 

*Other sources of roundwood include: free, gift, and wood leftover from previous years

** Other fuelwood types include: wood residues, scrap lumber, manufactured logs, and wood pellets.

 Individual households cut 570,500 cords of the fuelwood that was burned during the 2007-2008 heating 

season, almost 1.5 times the number of cords harvested by households in 2002-2003 when 393,500 cords 

were cut. The volume cut by households was highest in the Central Hardwoods unit, followed by the 

Northern Pine unit. Households using roundwood fuelwood as the primary source of heat harvested 46 

percent of the total fuelwood cut by households. (See Table 8).

Table 8: Percent of Fuelwood Consumption from Roundwood Cut by Households by Reason for 

Burning and Survey Year

 NOTE: Burning for pleasure also includes any volume that was burned for camping or other non heating uses.

 

Volume of Fuelwood Harvested

 It is desirable to identify the sources of wood to assess the impacts on different land ownership categories 

and competing uses of wood. The volumes cut by homeowners and loggers are reported separately because 

of significant differences in the data. As can be seen in Table S, located in the Appendix, 92 percent, or 

870,200 cords of the fuelwood cut by households was harvested from private land. There were 55,192 cords 

(1,034,087 cords harvested minus 978,895 cords harvested and burned) of firewood that was harvested but 

not burned by households that was cut in 2007-2008. Some of this firewood was sold or given away to 

others and the rest will most likely be saved for future heating seasons.

 Loggers procure a much higher percent of fuelwood from land administered by public agencies (53 

percent) than private households. Like households, a substantial amount of fuelwood, or 45 percent, is also 

derived from private land. 

16

 

Reason for Burning Survey Year

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Primary Heat 50 54 58 46

Secondary Heat 45 37 35 25

Pleasure 5 9 7 29
0

100

200

300

400

500

State total Households Loggers

Harvest V

olume

(1,000 Standard

C

ords)

Forest Land Growing Stock Forest Land Non-Growing Stock

Forest Land Dead Trees Non-Forest Land Sources

Figure 7: Volume of Fuelwood Harvested by Households and Loggers by Source of Material

 Much of the wood cut (61 percent) by residential households comes from dead or downed trees and 

logging residues. Nine percent comes from live standing trees in the forest. The remainder, 29 percent, is 

from cropland/pasture, yard, and city trees. This differs from logger’s sources of fuelwood, where 57 

percent or 119,700 cords, comes from live trees from forestland. (See Figure 7.) Thirty-two percent, or 

66,700 cords, is derived from logging residue from forestland. (See Table 9.)

 Table 9: Percent of Fuelwood Cut by Source of Material

 *This figure does not equal the total number of cords consumed (978,900 cords) because it does not take into account other 

wood residue such as slabs, crates, etc.

17

Type of Material State total Households Loggers

percent cords percent cords percent cords

Live Trees from Forestland

 Growing-stock Trees 12 123,526 6 48,119 36 75,407

 Non-growing-stock Trees 7 72,554 3 28,260 21 44,294

 Total Live Trees 19 196,080 9 76,379 57 119,701

Logging Residues from Forestland

 From Growing-stock Trees 4 38,226 2 16,209 10 22,017

 From Non-growing-stock 

Trees 7 77,400 4 32,700 21 44,700

 Total Logging Residues 11 115,625 6 48,908 32 66,717

Dead Trees from Forestland 46 475,327 55 456,529 9 18,798

Total Forest land 76 787,033 71 581,817 97 205,216

Wooded Strips, Fence Rows, and 

Wind Breaks 3 28,436 3 28,240 < 1 196

Cropland and Pasture 6 57,702 7 57,196 < 1 506

City Trees 5 47,251 5 43,760 2 3,491

Yard Trees 11 113,666 14 112,037 1 1,629

Total Non-Forestland 24 247,054 29 241,232 3 5,822

Total 100 1,034,087 100 823,049 100 211,038
Impact of Fuelwood Harvested on Commercial Forestland

 Approximately 161,750 cords of fuelwood produced for the 2007-2008 heating season were harvested 

from growing stock on forestland. (See Figure 8.) This is a nine percent increase from the 2002-2003 

survey, but total roundwood harvested for fuelwood increased by over 60 percent. This indicates a reduced 

impact of fuelwood use on the availability of growing stock for higher value forest products. This is further 

delineated by volume that is derived from other sources of timber on forestland. Non-growing stock 

consists of trees and forest residue that is not usable as a higher value timber product, such as trees with 

excessive amount of defects or rot. The total volume of fuelwood removed from forestlands remains high, at 

76 percent. 

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

1988-1989 1995-1996 2002-2003 2007-2008

Survey Year

Gro

win

g

Sto

c

k

V

olu

m

e

(1,0

0

0

Sta

n

d

ard

C

ord

s)

Households Loggers Unidentified Sources

Figure 8: Volume of Fuelwood Harvested from Growing Stock by Survey Year

 The remaining fuelwood harvested in Minnesota comes from logging slash and trees on non-forest land, 

which includes pastures, residential and commercial lots, parks, roads, and street rights-of-way.

 Loggers and households that cut their own fuelwood harvested more oak as a fuelwood source than any

other species, while ash followed with 19 percent of the total harvested. (See Figure 9.) When cutting for 

firewood, loggers cut more volume in species that make better firewood. Oaks, ash, and some maples are a 

denser wood, thus burn longer and put out more heat. In Minnesota, oak is the preferred firewood species.

18
0

50

100

150

200

250

Oak Ash Maple Aspen Elm Birch Pine Other

Hardwoods

Species

V

olu

m

e

B

urn

e

d

(1,0

0

0

Sta

n

d

ard

C

ord

s)

Households

Loggers

Figure 9: Volume of Fuelwood Cut by Households and Loggers in Minnesota by Species, 2007-2008

Trends in Household Fuelwood Consumption

 Until the 2007-2008 survey, the volume of fuelwood burned by Minnesota households had been 

decreasing, sharply at times, since the 1984-1985 survey, when 1.42 million cords of fuelwood were burned. 

 Until now, the decline was primarily attributable to four factors. The most important factor probably was 

the decline in the price of fossil fuel and the increased availability of natural gas. The increased industrial 

demand for wood to manufacture paper and other forest products was also an important factor. The latter 

had and still has the greatest impact on the availability of fuelwood from aspen, birch, and maple. 

 Other factors contributing to the decline in residential fuelwood consumption include the amount of labor 

associated with producing one’s own fuelwood, the inconvenience of stoking and cleaning a wood burning 

facility, and the risk of structural fires and associated insurance costs attributed to wood burning facilities. 

However, steady increases in fossil fuel prices over the past several years has shifted demand back to the 

use of fuelwood as a source of heat. 

 Despite the trend toward use of fuelwood for pleasure rather then for heat, the recent economic crisis and 

the associated downturn in industrial demand for wood could increase the consumption of fuelwood for 

primary and secondary heating. The impact could be very significant in a short time, because even though 

615,900 households are currently consuming fuelwood, there are approximately 734,300 households with 

wood burning facilities. In addition, the number of households planning to burn fuelwood in 2009-2010 is 

631,300, an increase of more than 15,000. This means there still will be more than 100,000 households with 

the capability of burning fuelwood if they choose to do so. In addition, almost 40,000 households plan to 

purchase a wood-burning facility in the next year.

19
20
Appendices

21
22
Sources of Secondary Calculations of Fuelwood Volumes

1) Calculations of growing-stock and non-growing stock sources on forestland were based on factors 

obtained from the Minnesota Logging Utilization Study, 1989, and other regional utilization studies.

2) A conversion factor of 1.0368 tons per cord was used for sawmill slabs and edgings, based on: Release 

No. 232. Cord-Cubic Volume of Relationship of Slabwood and Edgings, Bell, G. E. and Brooks, E. 

American Pulpwood Association. New York, NY, 1955.

3) A conversion factor of 2.752 tons per cord was used for wood pellets, based on: Jason Berthiaume, Pellet 

Fuels Institute (PFI). Current standards require a minimum density for PFI-graded pellets of 40lbs/cu ft. 

Under newly approved standards, which will begin implementation in 2009 and fully phased in by 2010, 

density for super-premium and premium pellets will be 40-46lbs/cu ft, with standard and utility grades at 

38-46lbs/cu ft. As super-premium and premium will make up the vast majority of residential heating 

pellets, it makes sense to use the 40-46 range. Mid-range of 43 X 128 cubic feet per cord = 2.752 tons per 

cord.

4) A conversion factor of 1.0989 tons per cord was used for wax/manufactured fireplace logs, based on: 

Houck, J. E. OMNI Consulting Services, Inc. Beaverton, Oregon. July 2002. Email: houck@omnitest.com. He determined 444 typical logs make up a cord. The weighted average mass of wax/sawdust 

fireplace logs is 4.95 lbs (2.5 lbs, 3.2 lbs, 5 lbs, and 6 lbs logs are sold). The average mass of densified 

logs sold is 5 lbs.

5) A conversion factor of 0.5184 tons per cord was used for wood pallets and crates, based on: 

WikiAnswers: “How much does a pallet weigh?” And “What is the standard size of a wooden pallet?” It 

was assumed the Grocery Manufacturers' Association pallet was 48" x 40" and each weighed 45 pounds. 

 Web site: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_average_weight_of_a_wooden_pallet and 

 Web site: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_standard_size_of_a_wooden_pallet. 

 Both accessed Dec. 4, 2008.

6) A conversion factor of 1.60435 tons per cord was used for scrap lumber, based on:

 WikiAnswers: “How much does a 2 X 4 weigh?” Assuming 400 - 2 X 4s per cord and pine average of 

27.5 pounds per cubic foot. 1.5 x 3.5 x 96 = 504 cubic inches or 0.2917 cubic feet. .2917 X 27.5 = 

8.02175lbs. per 2 X 4 X 8. 

 Web site: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_a_2_x_4_weigh. Accessed Dec. 2, 2008.

7) A conversion factor of 1.054815 tons per cord was used for branches, based on: Oregon Department of

 Environmental Quality; Oregon Material Recovery Survey Attachments; Attachment B: Measurement 

 Standards and Reporting Guidelines. Average yard debris loose and compacted. 

 Website: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/MRAttachmentB.pdf. Accessed Dec. 2, 2008.

8) A conversion factor of 0.954074 tons per cord was used for sawdust, based on: Oregon Department of 

Environmental Quality; Oregon Material Recovery Survey Attachments; Attachment B: Measurement 

Standards and Reporting Guidelines. Average wet and dry. 

 Web site: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/sw/MRAttachmentB.pdf. Accessed Dec. 2, 2008.

9) An average density of 1.396742 tons per cord was calculated as a weighted average density of 12 species

 groups burned in the state.

23
24
Tables

Table A: Household Possession and Use of Wood-Burning Facilities by Survey Unit

Table B: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Reason for Burning and Survey Unit

Table C: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Wood-Burning Facility and Reason for 

Burning

Table D:Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Wood-Burning Facility and Survey Unit

Table E:Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Place of Burning and Survey Unit 

Table F: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood, Survey Unit, and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility

Table G:Residential Fuelwood Consumption in Secondary Residences Within Each Survey Unit 

by Wood Burners of Each Unit

Table H:Survey Units Where Residents of Each Unit Burned Wood

Table I: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Reason for Burning and When First Burned 

Wood

Table J: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood

Table K:Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood, Survey Unit, and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility

Table L: Residential Fuelwood Consumption of Roundwood by Species Group and Survey Unit

Table M:Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Method of Procurement and Survey Unit

Table N:Residential Fuelwood Consumption of Purchased Fuelwood by Survey Unit and Size of 

Fuelwood

Table O:Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Survey Unit and Place of Consumption

Table P: Residential Fuelwood Production by Survey Unit and Source of Material

Table Q:Residential Fuelwood Production by Species Group and Source of Material

Table R:Residential Fuelwood Production by Ownership Class and Source of Material

Table S: Residential Fuelwood Production by Species Group and Ownership Class

Table T: Residential Fuelwood Production by Species Group and Survey Unit

Table U: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners and Loggers and Survey Unit

25
Table A: Household Possession and Use of Wood-Burning Facilities by Survey Unit

Survey 

Unit

Numbers

Households

(Bureau of 

the Census 

2007)

Households 

with WoodBurning 

Facilities

Households 

Burning 

Wood in 

2007-2008

Households 

Planning to 

Burn Wood 

in 2009

Households 

Planning to 

Buy WoodBurning 

Facilities

Households 

Burning Wood 

and Planning to 

Buy WoodBurning Facilities

Aspen-Birch 111,116 49,080 43,190 45,153 1,963 785

Northern Pine 120,089 58,739 52,648 51,342 5,221 4,351

Central Hardwoods 416,067 142,983 133,966 139,118 11,593 7,729

Prairie 312,035 79,022 68,891 73,956 7,092 4,052

Metro 1,121,570 404,501 317,165 321,762 13,790 4,597

Total 2,080,877 734,325 615,860 631,331 39,659 21,514

Table B: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Reason for Burning and Survey Unit

Survey Unit Where Burned and 

Reason for Burning 

Number of Wood

Burning Facilities

Volume

(cords)

Average Volume

(cords per facility)

Asp

e

nBirch

Pleasure 42,998 50,600 1.18

Primary Heat 17,779 65,720 3.70

Secondary Heat 18,061 37,898 2.10

 Total 78,838 154,218 1.96

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

Pleasure 52,002 27,852 0.54

Primary Heat 23,061 150,154 6.51

Secondary Heat 19,145 30,750 1.61

 Total 94,207 208,756 2.22

C

e

ntral

H

ard

w

o

o

ds

Pleasure 114,804 68,356 0.60

Primary Heat 28,339 123,864 4.37

Secondary Heat 40,664 59,846 1.47

Total 183,807 252,066 1.37

Prairie

Pleasure 54,906 30,186 0.55

Primary Heat 19,249 75,501 3.92

Secondary Heat 21,819 41,071 1.88

 Total 95,974 146,757 1.53

M

etro

Pleasure 321,762 113,888 0.35

Primary Heat 4,597 20,685 4.50

Secondary Heat 50,563 82,526 1.63

 Total 376,921 217,098 0.58

AllU

nits

Pleasure 586,471 290,881 0.50

Primary Heat 93,024 435,923 4.69

Secondary Heat 150,252 252,091 1.68

 Total 829,747 978,895 1.18

Note: Number of wood burning facilities does not equal number of households because some households have 

more than one wood burning facility.

26
Table C: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Wood-Burning Facility and Reason for 

Burning

Type of facility

Primary heat Secondary heat Pleasure

Number of

Wood-Burning

Facilities

Volume

(Cords)

Number of

Wood-Burning

Facilities

Volume

(Cords)

Number of

Wood-Burning

Facilities

Volume

(Cords)

Wood Stove 32,284 136,414 49,361 103,751 26,215 42,085

Fireplace -- -- 6,320 8,565 65,998 23,812

Fireplace Insert 1,841 13,909 30,380 33,246 29,839 12,832

Wood Furnace or 

Boiler 20,752 147,712 2,694 6,539 -- --

Wood Pellet Stove 1,723 1,922 2,969 3,024 -- --

Fire Pit or Ring -- -- -- -- 235,221 97,891

Combination 36,424 135,967 58,528 96,991 229,198 114,235

 Total 93,024 435,923 150,252 252,116 586,471 290,856

27
Table D: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Wood-Burning Facility and Survey Unit

Survey Unit and 

Reason for Burning 

Number of Wood

Burning Facilities

Volume

(cords)

Average Volume

(cords per facility)

Aspen-Birch

Wood Stove 28,432 97,277 3.42

Fireplace 5,382 1,384 0.26

Fireplace Insert 3,534 4,042 1.14

Wood Furnace or Boiler 10,994 3,196 0.29

Wood Pellet Stove 393 2,945 7.50

Fire Pit or Ring 393 29 0.07

Combination 29,711 45,346 1.53

 Total 78,838 154,218 1.96

Northern

Pine

Wood Stove 12,183 43,930 3.61

Fireplace 1,740 1,624 0.93

Fireplace Insert 4,351 7,512 1.73

Wood Furnace or Boiler 5,656 55,693 9.85

Wood Pellet Stove 435 237 0.55

Fire Pit or Ring 24,906 17,028 0.68

Combination 44,935 82,731 1.84

 Total 94,207 208,756 2.22

Central

Hard

woods

Wood Stove 21,898 48,175 2.20

Fireplace 11,593 9,930 0.86

Fireplace Insert 17,478 16,244 0.93

Wood Furnace or Boiler 10,305 70,598 6.85

Wood Pellet Stove 3,864 4,681 1.21

Fire Pit or Ring 47,661 20,333 0.43

Combination 71,007 82,105 1.16

 Total 183,807 252,066 1.37

Prairie

Wood Stove 13,170 30,962 2.35

Fireplace 3,039 1,186 0.39

Fireplace Insert 9,118 21,056 2.31

Wood Furnace or Boiler 7,092 25,014 3.53

Fire Pit or Ring 22,956 8,858 0.39

Combination 40,599 59,682 1.47

 Total 95,974 146,757 1.53

Metro

Wood Stove 32,176 61,906 1.92

Fireplace 50,563 18,254 0.36

Fireplace Insert 27,580 11,133 0.40

Fire Pit or Ring 128,705 48,477 0.38

Combination 137,898 77,329 0.56

 Total 376,921 217,098 0.58

All

U

nits

Wood Stove 107,860 282,250 2.62

Fireplace 72,317 32,378 0.45

Fireplace Insert 62,060 59,987 0.97

Wood Furnace or Boiler 34,047 154,501 4.54

Wood Pellet Stove 4,692 7,863 1.68

Fire Pit or Ring 224,620 94,724 0.42

Combination 324,150 347,193 1.07

 Total 829,747 978,895 1.18

Note: Number of wood burning facilities does not equal number of households because some households have 

more than one wood burning facility.

28
Table E: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Place of Burning and Survey Unit

Place of Burning and

Survey Unit

Number of Wood

Burning Facilities

Volume

(cords)

Average Volume

(cords per facility)

Primary

Residence

Aspen-Birch 39,656 90,562 2.28

Northern Pine 56,999 175,659 3.08

Central Hardwoods 141,695 216,413 1.53

Prairie 69,904 123,864 1.77

Metro 330,955 206,543 0.62

 Total 639,209 813,040 1.27

Secon

dary/

Recreational

Residence

Aspen-Birch 29,323 54,738 1.87

Northern Pine 24,381 18,863 0.77

Central Hardwoods 21,777 18,264 0.84

Prairie 8,029 10,388 1.29

Metro 9,193 996 0.11

 Total 92,703 103,248 1.11

B

usiness

Aspen-Birch -- -- --

Northern Pine 870 1,876 2.16

Central Hardwoods 2,576 10,402 4.04

Prairie 1,013 624 0.62

Metro 4,597 4,684 1.02

 Total 9,056 17,585 1.94

Garage/shop

Aspen-Birch 3,534 7,672 2.17

Northern Pine 2,176 9,907 4.55

Central Hardwoods 5,153 3,517 0.68

Prairie 4,052 8,332 2.06

Metro 4,597 1,052 0.23

 Total 19,511 30,481 1.56

Cam

pin

g

Aspen-Birch 6,325 1,246 0.20

Northern Pine 9,781 2,450 0.25

Central Hardwoods 12,606 3,470 0.28

Prairie 12,976 3,549 0.27

Metro 27,580 3,824 0.14

 Total 69,268 14,540 0.21

All

U

nits

Aspen-Birch 78,838 154,218 1.96

Northern Pine 94,207 208,756 2.22

Central Hardwoods 183,807 252,066 1.37

Prairie 95,974 146,757 1.53

Metro 376,921 217,098 0.58

 Total 829,747 978,895 1.18

29
Table F: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood, Survey Unit, and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility 

Survey Unit Where Consumed and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility

Total Volume Roundwood

Wood Residues or 

Scrap Lumber

Manufactured 

Logs or Pellets

(Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons)

Aspen-Birch

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

90,851 126,607 90,379 126,236 469 369 2 2

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

8,499 11,877 8,468 11,828 31 49 -- --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, 

Certified

19,463 27,188 19,446 27,161 17 27 -- --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 385 1,060 -- -- -- -- 385 1,060

Fireplace: Regular 1,938 2,662 1,787 2,496 -- -- 151 166

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 3,989 5,512 3,921 5,477 68 35 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified2,323 3,249 2,307 3,222 17 27 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, 

Certified

1,178 1,645 1,178 1,645 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 3,392 4,738 3,392 4,738 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 13,251 18,508 13,251 18,508 -- -- -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 8,948 12,120 8,193 11,444 755 676 -- --

 Total 154,218 215,166 152,323 212,756 1,357 1,182 538 1,228

Northern

Pine

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

43,196 59,301 39,554 55,247 3,643 4,054 -- --

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

9,173 12,840 9,037 12,622 136 218 -- --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, 

Certified

13,986 19,534 13,984 19,532 2 2 -- --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 1,225 3,371 -- -- -- -- 1,225 3,371

Fireplace: Regular 4,147 5,636 3,712 5,185 435 451 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 7,385 10,308 7,361 10,281 -- -- 25 27

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified2,428 3,391 2,428 3,391 -- -- -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, 

Certified

1,595 2,228 1,595 2,228 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 16,961 23,537 16,447 22,972 -- -- 514 565

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 84,737 116,475 79,515 111,062 5,221 5,413 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 23,922 31,065 18,525 25,875 5,397 5,190 -- --

 Total 208,756 287,684 192,158 268,395 14,834 15,325 1,764 3,964

Central Hard

woods

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

51,625 72,157 51,194 71,505 431 652 -- --

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

3,383 4,419 2,533 3,538 850 881 -- --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, 

Certified

20,771 29,012 20,771 29,012 -- -- -- --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 8,898 24,487 -- -- -- -- 8,898 24,487

Fireplace: Regular 16,353 22,801 16,172 22,588 108 133 73 80

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 15,118 21,116 15,118 21,116 -- -- -- --

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified7,059 9,898 6,879 9,608 181 290 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 15,245 21,293 15,245 21,293 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 79,924 107,553 70,032 97,817 9,892 9,736 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 33,687 43,263 28,241 39,445 5,447 3,818 -- --

 Total 252,066 356,000 226,185 315,922 16,910 15,510 8,972 24,568

 

30
Survey Unit Where Consumed and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility

Total Volume Roundwood

Wood Residues or 

Scrap Lumber

Manufactured 

Logs or Pellets

(Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons) (Cords)

(Dry 

Tons)

Prairie

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

40,614 57,073 38,258 53,437 2,356 3,636 -- --

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

3,294 4,358 2,619 3,658 675 700 -- --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, 

Certified

19,228 26,862 19,213 26,836 14 26 -- --

Fireplace: Regular 8,222 11,510 8,020 11,202 170 274 31 34

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 22,916 32,008 22,916 32,008 -- -- -- --

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified891 1,162 780 1,089 111 73 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, 

Certified

1,013 1,415 1,013 1,415 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 14,366 20,095 14,224 19,867 142 228 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 21,326 29,422 20,313 28,372 1,013 1,050 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 14,888 20,197 13,982 19,529 907 668 -- --

 Total 146,757 204,097 141,337 197,411 5,389 6,652 31 34

Metro

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

6,744 9,429 6,706 9,367 39 62 -- --

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

57,171 79,858 57,145 79,817 26 41 -- --

Fireplace: Regular 58,739 77,651 47,852 66,837 10,191 10049 696 765

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 3,756 5,214 3,647 5,094 -- -- 109 120

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified9,875 13,755 9,745 13,611 -- -- 131 144

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, 

Certified

3,447 4,815 3,447 4,815 -- -- -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 77,365 97,628 59,698 83,383 17,613 14,186 54 59

 Total 217,098 288,349 188,240 262,923 27,869 24,338 990 1,088

All U

nits

Woodstove: Conventional, 

Uncertified

233,031 324,564 226,090 315,789 6,938 8,773 2 2

Woodstove: Catalytic, 

Certified

81,520 113,352 79,802 111,463 1,718 1,889 -- --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, 

Certified

73,448 102,597 73,415 102,542 33 55 -- --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 10,509 28,921 -- -- -- -- 10,509 28,921

Fireplace: Regular 89,400 120,261 77,544 108,309 10,905 10,907 951 1,045

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 53,164 74,155 52,962 73,974 68 35 133 146

Fireplace: Insert, NonCatalytic, Certified22,576 31,455 22,138 30,921 308 390 131 144

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, 

Certified

7,234 10,104 7,234 10,104 -- -- -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 49,964 69,664 49,308 68,871 142 228 514 565

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 199,238 271,959 183,112 255,760 16,127 16,199 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 158,811 204,271 128,638 179,674 30,119 24,538 54 59

 Total 978,895 1,351,299 900,243 1,257,407 66,357 63,010 12,295 30,882

31
Table G: Residential Fuelwood Consumption in Secondary Residences Within Each Survey Unit by Wood Burners of Each Unit

Primary 

Residence 

of Wood 

Burners

Location of secondary residence 1

Aspen-Birch Northern Pine Central Hardwoods Prairie Metro All Units

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Number of 

Households

Volume

(Cords)

AspenBirch 22,380 21,318 393 196 -- -- 393 283 -- -- 23,166 21,797

Northern 

Pine 435 7 17,404 20,266 435 218 -- -- -- -- 18,274 20,491

Central 

Hardwoods 2,576 3,864 5,153 3,392 36,068 31,506 1,288 602 -- -- 45,085 39,364

Prairie -- -- 5,066 1,888 1,013 390 15,197 11,284 -- -- 21,276 13,562

Metro 13,790 38,466 9,193 7,355 4,597 3,539 9,193 10,725 45,966 10,555 82,739 70,640

 Total 39,181 63,655 37,209 33,097 42,113 35,653 26,071 22,894 45,966 10,555 190,540 165,854

1

Includes secondary residences, recreational and business buildings, camping, and other places of consumption.

32
Table H: Survey Units Where Residents of Each Unit Burned Wood

Primary Residence of 

Wood Burners and Where 

Residents Burn Wood

Number of 

Households

Survey Unit Where Wood is Burned

(Cords) Consumption by

Wood Burners of 

each Unit (Cords)

Average 

Volume

(Cords per 

Household)

AspenBirchNorthern 

Pine

Central 

Hardwoods Prairie Metro

Asp

e

nBirc

h

Burn Outside of Unit -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Burn Within Unit 42,405 111,880 -- -- -- -- 111,880 2.64

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 785 -- 196 -- 283 -- 479 0.61

 Total 43,190 111,880 196 -- 283 -- 112,359 2.6

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

Burn Outside of Unit -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Burn Within Unit 51,778 -- 194,555 -- -- -- 194,555 3.76

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 870 7 1,371 218 -- -- 1,595 1.83

 Total 52,648 7 195,925 218 -- -- 196,150 3.73

C

e

ntral

Hard

wood

s Burn Outside of Unit -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Burn Within Unit 126,237 -- -- 242,331 -- -- 242,331 1.92

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 7,729 3,864 3,392 5,588 602 -- 13,446 1.74

Total 133,966 3,864 3,392 247,919 602 -- 255,777 1.91

Prairie

Burn Outside of Unit 1,013 -- 810 -- -- -- 810 0.80

Burn within Unit 63,825 -- -- -- 125,409 -- 125,409 1.96

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 4,052 -- 1,077 390 9,738 -- 11,206 2.77

 Total 68,891 -- 1,888 390 135,148 -- 137,425 1.99

M

etro

Burn Outside of Unit 13,790 38,052 4,597 -- -- -- 42,649 3.09

Burn Within Unit 284,989 -- -- -- -- 207,352 207,352 0.73

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 18,386 414 2,758 3,539 10,725 9,746 27,183 1.48

 Total 317,165 38,466 7,355 3,539 10,725 217,098 277,184 0.87

All U

nits

Burn Outside of Unit 14,803 38,052 5,407 -- -- -- 43,458 2.93

Burn Within Unit 569,234 111,880 194,555 242,331 125,409 207,352 881,527 1.55

Burn Within and 

Outside of Unit 31,822 4,285 8,794 9,735 21,348 9,746 53,909 1.69

 Total 615,859 154,217 208,756 252,066 146,757 217,098 978,894 1.59

33
Table I: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Reason for Burning

 and When First Burned Wood

Reason for Burning

and When First

Burned Wood

Number of

Households

Volume

(Cords)

Average

(Cords per

Household)

Ple

asure

Last year 28,175 12,221 0.43

2 years ago 12,715 7,676 0.60

3 years ago 31,154 12,565 0.40

4 years ago 3,421 1,612 0.47

5 years ago 12,179 1,869 0.15

More than 5 years ago 325,276 216,133 0.66

 Total 412,920 252,076 0.61

Prim

ary

H

e

at

Last year 10,718 45,369 4.23

2 years ago -- -- --

3 years ago 1,448 6,371 4.40

4 years ago 2,158 14,708 6.81

5 years ago 1,406 9,348 6.65

More than 5 years ago 63,996 371,638 5.81

 Total 79,726 447,434 5.61

S

e

c

o

n

d

ary

H

e

at

Last year 2,191 2,876 1.31

2 years ago 8,436 10,278 1.22

3 years ago 2,509 8,004 3.19

4 years ago 6,002 10,011 1.67

5 years ago 1,406 1,252 0.89

More than 5 years ago 102,669 246,963 2.41

 Total 123,213 279,384 2.27

All R

e

aso

ns

Last year 41,084 60,466 1.47

2 years ago 21,151 17,954 0.85

3 years ago 35,111 26,940 0.77

4 years ago 11,581 26,331 2.27

5 years ago 14,991 12,469 0.83

More than 5 years ago 491,941 834,734 1.70

 Total 615,860 978,895 1.59

34
Table J: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood*

Survey Unit Where 

Consumed and 

Type of

Roundwood Burned

Number of

WoodBurning

Facilities

Type of Fuelwood

Total

Volume

(Cords)

Average

(Cords per

Facility)

Roundwood

(Cords)

Wood Residues

and

Scrap Lumber

(Cords)

Manufactured 

Logs or

Wood Pellets

(Cords)

Asp

e

nBirc

h

Roundwood 61,677 140,972 -- -- 140,972 2.29

Wood Residues 3,534 -- 78 -- 78 0.02

Manufactured Logs 1,178 -- -- 29 29 0.02

Combination 12,449 11,352 1,279 510 13,140 1.06

Total 78,838 152,323 1,357 538 154,218 1.96

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

Roundwood 75,596 175,345 -- -- 175,345 2.32

Wood residues 2,611 -- 6,418 -- 6,418 2.46

Manufactured Logs 1,740 -- -- 1,739 1,739 1

Combination 14,260 16,813 8,416 25 25,253 1.77

Total 94,207 192,158 14,834 1,764 208,756 2.22

C

e

ntral

H

ard

w

o

o

ds

Roundwood 128,417 189,902 -- -- 189,902 1.48

Wood Residues 6,441 -- 337 -- 337 0.05

Manufactured Logs 9,017 -- -- 4,696 4,696 0.52

Combination 39,932 36,282 16,573 4,275 57,131 1.43

Total 183,807 226,185 16,910 8,972 252,066 1.37

Prairie

Roundwood 73,411 119,439 -- -- 119,439 1.63

Wood Residues 5,066 -- 1,086 -- 1,086 0.21

Manufactured Logs -- -- -- -- -- --

Combination 17,498 21,898 4,303 31 26,233 1.5

Total 95,975 141,337 5,389 31 146,757 1.53

M

etro

Roundwood 220,637 124,848 -- -- 124,848 0.57

Wood Residues 9,193 -- 431 -- 431 0.05

Manufactured Logs 13,790 -- -- 185 185 0.01

Combination 133,301 63,392 27,437 805 91,634 0.69

Total 376,921 188,240 27,869 990 217,098 0.58

All U

nits

Roundwood 559,738 750,506 -- -- 750,506 1.34

Wood Residues 26,845 -- 8,350 -- 8,350 0.31

Manufactured Logs 25,725 -- -- 6,649 6,649 0.26

Combination 217,440 149,737 58,008 5,646 213,390 0.98

Total 829,748 900,243 66,357 12,295 978,895 1.18

 *Most of this volume is derived from dead and cull trees, not trees from growing stock.

35
Table K: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Type of Fuelwood, Survey Unit, and 

Detailed Type of Burning Facility*

Survey Unit Where Consumed and Detailed 

Type of Burning Facility

Total Volume

(Cords)

Roundwood 

(Cords)

Wood Residues or 

Scrap Lumber 

(Cords)

Manufactured 

Logs or Pellets 

(Cords)

Aspen-Birch

Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 90,851 90,379 469 2

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 8,499 8,468 31 --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, Certified 19,463 19,446 17 --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 385 -- -- 385

Fireplace: Regular 1,938 1,787 -- 151

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 3,989 3,921 68 --

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 2,323 2,307 17 --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, Certified 1,178 1,178 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 3,392 3,392 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 13,251 13,251 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 8,948 8,193 755 --

 Total 154,218 152,323 1,357 538

Northern

Pine

Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 43,196 39,554 3,643 --

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 9,173 9,037 136 --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, Certified 13,986 13,984 2 --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 1,225 -- -- 1,225

Fireplace: Regular 4,147 3,712 435 --

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 7,385 7,361 -- 25

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 2,428 2,428 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, Certified 1,595 1,595 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 16,961 16,447 -- 514

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 84,737 79,515 5,221 --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 23,922 18,525 5,397 --

 Total 208,756 192,158 14,834 1,764

Central Hard

woods

Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 51,625 51,194 431 --

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 3,383 2,533 850 --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, Certified 20,771 20,771 -- --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 8,898 -- -- 8,898

Fireplace: Regular 16,353 16,172 108 73

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 15,118 15,118 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 7,059 6,879 181 --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 15,245 15,245 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 79,924 70,032 9,892 --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 33,687 28,241 5,447 --

 Total 252,066 226,185 16,910 8,972

 

36
 

Survey Unit Where Consumed and Detailed 

Type of Burning Facility

Total Volume

(Cords)

Roundwood 

(Cords)

Wood Residues or 

Scrap Lumber 

(Cords)

Manufactured 

Logs or Pellets** 

(Cords)

Prairie Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 40,614 38,258 2,356 --

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 3,294 2,619 675 --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, Certified 19,228 19,213 14 --

Fireplace: Regular 8,222 8,020 170 31

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 22,916 22,916 -- --

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 891 780 111 --

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, Certified 1,013 1,013 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 14,366 14,224 142 --

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 21,326 20,313 1,013 --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 14,888 13,982 907 --

 Total 146,757 141,337 5,389 31

Metro

Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 6,744 6,706 39 --

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 57,171 57,145 26 --

Fireplace: Regular 58,739 47,852 10,191 696

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 3,756 3,647 -- 109

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 9,875 9,745 -- 131

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, Certified 3,447 3,447 -- --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 77,365 59,698 17,613 54

 Total 217,098 188,240 27,869 990

All U

nits

Woodstove: Conventional, Uncertified 233,031 226,090 6,938 2

Woodstove: Catalytic, Certified 81,520 79,802 1,718 --

Woodstove: Non-Catalytic, Certified 73,448 73,415 33 --

Wood Pellet/Corn Stove 10,509 -- -- 10,509

Fireplace: Regular 89,400 77,544 10,905 951

Fireplace: Insert, Uncertified 53,164 52,962 68 133

Fireplace: Insert, Non-Catalytic, Certified 22,576 22,138 308 131

Fireplace: Insert, Catalytic, Certified 7,234 7,234 -- --

Boiler/Furnace: Indoor 49,964 49,308 142 514

Boiler/Furnace: Outdoor 199,238 183,112 16,127 --

Fire Pit/Ring/Chimenea 158,811 128,638 30,119 54

 Total 978,895 900,243 66,357 12,295

 *Most of this volume is derived from dead and cull trees, not trees from growing stock.

**If material burned takes place in a pellet stove, the material is pellets. If burned in a fireplace, the material is manufactured logs.

37
Table L: Residential Fuelwood Consumption of Roundwood by Species Group and Survey Unit*

 *Most of this volume is derived from dead and cull trees, not trees from growing stock.

38

Species Group All Units

(Cords)

Survey Unit where Consumed (cords)

AspenBirchNorthern

Pine

Central

Hardwoods Prairie Metro

Softwoods

Cedar 6,034 1,257 12 1,032 2,114 1,619

Tamarack 782 226 522 34 -- --

Spruce-fir 1,830 736 64 34 536 460

Pine 55,660 10,516 25,847 7,809 2,916 8,572

 Total 64,306 12,735 26,445 8,909 5,566 10,651

Hardwoods

Maple 92,701 12,377 13,097 22,108 19,638 25,481

Birch 87,420 42,339 19,309 12,033 4,365 9,374

Ash 157,611 37,538 12,752 26,296 42,223 38,802

Aspen 108,092 32,967 36,829 28,546 7,149 2,601

Oak 275,167 9,977 77,604 92,925 22,674 71,987

Basswood 19,649 4,031 1,395 8,484 4,075 1,664

Elm 85,169 336 4,549 22,572 31,574 26,138

Other Hardwoods 10,127 24 177 4,313 4,071 1,542

 Total 835,936 139,589 165,712 217,277 135,769 177,589

All Species 900,242 152,324 192,157 226,186 141,335 188,240
Table M: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Method of Procurement and Survey Unit

Survey Unit Where 

Consumed and

Procurement Method

Roundwood Procurement 

Method

Total 

Roundwood 

Volume

(Cords)

Total 

Other

Fuelwood 

Types2

(Cords)

Total 

Fuelwood

(Cords)

Volume

Cut

(Cords)

Volume

Purchased 

(Cords)

Volume

Other 1

(Cords)

Asp

e

nBirc

h

Cut 42,666 -- 2,984 45,650 578 46,228

Purchased 1-- 72,786 769 73,556 701 74,257

Cut and Purchased 19,500 16,432 7,185 33,117 615 33,733

 Total 52,166 89,218 10,939 152,323 1,895 154,218

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

Cut 118,496 -- 4,251 122,747 3,755 126,502

Purchased 1-- 15,701 562 16,264 8,701 24,964

Cut and Purchased 121,713 25,140 6,294 53,147 4,142 57,289

 Total 140,209 40,841 11,108 192,158 16,598 208,756

C

e

ntral

H

ard

w

o

o

ds

Cut 148,846 -- 11,757 160,603 7,722 168,325

Purchased 1-- 16,200 4,232 20,432 10,084 30,517

Cut and Purchased 112,021 19,249 13,879 45,149 8,075 53,224

 Total 160,867 35,449 29,868 226,185 25,881 252,066

Prairie

Cut 115,374 -- 1,499 116,873 2,100 118,973

Purchased 1-- 8,624 507 9,131 1,327 10,458

Cut and Purchased 11,646 1,646 12,041 15,334 1,993 17,327

 Total 117,020 10,271 14,047 141,337 5,420 146,757

M

etro

Cut 95,930 -- 5,865 101,795 2,920 104,715

Purchased 1-- 35,192 7,521 42,713 8,885 51,598

Cut and Purchased 14,317 22,104 17,310 43,732 17,053 60,785

 Total 100,248 57,296 30,696 188,240 28,858 217,098

All u

nits

Cut 521,312 -- 26,357 547,668 17,075 564,743

Purchased 1-- 148,504 13,591 162,095 29,699 191,794

Cut and Purchased 149,198 84,572 56,710 190,480 31,879 222,358

 Total 570,510 233,076 96,658 900,243 78,652 978,895

1

Includes gift wood, free wood, and leftover wood.

2

Includes wood residues, scrap lumber, manufactured logs and pellets.

39
Table N: Residential Fuelwood Consumption of Purchased Fuelwood by Survey Unit and Size 

of Fuelwood

Survey Unit Where Consumed and

Size of Wood Purchased

Number of

Wood-Burning

Facilities

Volume

(Cords)

Average

(Cords per

Facility)

Asp

e

n-Birc

h

16 inches 10,094 8,738 0.87

24 inches 785.2721 1,178 1.50

72 inches 785.2721 220.8578 0.28

100 inches 9,466 31,871 3.37

Mixed slabs and endings 392.636 98.15901 0.25

Mixed roundwood 8,916 40,339 4.52

Tree length 785.2721 6,478 8.25

Roundwood and Residues 392.636 392.636 1.00

 Total 31,616 89,316 2.83

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

12 inches 2,176 803 0.37

16 inches 6,527 11,024 1.69

24 inches 870.2101 1240.049 1.43

100 inches 3,046 10,171 3.34

Mixed slabs and endings 5,902 7,714 1.31

Mixed roundwood 3,046 5,112 1.68

Tree length 1,305 10,225 7.83

Roundwood and Residues 2,176 3,250 1.49

 Total 25,047 49,539 1.98

C

e

ntral H

ard

w

o

o

ds

12 inches 6,441 1,231 0.19

16 inches 11,037 11,465 1.04

24 inches 1,288 1 0.00

100 inches 1,288 4,830 3.75

Mixed slabs and endings 1,288 1,787 1.39

Mixed roundwood 3,864 6,183 1.60

Roundwood and Residues 12,881 11,171 0.87

 Total 38,088 36,668 0.96

Prairie

12 inches 1,013 4,559 4.50

16 inches 2,026 317 0.16

24 inches 2,026 1,646 0.81

Mixed slabs and endings 2,026 537 0.27

Mixed roundwood 3,432 1,975 0.58

Roundwood and Residues 1,013 1,268 1.25

 Total 11,537 10,301 0.89

40
Survey Unit Where Consumed and

Size of Wood Purchased

Number of

Wood-Burning

Facilities 

Volume

(Cords)

Average

(Cords per

Facility)

M

etro

12 inches 22,983 2,464 0.11

16 inches 64,352 17,322 0.27

Mixed slabs and endings 18,386 3,751 0.20

Mixed roundwood 22,983 10,285 0.45

Tree length 9,193 33,096 3.60

Roundwood and Residues 18,386 3,652 0.20

 Total 156,284 70,569 0.45

All u

nits

12 inches 32,612 9,057 0.28

16 inches 94,036 48,866 0.52

24 inches 4,970 4,065 0.82

72 inches 785.2721 220.8578 0.28

100 inches 13,800 46,872 3.40

Mixed slabs and endings 27,995 13,887 0.50

Mixed roundwood 42,241 63,894 1.51

Tree length 11,284 49,799 4.41

Roundwood and Residues 34,849 19,733 0.57

 Total 262,572 256,394 0.98

41
Table O: Residential Fuelwood Consumption by Survey Unit and Place of Consumption

Survey Unit Where 

Consumed and

Place of Consumption

Number of

WoodBurning

Facilities

Primary

Residence

(Cords)

Secondary

Residence

(Cords)

Other

Buildings 1

(Cords)

Total

Fuelwood

(Cords)

Average

(Cords per

Facility)

Asp

e

n-Birc

h

Primary Residence 31,018 69,667 -- -- 69,667 2.25

Secondary Residence 6,167 -- 2,219 -- 2,219 0.36

Other Buildings 112,057 -- -- 45,047 45,047 3.74

Combination 29,596 20,895 11,008 5,381 37,284 1.26

 Total 78,838 90,562 13,228 50,428 154,218 1.96

N

orth

ern

Pin

e

Primary Residence 46,991 156,736 -- -- 156,736 3.34

Secondary Residence 6,772 -- 6,623 -- 6,623 0.98

Other Buildings 15,757 -- -- 12,673 12,673 2.20

Combination 34,687 18,923 4,847 8,953 32,724 0.94

 Total 94,207 175,659 11,470 21,626 208,756 2.22

C

e

ntral

H

ard

w

o

o

ds

Primary Residence 108,203 186,349 -- -- 186,349 1.72

Secondary Residence 3,864 -- 3,301 -- 3,301 0.85

Other Buildings 16,441 -- -- 14,577 14,577 2.26

Combination 65,299 30,064 6,185 11,590 47,839 0.73

 Total 183,807 216,413 9,486 26,167 252,066 1.37

Prairie

Primary Residence 53,694 90,777 -- -- 90,777 1.69

Secondary Residence 393 -- 283 -- 283 0.72

Other Buildings 14,052 -- -- 6,975 6,975 1.72

Combination 37,835 33,086 9,193 6,443 48,723 1.29

 Total 95,974 123,864 9,476 13,418 146,757 1.53

M

etro

Primary Residence 266,603 179,530 -- -- 179,530 0.67

Secondary Residence 4,597 -- 766 -- 766 0.17

Other Buildings 14,597 -- -- 41 41 0.01

Combination 101,125 27,013 -- 9,748 36,761 0.36

 Total 376,921 206,543 766 9,789 217,098 0.58

All u

nits

Primary Residence 506,510 683,059 -- -- 683,059 1.35

Secondary Residence 21,793 -- 13,192 -- 13,192 0.61

Other Buildings 132,903 -- -- 79,314 79,314 2.41

Combination 268,541 129,981 31,234 42,115 203,330 0.76

 Total 829,747 813,040 44,426 121,429 978,895 1.18

1

Include: garages, business and recreational buildings.

42
 Table P: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners and Loggers, Survey Unit, and Source 

of Material

Survey Unit

All 

Sources

cords

Forest Land (cords) Non-Forest Land (cords)

Standing

Live Trees

Logging

Waste Dead Trees

Windbreaks 

and

Fencerows

Pasture and

Cropland

Cities and

Towns

Yard Trees

Aspen-Birch 100,875 62,311 3,273 26,672 1,021 790 760 6,048

Northern Pine 245,895 58,417 27,829 130,747 787 11,519 4,536 12,060

Central Hardwoods 419,255 67,019 79,718 185,858 14,107 15,400 20,007 37,147

Prairie 195,491 8,326 4,805 120,265 12,062 29,993 5,561 14,479

Metro 72,571 8 -- 11,785 460 -- 16,387 43,932

All Units 1,034,087 196,080 115,625 475,327 28,436 57,702 47,251 113,666

Table Q: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners, Loggers, Species Group, and Source of Material

Ownership Class

All 

Sources

cords

Forest Land (cords) Non-Forest Land (cords)

Standing

Live Trees

Logging

Waste Dead Trees

Windbreaks 

and

Fencerows

Pasture and

Cropland

Cities and

Towns

Yard Trees

Softwoods

Cedar 3,247 927 81 1,879 69 -- 268 24

Tamarack 14,528 2,045 646 11,838 -- -- -- --

Spruce-fir 2,560 469 -- 1,617 94 32 143 205

Pine 53,269 5,101 9,670 28,784 776 1,955 1,706 5,278

 Total 73,604 8,542 10,396 44,117 939 1,987 2,116 5,507

Hardwoods

Maple 120,703 31,151 13,506 52,375 353 2,663 7,151 13,502

Birch 77,138 31,030 6,167 29,143 678 2,224 1,834 6,061

Ash 195,778 27,106 8,726 86,616 14,293 26,489 9,716 22,834

Cottonwood 8,547 313 -- 1,454 547 2,214 738 3,281

Aspen 115,731 31,887 21,376 44,990 1,167 4,930 1,416 9,966

Oak 304,146 57,535 45,530 153,127 4,154 8,743 13,328 21,730

Basswood 32,116 6,261 6,931 10,248 38 502 1,975 6,161

Elm 99,036 1,507 2,640 51,570 6,092 5,965 6,859 24,403

Other Hardwoods 7,288 747 354 1,687 175 1,986 2,118 221

 Total 960,482 187,538 105,229 431,209 27,497 55,715 45,135 108,159

43
Table R: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners, Loggers, Ownership Class, and Source of Material

Ownership Class

All 

Sources

cords

Forest Land (cords) Non-Forest Land (cords)

Standing

Live Trees

Logging

Waste Dead Trees

Windbreaks 

and

Fencerows

Pasture and

Cropland

Cities and

Towns

Yard Trees

National Forest 6,578 5,767 303 507 -- -- -- --

Other Federal 48 18 -- 29 -- -- -- --

State 88,052 46,293 36,745 5,014 -- -- -- --

County 55,162 37,862 6,186 11,114 -- -- -- --

Municipal 6,748 -- 81 2,616 -- -- 3,931 121

Forest Industry 7,340 2,019 1,368 3,952 -- -- -- --

Private 870,159 114,422 70,942 452,095 28,171 57,453 42,120 104,957

 All ownerships 1,034,087 206,381 115,625 475,327 28,171 57,453 46,051 105,078

.

Table S: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners, Loggers, Species Group, and Ownership 

Class

Species Group

All

Ownerships

cords

Ownership Class (cords)

National 

Forest

Other 

Federal State County Municipal

Forest 

Industry Private

Softwoods

Cedar 3,247 -- -- 61 -- 50 18 3,119

Tamarack 14,528 -- -- 3,056 1,111 -- -- 10,361

Spruce-fir 2,560 -- -- -- -- 50 -- 2,509

Pine 53,269 52 22 2,811 2,684 121 2,514 45,065

 Total 73,604 52 22 5,927 3,795 221 2,532 61,055

Hardwoods

Maple 120,703 1,749 4 9,601 11,429 1,011 603 96,305

Birch 77,138 1,962 16 6,997 11,631 162 1,679 54,691

Ash 195,778 1,361 1 12,656 7,481 384 280 173,615

Cottonwood 8,547 -- -- -- -- 725 -- 7,823

Aspen 115,731 1,144 0 10,781 4,860 1,197 212 97,537

Oak 304,146 282 5 36,381 13,773 1,413 1,579 250,713

Basswood 32,116 26 0 5,274 158 100 0 26,557

Elm 99,036 1 1 434 2,033 1,536 453 94,578

Other Hardwoods 7,288 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,285

 Total 960,482 6,525 26 82,125 51,367 6,528 4,807 809,104

All Species 1,034,087 6,578 48 88,052 55,162 6,748 7,340 870,159

 0= Less than 1⁄2 cord

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Table T: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners, Loggers, Species Group, and Survey Unit

Species Group

All

Units

cords

Survey Unit (cords)

AspenBirchNorthern

Pine

Central

Hardwoods Prairie Metro

Softwoods

Cedar 3,247 1,564 85 525 904 170

Tamarack 14,528 892 13,572 -- 65 --

Spruce-fir 2,560 1,500 3 -- 914 143

Pine 53,269 3,980 31,535 12,906 3,316 1,532

 Total 73,604 7,936 45,195 13,431 5,199 1,845

Hardwoods

Maple 120,703 17,041 14,164 48,477 26,079 14,941

Birch 77,138 29,675 29,081 13,384 2,034 2,964

Ash 195,778 16,556 19,041 71,174 75,264 13,743

Cottonwood 8,547 -- -- 4,434 4,100 13

Aspen 115,731 21,704 46,549 39,108 7,842 528

Oak 304,146 6,556 86,242 169,184 26,752 15,412

Basswood 32,116 355 3,223 24,317 3,726 494

Elm 99,036 1,042 2,359 34,666 40,369 20,601

Other Hardwoods 7,288 9 41 1,079 4,126 2,032

 Total 960,482 92,938 200,700 405,823 190,292 70,728

All Species 1,034,087 100,875 245,895 419,255 195,491 72,571

Table U: Residential Fuelwood Production by Homeowners, Loggers, Ownership Class, and Survey Unit

Ownership Class

All Units

cords

Survey Unit (cords)

AspenBirchNorthern 

Pine

Central 

Hardwoods Prairie Metro

Households

National Forest 776 5 764 7 -- --

Other Federal 48 41 -- 7 -- --

State 9,109 5 7,926 1,178 -- --

County 27,403 2,282 11,639 1,514 3,120 8,848

Municipal 6,184 654 322 4,040 896 272

Forest Industry 3,467 1,128 825 1,514 -- --

Private 776,063 54,360 171,456 298,351 189,358 62,538

 Total 823,050 58,475 192,932 306,611 193,374 71,658

Log

gers

National Forest 5,802 4,726 1,076 -- -- --

State 78,943 12,346 13,894 52,582 121 --

County 27,758 13,581 14,113 64 -- --

Municipal 564 -- -- 56 -- 508

Forest Industry 3,873 129 3,744 -- -- --

Private 94,097 11,617 20,138 59,942 1,995 405

 Total 211,037 42,399 52,965 112,644 2,116 913

Total Harvest

National Forest 6,577 4,731 1,839 7 -- --

Other Federal 48 41 -- 7 -- --

State 88,052 12,351 21,820 53,760 121 --

County 55,160 15,863 25,751 1,578 3,120 8,848

Municipal 6,748 654 322 4,096 896 780

Forest Industry 7,340 1,257 4,569 1,514 -- --

Private 870,159 65,977 191,593 358,293 191,353 62,943

 Total 1,034,087 100,875 245,895 419,255 195,491 72,571

45