Why ?
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/is-burning-wood-f...
(And it is carbon neutral, so if you're going to burn something, better wood than fossil fuels from that standpoint.)
Granted, if your burning something for heat it's the best option. But, with that much passive solar and the fact he is living in California he could probably get by using more insulation and basically never need to use a wood stove. I mean just look at all those single pane windows.
It is carbon neutral only if you plant a tree. Which you can do anyway.
Burning gas or oil, which have a better co2/kwh ratio and planting a tree is better than burning a tree and planting a new one.
>Which you can do anyway.
Buying wood funds planting trees. Buying gas and oil do not.
That doesn't matter at all.
> Buying wood funds planting trees. Buying gas and oil do not.
Buying wood to burn it also increases the price, reducing the use of wood for better things.