Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: request to post the following about fire elements in cohousing developments

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

At Cornerstone, both wood-burning and gas-fired stoves are seen as health and 
safety hazards in the common areas; we don’t have any communal ones.  An 
electric fire-simulation device was considered, but did not rouse much 
enthusiasm.  There are some private gas-fired fireplace units, and I think one 
of our dwelling units installed a wood-burning appliance — but for safety 
reasons, these must always be installed according to code by qualified 
professionals.

We do have solar panels, but our utility company requires that they go off line 
in the event of a power failure — so they have no usefulness as back-up 
devices.  We are looking into getting a gasoline-powered generator for 
emergency use, but have not yet solved the issues of how to tie it to existing 
circuits.  On the whole, you will have fewer challenges and lower costs with 
systems engineered into your property as part of the original design, than with 
equipment retrofitted to your buildings at a later date.  Solve the design and 
pay the engineer now: You’ll be happier in the future.

Thanks,
Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Village Cohousing
Cambridge, MA

> On Feb 27, 2016, at 2:51 PM, JOAN OLECK <joanoleck [at] optimum.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> Dear Cohousers:
> 
> I'm part of a cohousing community, Village Hill, being developed in
> 
> Northampton, MA. We're doing some research on fire elements, as one of our
> 
> community members, is seriously allergic to wood particulates. So I'm hoping
> 
> you might post this on your blog for us to gather input from other
> 
> communities. Our questions include:
> 
> Do other communities allow wood stoves? In both individual units AND the
> 
> common house or just one or the other?
> 
> If so, have individuals in these communities suffered any ill effects?
> 
> If woodstoves are not allowed, are stoves with eco friendly fuels (pellets)
> 
> allowed as an alternate?
> 
> What about back-up heat in general (should the electricity go out/the solar
> 
> panels fail, etc.)? Are communities putting in generators with propane, or
> 
> backing off from that too, as a fossil fuel?
> 
> Please email me privately, at: joanoleck [at] optimum.net
> 
> We'll be very, very grateful from any guidance other communities offer.
> 
> Thanks so much! -- Joan Oleck, (based in Brooklyn, NY, for now)
> my email: joanoleck [at] optimum.net
> 
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