To save money this winter, some East Tennesseeans switch to firewood

Mark England decided last year to switch solely to firewood instead of using propane gas to heat his Claiborne County home. He apparently was part of a trend.

It cost about $350 for the wood England used to warm his three-bedroom, two-bath house in Tazewell. And with energy prices even higher this year, it is something he certainly will continue. Others are looking into the old-world energy source as well.

"We had a gas fireplace, but when prices started to skyrocket - I wouldn't say we were forced to - but with the economy at the time, firewood was more reasonable," England said. "I would say it saved me $600. And with gas prices skyrocketing now, I'll be saving quite a bit more."

England was certainly ahead of the game. Soaring energy costs and threatened scarcity of some fuels like home heating oil this year have led more homeowners to seek alternative sources for heat, and as a result, both seasoned firewood and some supplies of wood-burning stoves are expected to be in short supply.

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