Be clever or be cold: repurposed ovens for space heating following global catastrophic infrastructure loss

Linto Jose, Milan Raxworthy, Baxter Kamana-Williams , David Denkenberger

Global catastrophic infrastructure loss (GCIL) would disrupt energy supply networks, prohibiting heating in houses reliant on electricity or piped natural gas. Cold climates would require alternative heating methods, as space heating is critical to survival. This work assesses the viability of converting household appliances to wood-burning stoves, and the scalability of such conversions. A standard Simpson-brand electrical oven was converted to a wood-burning stove, using tools and materials likely to be readily available following a GCIL event, and tested by burning pine wood in the fire laboratory at the University of Canterbury. The conversion was successful, with average useful heat output of 2.6 kW, showing the viability of ovens as wood-burning stoves for space heating. It is expected such conversions could be completed in less than one day, given sufficient availability of tools, materials, and labour. Global supplies of ovens, tools, materials, and fuel are expected to be sufficient for widespread conversion of ovens to wood-burning stoves, assuming international collaboration. However, international collaboration may be limited following GCIL, so countries should develop individual response plans accounting for this limitation, and knowledge should be disseminated ahead of time or backup communication systems put in place.