Dear Jim: I need a new heating system, and I want to consider alternatives to gas, oil or electricity. I hear “biomass” being mentioned often. What exactly is biomass, and is it efficient, convenient heat? – Dennis D.

Dear Dennis: “Biomass” sounds like a new, high-tech heating method, but it actually is as old as the discovery of fire itself. Firewood, which has been used to heat homes for thousands of years, is still the most common type of biomass heating used in many of today’s homes. With modern fireplaces becoming cleaner-burning and more efficient, it is more popular than ever.

Biomass is any natural material that has stored energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. This combines water, carbon dioxide and nutrients from the soil into a biomass material. The resulting biomass material releases this stored energy by burning or chemical means.

There are many options for using biomass heating in your home, either for spot heating or in a central heating system. I use a free-standing corn stove in my living room that also heats my home office as I write this column.

Since you are planning to replace your entire heating system, you probably have interest in a central system. Most central biomass systems provide heat as comfortable as any standard gas, oil or electric system. You just set the thermostat on the wall and it maintains an even temperature.

A biomass system, depending on the type, requires more maintenance and care. Typically, the biomass fuel (corn, firewood, pellets, etc.) has to be carried indoors and loaded into the heating system. There also is ash to remove periodically.

A central corn heating system with a bulk hopper requires the least care. Once the huge storage hopper is filled with corn, an auger automatically slowly feeds it into the furnace or boiler as needed. The amount of ash created from burning corn or wood pellets is not great.

Another convenient central biomass heating system uses a wood-burning furnace that also can switch to oil. If the firewood burns down on a very cold night, the oil burner kicks in to continue to provide heat. If you happen to run out of firewood and oil is too expensive, these heating systems also are designed to burn coal.

Before selecting a biomass heating system, check with your local farm bureau to see what local fuels are available. This reduces costs and energy wasted from shipping long distances. Some typical local biomass fuels are corn in the Midwest, peanut shells in the South, cherry pits in the North, and wheat or sunflower seeds in the Plains.

These companies offer biomass heating systems: American Energy Systems, 800-495-3196, www.magnumfireplace.com; Dell-Point, 877-331-6212, www.pelletstove.com; Even Temp, 800-331-8862, www.eventempinc.com; Harman Stove Co., 717-362-9080, www.harmanstoves.com; and Ja-Ran 810-359-7985 www.ja-ran.com.

Dear Jim: I might get a vacuum-blower leaf mulcher. I buy a lot of mulch for my garden each year. From an environmental standpoint, is it better to run an electric leaf vacuum and make mulch or buy it at the store? – Kath F.

Dear Kath: It is a complicated calculation to determine how much energy, materials and waste are used to make and use a product. Just considering all the plastic mulch bags alone, making your own is probably better. I use a two-speed Black and Decker Leaf Hog vacuum mulcher at my home. It uses about 14 cents of electricity for each hour’s use. In about an hour during fall, I can make the equivalent of about 10 bags of store-bought mulch.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Bangor Daily News, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244, or go to www.dulley.com.