Are AGAs and Rayburns overlooked as methods of cooking in, and heating, the modern home?
I do not know much about them, but it seems they cook food and heat the home and burn pretty much anything you stoke them with. Why, then, are they not more popular, surely they're more efficient (economically and environmentally) than the current home kitchen?
Aga and Rayburn are two specific tradenames for mulit purpose ranges. Yes they can cook food, heat water and heat house all at once from one fuel source but they tend to be quite large items and many modern houses will not be able to accomodate such a "cooker" in the kitchen. The best way to heat hot water is with a solar panel on the house roof although the amount of solar radiation available depends a lot of location. For cooking and home heating however, modern gas or electric units are probably more efficient than a range. If you have a cheap source of wood fuel and a wood burning range, then you could argue that is a better environmental option than using fossil fuel even at a higher nominal unit efficiency. I still think the main problem with a range is the space requirement noting that it would need its own exhaust to the outside too.
I have an Aga. I love it during winter as it keep s the whole kitchen warm and it cooks food so much better. Excellent cookers all round. Oh and I used to have a Rayburn. They are pretty good as well but I love my Aga better.
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It's more likely that it's just a little bit less convenient for cooking and they are fairly expensive to buy and install.
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Aga and Rayburn are two specific tradenames for mulit purpose ranges. Yes they can cook food, heat water and heat house all at once from one fuel source but they tend to be quite large items and many modern houses will not be able to accomodate such a "cooker" in the kitchen. The best way to heat hot water is with a solar panel on the house roof although the amount of solar radiation available depends a lot of location. For cooking and home heating however, modern gas or electric units are probably more efficient than a range. If you have a cheap source of wood fuel and a wood burning range, then you could argue that is a better environmental option than using fossil fuel even at a higher nominal unit efficiency. I still think the main problem with a range is the space requirement noting that it would need its own exhaust to the outside too.
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