Sue Roaf used one in her Ecohouse (google her)

I think the advantage is that in a super insulated house what you really need is a little background heat spread over the very cold snaps, ie two or three days so the really massive stoves can give that rather than a real big blast all in one evening... I think...

J

Maybe to do with the UK's changeable rather than "continental" weather? A response time in days may have disadvantages here that it doesn't in the continental interior.

thanks for replies, further enquiries has shown me the reason for their lack of presence in the uk is partly because we don't have the severe cold of europe, they can be expensive to fit, they are not part of our history, and there are probably more. it has not put me off as i think they are good in terms of their efficiency, nothing to go wrong, no working parts. i am attending a course this summer to learn more about them, then i will feel fully confident in building them. one criticism is that they do not give instant heat, i think i have an innovative answer to that and that is to design a hybrid version,ie part wood stove, part mass heater, i will have more info when i return from the course, wish me luck

regards red:

There is a guy who makes and sells them near me I think in Beaford, Devon. Ill find his detrails and post them.