There is some great news to report with regards air quality. It’s improving. PM10 and PM2.5 has shown long-term improvements in both roadside and urban background sites. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution has also shown long-terms improvement too.
In 2018 some of the lowest average annual concentrations continue to be recorded, since the start of the time series:
Ecodesign Stoves:
Ecodesign stoves have made a positive contribution towards cleaner air. Such a stove will produce 90% less emissions than an open fire, and 80% less than a 10 year-old stove. However, we are still faced with mis-information being bounced around, with quotes like:
“using a wood burning stove is the same as driving eight diesel lorries up and down your street all night…”
Sadly this is hugely inaccurate, and to further add detriment to this statement, it fails to consider the NOx and other significant emissions, which a diesel lorry would far exceeded, when compared to a stove. An inaccurate and unfair comparison.
What’s the big issue with stoves?
Stoves have being dragged through the mill a little recently, and for no genuinely valid reason. Much of this confusion is based on the fact that stoves are sometimes “classified” alongside open fires, which is completely wrong. Other times stoves (as in all stoves, regardless of age or efficiency) are considered equal. The truth is, as mentioned earlier in this article, an Ecodesign stove produces
90% less emissions than an open fire, and 80% less than a 10 year-old stove.
So in what context does this statement about stoves“using a wood burning stove is the same as driving eight diesel lorries up and down your street all night…” fit?
Do they mean all stoves, regardless of them being a high efficiency Ecodesign model, will still somehow produce such awful pollution?
Making such statements is not only wrong, it misleads the general public over a very serious matter. They should be given the real facts.
Let’s help the public reduce their wood burning emissions by 90%
The government are aware of the independent test work that has demonstrated an Ecodesign Ready stove will produce 90% less emission than an open fire, and 80% less than a 10 year-old stove. These figures needs to take precedence in helping consumers make the right choice.
The public still could do more…..
Although it’s important for the Government to help educate consumers about the benefits of Ecodesign, and be truthful in the communication that is being published in the media, the public also have an obligation to ensure they are being as environmentally friendly as possible when burning wood. Key things the public (stove owners) need to think about when burning wood, to minimise pollution is:
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- Burn correctly seasoned wood
- Ensure a flue is regularly cleaned
- Invest in a high efficiency stove
- Avoid practises such as slumbering a stove
Links to similar Charlton & Jenrick articles:
Are you a green stove user?
Ecodesign stoves and UK air pollution
UK air is getting cleaner
Emission impact on climate change
Britain leading fight on climate change
