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Following recent media reports and campaigns, I decided to write this blog to address a question I am often asked by customers during deliveries: Will the Government ban the burning of wood in homes?
This blog aims to address that question, drawing on information from Woodsure’s recent Clean Air Night fact sheet. Woodsure, a leading not-for-profit organisation, is committed to promoting the use of cleaner, higher-quality fuels to reduce emissions and drive innovation in the industry. Alongside their sister company, HETAS, they collaborate with registered installers, approved chimney sweeps, servicing companies, and retailers to educate wood fuel users across the UK and support the ongoing reduction of emissions.
Key Message
• The Government does not intend to ban domestic burning; banning would negatively impact vulnerable groups and be hard to enforce.
• Focus remains on minimising emissions, educating stove users, and promoting clean burning practices.
• PM2.5 emissions have decreased despite increased stove use, thanks to higher-quality fuels and cleaner technologies.
Why is there mixed messaging around wood burning?
• The Government is not banning wood burning but ensures only low-emission appliances and fuels are sold.
• Mixed hardwood fuel must meet moisture and pollution standards.
• Calls for total bans often ignore those reliant on wood burners for heating
Is burning wood carbon neutral?
• Burning wood is “carbon lean,” not carbon neutral.
• Carbon footprint depends on woodland management and fuel sourcing.
• Managed woodlands:
• Promote faster growth through species selection (e.g., Sitka spruce).
• Use thinning, pruning, and pest management for healthier growth.
• Comparatively, fossil fuels take thousands of years to reabsorb emitted carbon, unlike decades for wood
Is burning wood inefficient for heating?
• Efficiency depends on:
• Quality of fuel, appliance condition, chimney maintenance, and user operation.
• Modern stoves are up to 90% more efficient than open fires.
• Stoves can be a secondary heat source, reducing reliance on fossil-fuel heating systems
Comparisons between wood burners and HGVs
• Emission comparisons often use outdated or foreign data.
• Modern stoves produce significantly lower PM2.5 emissions than open fires or old stoves.
• Government data highlights that most road transport PM emissions come from non-exhaust sources like tyres and brakes
Do solid fuel and wood cause significant pollution?
• High-quality dry wood in modern stoves produces significantly fewer emissions.
• The ban on house coal and requirements for Ready to Burn-certified fuels are reducing emissions
Why don’t wood burner owners switch to other heating methods?
• 15.1% of UK households are off-grid and rely on wood burners.
• Stoves are also a cost-effective supplementary heat source for poorly insulated homes or modern systems like heat pumps.
Why are there so many wood burners in urban areas like London?
• London has the highest proportion of open fires (68% of appliances).
• Upgrading to modern stoves can significantly improve air quality.
• Smoke control areas enforce regulations and encourage efficient appliances
Why hasn’t the Government done more to tackle pollution?
• Existing measures include:
• Ready to Burn certification for dry firewood.
• Ban on house coal (since May 2023).
• Smoke control areas with penalties for non-compliance.
• Competent person schemes ensuring safe, efficient stove installations.
Why are there so many complaints about wood burners?
• Most complaints relate to outdoor burning (e.g., bonfires, BBQs), not wood burners.
• Education and proper reporting to local councils are essential for tackling nuisance burning.
Why don’t smoke control areas stop poor burning?
• Smoke control areas aim to reduce the most polluting practices, promoting modern appliances and high-quality fuels.
• Local authorities can enforce penalties and encourage compliance through education and workshops.