What Cleaner Choices Can You Make For Clean Air Day?
June 16th marks Clean Air Day 2022, the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, bringing together communities, businesses, schools and the health sector. As the non-profit organisation committed to helping people make cleaner and safer choices in the use of biomass and other solid fuels, HETAS has some key tips for stove users looking to reduce their environmental impact.
Make a Cleaner Choice
A new wood burning stove emits up to 90% less emissions than an open fire and up to 80% less than a stove that is more than 10 years old. If you’re concerned about your environmental impact and are thinking about a new stove, choose a HETAS Cleaner Choice appliance. The Cleaner Choice scheme has been designed to clearly signpost buyers to the cleanest-burning appliances. All stoves certified under the scheme have to emit a lower level of particulate emissions than the most stringent legislation that is required within Smoke Control Areas.
Is servicing necessary?
Making sure your stove is serviced annually by a HETAS registrant ensures it’s in good working order and that it’s running efficiently. Ultimately, an efficient stove is better for the environment as it produces less emissions, and for your household budget as less fuel is required to make more heat.
Why is chimney sweeping important?
All HETAS Approved Chimney Sweeps are trained to look after your chimney and make sure it’s clean and safe – protecting you from the risk of chimney fires and reducing particulate emissions from soot build up. Use the postcode search on the HETAS website to find your local sweep and book with them at least once a year.
Use the right fuel
You might be thinking that wood is wood when it comes to lighting a fire, but you’d be mistaken. Look out for Ready to Burn woodfuel and you’ll be safe in the knowledge that it has a moisture content of less than 20% and it is suitable for immediate use. The low moisture content also means it smokes less, so less emissions are produced.
Am I using my stove correctly?
The only way to know is to check the manual. Always use your stove in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. While you may have owned a stove before, not all models are the same so it’s worth getting to know the one you have. Operating your stove at its optimum will ensure safe, efficient use with minimal impact on the environment.
What else do I need to know?
With spiralling energy prices, people are looking for alternative ways to heat their homes. If you’re getting a stove fitted, use a HETAS Registered Installer, who will make sure your installation is safe and that it conforms to building regulations, including the suitability of materials around the stove. Never be tempted to place combustible materials, like firewood, around your stove as this could result in them igniting and causing a fire. The safe distance for combustible materials will be provided in your manufacturer’s instructions or a HETAS registrant will be able to offer advice.
Bruce Allen, HETAS Chief Executive adds;
The focus of this year’s Clean Air Day is ‘Air pollution dirties every organ in your body. Take steps to improve your health and the planet’. We know that many have concerns about the impact of domestic woodburning on air quality. Ultimately we all breathe the same air so HETAS is dedicated to doing all we can to help push towards cleaner burning.
