[News] Wood burners

[Rdodge30]

I have been aware of the general outlawing of wood burners in certain areas in recent years although it is only something that goes on in the background of the news for me- I was aware that councils were banning them here and there but I take no notice because it falls into the category of never going to affect me because I love woodburners so given the options I won’t live where they are banned. There have been smoke free zones in built up areas for many years. When I bought my static mobile home after the divorce I ripped the gas fire out and put my old wood burner in (it had been sat in the garage for well over a decade since my time living in another static on a farm. My retirement narrow boat will definitely have a wood burner

So there was a story about woodburners in Brighton in the Times this week I glanced at it but it didn’t really seem serious… chimney sweeps park around the corner because of stigma ! As if smoke coming out of the chimney in the first place wasn’t a give away.


But here’s my point … I simply cannot believe the claim that woodburners in this country are a problem because they apparently produce more of a particularly dangerous form of air pollution, PM2.5, than all of the UK’s road traffic.

Surely this is taken massively out of context? There has to be OTHER forms of air pollution that are caused by “All the UK’s road traffic” that are a much bigger problem?

 

[The Fits]

Pm2.5s are the dangerous air pollution aren’t they?

 

[Rdodge30]

Pm2.5s are the dangerous air pollution aren’t they?

Apparently but if that’s the most deadly form of pollution…. and woodburners create more of it than “All the UK’s road traffic” ?? Then I am (some on here will pleased to know) speechless.

 

[portlock seagull]

For centuries we’ve burnt wood so I tend to agree it’s overplayed as a hazard and social menace. The hypocrisy is breathtaking also. The only thing I would say about burning wood is ensuring maximum warmth from eg open fires are less efficient (which is why we don’t use ours often). As for outdoor burning in your urban terraced garden simply because it looks nice on summer nights - well they should be banned! But the garden centres are full of “fire pits” and they’re very in vogue. Make no sense to me though and they’re extremely unsociable I agree given ground level.

In summary it’s all about where and how using I guess. I wouldn’t begrudge someone in a remote rural location, but in the middle of Chelsea I can see the case against!

 

[Rdodge30]

The UK’s annual road traffic is 330 billion miles

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

For centuries we’ve burnt wood so I tend to agree it’s overplayed as a hazard and social menace. The hypocrisy is breathtaking also. The only thing I would say about burning wood is ensuring maximum warmth from eg open fires are less efficient (which is why we don’t use ours often). As for outdoor burning in your urban terraced garden simply because it looks nice on summer nights - well they should be banned! But the garden centres are full of “fire pits” and they’re very in vogue. Make no sense to me though and they’re extremely unsociable I agree given ground level.

In summary it’s all about where and how using I guess. I wouldn’t begrudge someone in a remote rural location, but in the middle of Chelsea I can see the case against!

We have burned wood for centuries. But the difference is there is now 65m living in the country, usually in close urban concentrations.

We need to be more considerate than before in how we share the space we have

 

[portlock seagull]

We have burned wood for centuries. But the difference is there is now 65m living in the country, usually in close urban concentrations.

We need to be more considerate than before in how we share the space we have

I know this, but fewer people than ever before are burning wood despite the increase in population.

 

[Gazwag]

Burn baby burn

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I know this, but fewer people than ever before are burning wood despite the increase in population.

But we're also doing lots of other polluting activities in addition, like driving massive 4x4 cars

We all need to take a bit of responsibility for the quality of air we all breathe

 

[nicko31]

I've got one, but in recent years stopped using it when winds fall light and always run it hot.

If you get a decent one they are quite efficient, open fires far less so. Look pretty but close to useless for generating heat.

 

[Balls of Steele]

Isn’t issue too that some people burn all kinds of crap wood in them …painted, treated etc. ?

 

[Rdodge30]

But we're also doing lots of other polluting activities in addition, like driving massive 4x4 cars

We all need to take a bit of responsibility for the quality of air we all breathe

My original point is that I simply don’t believe that woodburners create more pollution than “All the UK’s road traffic”

Your points are valid and the world is changing but I am suspicious of anything that is put higher up the list than traffic really

 

[PTC Gull]

This doesn’t help
https://earthjustice.org/experts/je...of-drax-a-power-company-masquerading-as-green

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

My original point is that I simply don’t believe that woodburners create more pollution than “All the UK’s road traffic”

Your points are valid and the world is changing but I am suspicious of anything that is put higher up the list than traffic really

Could you link to where you were reading this?

Yes it sounds implausible woodburners cause more pollution than cars

But that they produce more of one dangerous particulate? i could believe that.

 

[Chicken Run]

My retirement narrow boat will definitely have a wood burner

Mine will have a ‘Lock Gate’ diesel stove, i’m not spending 200k on a Brand new Braidbar and lumping coal and wood in and out

 

[Rdodge30]

Could you link to where you were reading this?

Yes it sounds implausible woodburners cause more pollution than cars

But that they produce more of one dangerous particulate? i could believe that.

I read it in The Times on Tuesday so I don’t think I can link it here but the quote about pollution came from ‘The Cozy Killer Campaign” The council spokesman was Tim Rowkins and “mums for lungs”spokesperson said:


“The research is clear — being regularly exposed to wood-burning smoke increases the likelihood of lung cancer, especially in women and children but the awareness is still too low in this country.”

 

[portlock seagull]

But we're also doing lots of other polluting activities in addition, like driving massive 4x4 cars

We all need to take a bit of responsibility for the quality of air we all breathe

Indeed, and that’s one of the hypocrisy pieces I was alluding to. Cars, plans, consumerism of energy in general have far greater impacts. Hence I believe Wood burning is a disproportionately demonised and perhaps even a bit classist too. And yet I can’t see any of the yummy mummy brigade in their massive suvs transporting one brat giving their tank up anytime soon - can you?!

 

[Rdodge30]

Mine will have a ‘Lock Gate’ diesel stove, i’m not spending 200k on a Brand new Braidbar and lumping coal and wood in and out

As my budget will be approximately 10 to 15% of yours, I will be ok with a squirrel or similar and will be relying on the barge deliveries of supplies!

 

[portlock seagull]

I read it in The Times on Tuesday so I don’t think I can link it here but the quote about pollution came from ‘The Cozy Killer Campaign” The council spokesman was Tim Rowkins and “mums for lungs”spokesperson said:


“The research is clear — being regularly exposed to wood-burning smoke increases the likelihood of lung cancer, especially in women and children but the awareness is still too low in this country.”

And kittens. It always kills kittens. And other cute defenceless things along with children and women. But never men, especially GAMMONS.

 

[Chicken Run]

A

As my budget will be approximately 10 to 15% of yours, I will be ok with a squirrel or similar and will be relying on the barge deliveries of supplies!

Are the good old fuel boat, i know it’s a sin but i do enjoy quite a few of the you CC’s who vlog on You Tube