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Great news for our Scottish customers who love the warmth and ambiance of a real wood fire! The Stove Industry Association (SIA), a champion for the industry, successfully lobbied for an amendment to the New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) in Scotland. This means that starting January 1st, 2025, Eco Design wood burning stoves can once again be installed in new builds and existing buildings undergoing conversion.
Key Facts & Arguments That Led The Scottish Government To This Decision
Woodburning stoves are the lowest carbon emitting heating available for homes, with a carbon intensity 1/19th of direct electric heating.
Woodburning stoves are a low-carbon heating option, emitting 1/5th less emissions than heat pumps. Sustainable forestry provides a renewable fuel source for these stoves, offering affordable, low-carbon heat. Modern stoves are highly efficient, reducing particulate matter emissions and fuel consumption compared to open fires.
Woodburning stoves give thse in fuel poverty the ability to heat their home cheaply, reducing gas and electricity bills while maintaining low carbon heat.
The cost and complexity of renovating existing housing stock should not be underestimated. Modern woodburning stoves offer a sustainable, low-carbon, and affordable heating solution, especially for poorly insulated homes. These stoves can provide instant heat where it's needed, complementing other low-carbon heating systems and reducing reliance on expensive electric heating.
Modern woodburning stoves offer security and resilience to householders but also to the electricity grid and gas networks.
Modern stoves offer reliable heat during power outages and extreme weather, enhancing energy security and resilience. Replacing open fires and old stoves with modern, Ecodesign-compliant models reduces carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and air pollution.
A real fire brings wellbeing benefits, a focal point for family life, mental health benefits and economic and financial benefits.
Providing heat for one's family is a basic human right. Modern wood-burning stoves offer a controllable, low-carbon heating solution. The removal of this option cannot be justified, especially considering the recent study highlighting the multifaceted benefits of residential combustion.
The stove industry contributes around £60 million annually to the Scottish economy and supports 2,000 jobs, producing highly engineered technology which is low carbon and reduces other emissions significantly compared to open fires.
The wood stove industry supports sustainable woodland management by creating jobs and stimulating the economy, particularly in rural areas. The UK stove industry contributes significantly to the economy, supporting thousands of jobs.
Andy Hill, from the Stove Industry Alliance, added:
“Wood burning at home is a fundamental part of homes and family life across the country. Its use offers the reassurance of energy grid independence and protection against fluctuating gas and electricity process.
The acknowledgment that biomass is carbon neutral at the point of use is vital to facilitating a pathway to net zero in Scotland.”
Here at Certainly Wood, we're thrilled about this update. Wood burning stoves offer a multitude of benefits, including:
- Cosy Atmosphere: There's nothing quite like the warmth and inviting glow of a wood fire.
- Renewable Heat Source: Wood is a renewable resource, making it a sustainable heating option when sourced responsibly.
- Efficiency: Modern wood burning stoves are highly efficient, meaning they emit less smoke and burn cleaner than ever before.
- Scottish Tradition: Wood burning stoves have been a part of Scottish homes for centuries, and this update ensures that tradition can continue.
Carbon Neutrality Recognised:
The SIA's successful campaign also highlighted the carbon neutrality of wood burning when using sustainably sourced firewood. They emphasised that not all carbon emissions are equal and this also goes when comparing fossil fuel carbon to biogenic carbon (that released by organic matter as well as wood burning).
The Scottish Government recognises that the CO2 released from burning wood is part of a natural carbon cycle which is part of a relatively short-term cycle. This is in stark contrast to fossil fuels, which release CO2 that has been trapped underground for millions of years. For more detail on this, please head to the SIA’s website here.
What this means for you:
If you're building a new home or renovating an existing one in Scotland, you now have the freedom to consider a wood burning stove as a heating option. This opens doors to a more traditional and cosy heating experience.
Certainly Wood is Here to Help:
Here at Certainly Wood, we offer a wide variety of high-quality firewood products. We're committed to providing sustainable firewood options and can help you choose the perfect log/ accessories for your needs.
Looking for more information?
You can find more information from the Stove Industry Association here.
We're excited to continue providing our Scottish customers with the warmth and comfort of wood burning stoves!
