Wood burning goes high tech
Woodburning stoves have been delivering sustainable, renewable and affordable heat for families across the UK, long before carbon reductions and targets for air quality began to make headlines.
There are an estimated two million stove and fireplace installations in the UK, which represents a domestic investment of around £4 billion in people’s homes. Woodburning stoves not only provide a warming backdrop to life in the home, but they also make a significant contribution to economic growth.
As we rise to the challenge to new carbon reduction targets and new attitudes towards the environment, it is crucial that we don’t overlook this well established and much-loved method of domestic heating.
Sustainable and Renewable
We take the issue of air quality and carbon reduction very seriously at Certainly Wood and have worked very closely with the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) and with government bodies such as Defra and BEIS to support their endeavours to help stove manufacturers and continue the education around burning quality firewood.
The continued improvement of wood burning appliances has increased efficiency and moved towards significantly reduced emissions whilst also continuing to contribute to our low carbon future using renewable wood fuels.
EcoDesign regulations that come into force in January 2022 will set the standard for efficient wood burning appliances (75% minimum) along with an 88% improvement of permitted carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and strict limits for particulate matter (PM), organic gaseous compounds (OGC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
A wood burning appliance is only as good as the wood that it burns, so more efficient stoves partnered with the new Woodsure Ready to Burn Scheme for firewood will ensure that every action possible is taken.
Improvements continue
In 2020, the stove industry went even further and launched clearskies with its own emissions and energy performance certification mark. These independently certified appliances not only meet Ecodesign standards, but they are also tested to show further reduced emissions and improved efficiency well beyond what is required by Ecodesign. A Level 5 clearSkies certified appliance will be at least a 30% improvement on the requirements of Ecodesign.
A clearSkies stove will have a firebox with the latest technology which is designed to provide a better combustion and uses secondary and tertiary air systems to burn off excess hydrocarbons along with more efficient aeration and baffle systems. A clearSkies stove is not only more efficient in terms of its design, but most importantly, it is much less polluting.
Tests carried independently demonstrate that an SIA Ecodesign Ready or clearSkies certified stove will produce 90% less emissions than an open fire and up to 80% less than a wood burning stove made over 10 years ago.
Circular Economy
The use of woodburning for domestic heating is intrinsically circular, and whilst this is by no means a new concept, it is recognised as being vital to tackle challenges such as climate change and pollution. Stoves use materials such as glass, cast iron and steel all of which can easily be recycled. Also, as the country invests in greater afforestation, sustainable forestry practices will increase the amount of locally produced wood fuel.
As a company, all of our firewood is sourced within 100 mile radius of Herefordshire and are taken from sustainable woodland thinning’s. Alongside this vital part of woodland management in the UK, we partner with companies such as Stovax to continue our focused efforts of tree planting.
Wood burning is a tried and tested environmentally friendly heating solution, that although remaining relatively unchanged, has moved with the times. It complements the continued range of technologies that will continue to drive the shift to lower and zero carbon homes.
Future Proof
Wood Burning is renowned for not only for providing a relaxing and warming focal point for homes, but also for the health benefits it brings: reducing stress, creating a relaxing environment and bringing families together.
Modern wood burning stoves and kiln dried firewood have a symbiotic relationship that provides a viable and scalable solution for the delivery of sustainable home heating. It reduces our reliance of fossil fuels for domestic heating, making them a truly future proof solution.
Editors notes:
- This article is based on a press release from the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) on 12th Aug 2021.
- The SIA was formed in 2008 and is a trade association of stove manufacturers, distributors and retailers, wood fuel suppliers, flue and component manufacturers and other interested industry bodies. Certainly Wood was one of the founding members.
- Further information on the work of the SIA can be found at stoveindustryalliance.com
Comments