We have welcomed the government’s publication of draft regulations for the Air Quality Domestic Solid Fuels Standards in England. The draft legislation, will phase out the supply of house coal and smaller volumes of wet wood. The purpose of this is to reduce the negative impacts of domestic burning, namely the burning of wet wood, coal and the use of open fires and old inefficient stoves.
Bruce Allen, Chief Executive of HETAS, said:
“This legislation marks a really significant step in supporting cleaner and safer choices for the use of biomass and other solid fuels. By phasing out the fuels that are known to emit high levels of particulates damaging to health and the environment, in favour of safer and cleaner biomass and other solid fuels, the industry can help customers to reduce pollution and maximise heat efficiency. This is something that HETAS and our colleagues in Woodsure have been working towards for many years.”
Once approved, this new legislation will come into force from 1 May 2021.
Between the years 2021 and 2023, the regulations will phase out the supply of:
- traditional house coal for domestic combustion
- wet wood sold in units of up to 2m3, and
- introduce sulphur and smoke emission limits for manufactured solid fuels.
Wet wood to be phased out by 2022, and the sale of coal by 2023.
Clearing Misinformation:
Although there has been a lot of misinformation about stoves and burning wood in the past, it’s legislation such as this, which is helping clear the facts, and dispelling any confusion around burning wood. With the recent introduction of the clearSkies Mark, it’s further proof that there are two very distinctive sides to domestic burning:
1 – The burning of unseasoned wood, the use of old, inefficient stoves, and the use of coal.
2 – The burning of wood in high efficiency, Ecodesign Ready, clearSkies marked stoves, with correctly seasoned wood.
It’s these two points, that some in the media have been struggling to differentiate. It’s the continued focus on the real facts, and educating the media about just how environmentally friendly burning wood is, which will result in a more fairly regarded reputation, associated to this green, sustainable heating method.
