With the likely future tightening of government emissions restrictions on wood burning and the deadline of January 2022 for all stove sold in the UK to be Ecodesign, there are a few eco-friendly options you should consider prior to buying a wood stove. Before you purchase a wood stove, you will want to find out if you live in a ‘smoke-controlled area’, because The Clean Air Act rules out the emission of ‘dark smoke’ from the chimneys of stove owners. To help control this the government has restricted and prohibited the sale of many fuels that emit the most particulates into the air. In lieu of these changes, if you are considering buying a wood stove, it is best to ensure that you are opting for an Ecodesign stove and ensure that the wood stove has the CE marking which means that the manufacturer has checked that this product meets EU safety health or environmental requirements.
The new standards of these stoves aim to help reduce the number of harmful emissions of gaseous compounds by up to 80 percent, by burning wood more efficiently and completely. Another way to help ensure that you are heeding The Clean Air Act recommendations is to burn dry, sustainably grown and seasoned fire wood, ideally with a moisture content of 20 percent or less. Additionally, it is advised to refuel onto hot ember beds as opposed to having open flames present. Do not burn treated or painted wood as this emits toxic fumes. Waste wood is recommended as it puts off a lot of heat whilst emitting few particulates.
When considering the purchase of a wood stove it is important to check the rules and regulations of where you live to ensure it is allowed, consider being forward-thinking in buying an Ecodesign stove and opt for the appropriate fuel.