Clean Air Night industry commentary on woodburning in the UK – “There is no need to stop using your wood burner this winter.”

Ahead of Global Action Plan’s annual Clean Air Night (CAN) campaign, taking place tomorrow, Thursday, 22 January, I wanted to put forward commentary in reaction to CAN and advice on four simple switches homeowners can make from industry experts Barry Cope, CEO, and Calvin May, Head of Technical and Certification at HETAS – an independent, not-for-profit organisation working closely with Government. 

Clean Air Night is an annual campaign launched by climate action group Global Action Plan (GAP) in partnership with Impact on Urban Health, which encourages people and communities to take simple actions to reduce air pollution, protect health, and calls on policy makers to stop all non-essential household wood burning. 

On Global Action Plan’s Clean Air Night mission, Barry and Calvin say: 

Barry Cope, HETAS CEO: “Cleaner air is a shared goal. We support the aim of Clean Air Night – but our journeys to this destination are different. If a household chooses to burn, our duty is to help them to burn better – certified appliances, quality fuel, correct operation, and regular maintenance – while we keep working with government and partners on further practical steps that cut smoke where it starts.” 

Calvin May, HETAS Head of Technical & Certification: “The quickest way for a household to reduce their emissions while they burn comes from moving away from open fires, by using the correct approved fuels, and following best burning habits – backed by professional installation, sweeping, and servicing. These are changes households can adopt now – there is no need to stop using your wood burner this winter.” 

Calvin adds: “Recent data shows that PM2.5 emissions from domestic combustion have already fallen by 17% between 2020 and 2023, and total PM2.5 emissions from all sources are down by 76% since 1990. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI), which monitors the UK’s air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting documents, show that high-quality fuel burnt on a modern stove only accounts for less than 0.3% of the UK’s total PM2.5. 

“This Clean Air Night, we don’t want stove owners to feel guilty about heating their home responsibly – and for everyone to burn better. There are four simple switches households can make that significantly reduce emissions while still enjoying the warmth of firewood. These include replacing an open fire with a Cleaner Choice certified stove, choosing approved Ready to Burn fuel instead of wet logs, keeping fires burning steadily and efficiently rather than smouldering overnight, and ensuring chimneys are regularly swept and stoves routinely serviced.”

Ends

Editors notes

A certification body setting the standards for installers, manufacturers, retailers and distributors, HETAS administers the competent person scheme, Defra’s 'Ready to Burn’ scheme through its sister organisation Woodsure and is contracted to deliver technical assessment for appliance and fuel exemption under the Clean Air Act. Both organisations are heavily involved with and support the sector’s ambitions of a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment. 

HETAS’ goal is to advance standards within the industry by advising on policy and through the delivery of its owned certification courses and accreditations. The organisation also supports the 1.5million stove owners, by raising awareness and educating on better burning habits, highlighting responsible stove ownership, and improving safety.