Many people reading this will be convinced that domestic combustion, whether that is wood or other solid fuels, is associated with numerous health risks and is a significant contributor to air pollution. We may have read, or listened to, the advice of others and stopped using a fireplace or wood burning stove but how can we share this understanding with other people?
We may want to dissuade our loved ones from burning solid fuels at home out of concern for their health and they usually appreciate our care. If we are looking to persuade neighbours to change their behaviour we are coming from a position of self-interest and, while we may care about their wellbeing, it is reasonable to acknowledge that our primary interest here is our own health and the comfort and enjoyment of our own household.
Whether we are approaching the conversation from either position we need to keep in mind that everyone likes to be right, beliefs are strongly held, and none of us likes being told that we are wrong, or that our behaviour may be harming ourselves or others.
In any conversation about burning at home we need to understand the other person’s reasons for using solid fuel heating and remember that their stated reasons may not be the full picture. Ask yourself beforehand what you think is behind their choice of solid fuel burning. If their reasons are factual and logical make sure that you have appropriate facts prepared and to present them in a logical way. For someone whose reasons for solid fuel burning are emotional and aesthetic, the facts may not sway them, and you may need to enlist a mutual friend/neighbour that they admire to support your position. Make sure that you highlight the benefits to them of making this change.
When we started the London Wood Burning Project our first research product was a survey of residents in the member boroughs to find out about attitudes and behaviours around solid fuel burning. Please see below for some ideas for sharing information about the real impact of burning wood and solid fuels at home, and some ways to counter the most common myths and misrepresentations.
It creates a nice atmosphere
Many of us grew up with open fires or wood burning stoves and they can evoke strong positive feelings. The compelling and cosy images of fires in Christmas messages reinforce this image. Give people time to describe the way that they love domestic burning and then look at countering this with some information about the health impacts of domestic combustion. Please read our article, and full report on the health impacts of wood and solid fuel burning in London. If you, or your family and friends live in one of the original member boroughs of the London Wood Burning Project you will see the health impacts each year for your borough.
I have a modern, efficient stove
Even the latest stoves still produce over sixty times more PM2.5 pollution than a gas fired boiler and can affect indoor and outdoor air quality. There are a wide variety of sources of indoor and outdoor air pollution, and it’s in all our best interests to take whatever action we can to protect our health from air pollution and that includes avoiding burning where possible.
It’s cheaper than central heating
This is commonly given as an argument for burning wood but, if you are buying wood, it is almost always more expensive than central heating. Please read this report on the subject by Global Action Plan or take data from the tables published every month by the Nottingham Energy Partnership.
It’s warmer than central heating
Competently installed and maintained central heating, including bleeding the radiators, should be more than capable of warming the home, or even just the rooms you want to heat. Can you offer practical help with the maintenance, installing small energy-efficiency measures like thermostatic radiator vales (TRVs), or look together at boiler and heating cover?
It lets me be self-sufficient (not dependent on energy companies)
Some consumers will be growing their own wood or buying wood from small, independently owned woodlands, but the UK is a large importer of wood, including wood products for burning. A significant amount of the wood that is purchased for domestic burning has been grown outside the UK and then transported and sold to consumers by companies that may be domiciled outside the UK. For many consumers this makes wood an insecure form of energy.
It’s better for the environment/carbon neutral
Wood as a fuel is not carbon neutral and a significant amount of our firewood in the UK is imported. When wood is burned it releases the carbon that the tree absorbed throughout its lifetime. It takes much longer for this carbon to be re-absorbed, so burning wood is not compatible with the urgent need to reduce our carbon emissions to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis. For more information please read our earlier article on wood burning and the climate.
My home does not have central heating
If someone does not have an alternative way to heat their home the conversation may be difficult. For someone living in a rental property they may feel that there are few options to them to change or add other forms of heating. If they own their home, they may feel that they cannot afford to install other forms of heating. Organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust and Citizens Advice may be able to help with advice on heating options and affordability and there is also the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Your local authority might also have help or advice around heating and energy costs.
You may not be able to change everybody’s mind about domestic combustion and the more that someone has invested in it, the less likely you are to change their mind with one conversation. You may not be the only person who is seeking to change their mind, and their behaviours. The conversation that you have may support other conversations that are covering these same topics. We can all share knowledge and encourage change so that together we can protect our health and improve our environment whilst preserving our relationships with others.
