A modern stove, and by that we mean a stove that complies with Ecodesign Regulation for solid fuel local space heaters (which became law in the UK on 1st January 2022), offers a whole host of benefits aside from keeping you and your family warm and toasty.

A key objective of the SIA is to help inform consumers, so we are pleased to share here some key information on these benefits, while also helping to dispel some common myths.

General Benefits & Wellbeing

• A modern sustainable solid fuel stove used correctly is a very low emission, highly efficient, low carbon and cost-effective way to heat the main living space in your home and provide radiated warmth throughout the rest of your propert
• A modern sustainable solid fuel stove can be beneficial for older properties as they are highly effective at providing space heating and reducing condensation, helping to alleviate mould and damp
• A real fire can help promote feelings of warmth and security and provides a focal point for the whole family, in turn benefitting mental wellbeing.

Grid Independence & Fuel Security

• Having a sustainable solid fuel stove as a local space heating appliance in your home ensures that you can always heat your property in the event of a power cut and can enjoy independence from the energy grid for heating.
• Owning a sustainable solid fuel stove offers a financial cushion against fluctuating gas and electricity prices.
• Unlike a standing order, direct debit or pre-payment metre, having a supply of wood or other sustainable solid fuel means your heating is “bought and paid for” and households can gauge exactly how much fuel they are using to stay warm.

PM & Carbon Emissions

• Scaremongering tactics about “domestic combustion” as a whole are unhelpful.Modern Ecodesign compliant stoves burning dry wood make up a tiny fraction of UK particulate matter emissions – less than 0.1% in fact. Source: NAEI
• There are a whole host of human activities that generate PM emissions and the UK stove industry is committed to ensuring that its appliances are as clean and efficient as possible. To put things into context and apply some common sense, cigarette smokers create 12 times as much PM2.5 annually as Ecodesign stoves burning dry wood and bonfire night alone in the UK generates 18 times the amount of PM2.5 emissions as all the Ecodesign stoves burning dry wood do all year round. Source: NAEI
• Using dry wood fuel is both sustainable and renewable; wood logs have the lowest carbon emissions factor of any domestic heating fuel at 0.01 kg CO₂e per kWh. That’s 1/20^th the carbon emissions of natural gas or electricity and 1/29^th that of oil. Source: gov.uk
• There is a world of difference between an open fire and a modern stove designed for precision combustion and maximum efficiency. Switching from an open fire to a modern stove will reduce PM emissions by up to 90%.
• Burning dry wood (e.g. Ready to Burn certified) in a Ecodesign compliant stove (e.g. clearSkies certified) makes up just 0.09% of total UK PM2.5 emissions. Source: NAEI. Take care when choosing your appliance and your fuel to ensure that you minimise emissions and maximise efficiency.

Wood Fuel Industry & Biodiversity

• Locally sourced wood fuel helps support small businesses and reduces the carbon footprint of fuel transport. Source: Small Woods Association
• Wood fuelis a key component of the woodland management cycle and the economies attached to it.​ It also plays a key role in maintaining woodland diversity, health and resilience.​ Source: Small Woods Association
• Unmanaged woodland is bad for wildlife.​ At present 42% of UK woodland is unmanaged. Source: Small Woods Association

All the information above is available in PDF format by clicking here.