The Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) welcomes Defra’s Draft Clean Air Strategy and in particular its commitment to SIA Ecodesign Ready stoves.  There has been plenty of recent publicity around wood burning stoves, but a new SIA Ecodesign Ready stove already fulfils the requirements of Defra’s draft Clean Air Strategy and produces 90% less emissions than an open fire.

The Clean Air Strategy recognises that all wood burning is not the same. SIA Ecodesign Ready stoves are designed using improved burn technology developed by the stove manufacturers to produce 90% fewer emissions than an open fire and 80% fewer emissions than many older, very basic stove models.  This means that owners of these stoves not only have a product that is carbon neutral but one that is also making a significant improvement to air quality compared to older appliances.

Wood burning stoves still have strong green credentials as the CO₂ absorbed by the trees before they are coppiced is equivalent to the levels of CO₂ produced by SIA Ecodesign Ready stoves when the logs are burnt.  This makes the wood burning stove entirely carbon neutral, and a product owners can be proud of.

To maximise the benefits of using a SIA Ecodesign Ready stove only wood with a moisture content below 20% should be burnt and the chimney should be swept on a regular basis by a registered chimney sweep. Defra’s Clean Air Strategy clearly identifies these points.

The SIA will be working closely with Ready to Burn and the chimneys sweeps, during the draft Clean Air Strategy’s consultation period, to put SIA Ecodesign Ready stoves at the heart of the government’s strategy to reduce emissions from domestic wood burning.

When buying a new stove, the message is clear, choose a SIA Ecodesign Ready stove and use Ready to Burn logs.

Notes:

More information on Ready to Burn is available at www.readytoburn.org

Ecodesign is the European-wide programme to lower emissions. It is due to come into force for stoves in the UK in 2022. SIA Ecodesign Ready stoves will meet the Ecodesign requirements and are available now.