However, at Contura, we pride ourselves on efficient combustion rates. People with these concerns picture clear-cut forests. The Wood Heat Organization was formed to support the public in the responsible use of wood energy in the home. You might think that using your fireplace or woodstove is not a big problem, but wood smoke pollution really adds up: In the winter months, burning wood accounts for more than 30% of the particle pollution in the San Francisco Bay Area. Effects on the user include respiratory and eye problems. The pungent scent of wood burning often evokes memories of simpler, more natural pleasures such as campouts or evenings around a fireplace. The trees growing to replace the tree we burned will reclaim the carbon from the air. Burning properly dried wood also minimizes the particulate output from a fire. The picture at left from the EPA makes the point that a contemporary EPA-certified wood burning stove is not only more efficient in terms of heat produced, it also burns wood much more cleanly. Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes. You hear a lot about carbon footprint these days, meaning how much carbon a given activity adds or subtracts from the atmosphere. We fulfill our mandate by providing reliable information, by conducting research into wood heating-related issues and by representing the public interest in discussions of policies that affect … Wood Burning and Carbon Footprint. It’s as simple as that. Burning woodfuels within the household creates indoor pollution as firewood and charcoal both produce smoke on burning. The Environmental Impact of Wood Smoke. Why EPA Certified Stoves Are Not the Answer. The extent of this problem depends on the species of wood and the quality of charcoal, both of which are becoming poorer. As a result, there are currently an estimated 1.5 million households in the UK with a wood burning stove, with around 200,000 more stoves being sold every year. Wood smoke is air pollution. Rotting on a forest floor is also oxidation, just slower. The other concern people have is the effect on forests from harvesting wood to burn. Click here to return to the Alternative Energy Primer home page from The Environmental Effects of Wood Burning page. These dioxins end up in the bay, ocean, creeks, and soil, where they accumulate in fish and livestock, poisoning our food supply. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, burned wood releases more particle pollution than the entire region’s vehicles and businesses. Besides, we canât avoid the carbon being released into the atmosphere. The fact is, done poorly wood burning can have a negative environmental impact. Do Wood Stove Changeout Programs Actually Work? Because oil and gas are used to harvest the wood, the carbon footprint isnât entirely neutral, but itâs pretty small. An actively managed forest can actually be a more vibrant and attractive ecosystem than one left alone. Wood burning is the second largest source of dioxins in the Bay Area. The effect of burning wood is close to neutral with regards to carbon. Wood burning stoves have captured the interest of many homeowners; the combination of cheap heating and a cosy focal point within the property is an appealing idea. Families for Clean Air Launches Air Monitoring Network Focused on Wood Smoke Pollution, New Paper Examines Effects of Wood Smoke Pollution on Children’s Health, More Evidence that “Clean” Wood Burning Isn’t Clean, Catalytic Wood Stoves Shown to Increase Dioxin Emissions. Wood burning stoves have the potential to produce harmful fumes and cause damage to the environment. You hear a lot about carbon footprint these days, meaning how much carbon a given activity adds or subtracts from the atmosphere. Wood smoke is air pollution. Some have to do with the effects of harvesting trees to provide fuel. Others point out that burning wood is still burning and a source of air pollution. Burning in a fireplace is a rapid form of oxidation. You might think that using your fireplace or woodstove is not a big problem, but wood smoke pollution really adds up: In the winter months, burning wood accounts for more than 30% of the particle pollution in the San Francisco Bay Area. Residential wood burning also produces a laundry list of other pollutants such as mercury, carbon monoxide, greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides. Even if the tree is left to grow old, die and rot in the forest, the carbon in it will be released as it decomposes. But trees are a renewable resource. Our modern stoves are designed to produce few emissions, whilst also keeping your energy bills down. Not all firewood is harvested specifically to be burned. That carbon is released into the atmosphere when we burn a log. Many people worry about the environmental effects of wood burning. When a forester selects the weakest appearing two to harvest for firewood, the remaining tree thrives and the forest is healthier for it. These factors are very much under our control we can minimize the environmental effect of wood burning to a very acceptable level. The remaining tree will be more valuable for lumber in the future. As they grow, trees remove carbon from the atmosphere. The motivation for this isnât altruistic. The concerns fall into a couple of categories. Burning wood releases more CO 2 than gas, oil and even coal for the same amount of heat, so to make it climate neutral we need an increase in forests Is Burning Wood Bad for the Environment?. The VOCs react with nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone and with water vapor to form acid rain. Most people responsible for wood lots manage them for the long term. While it is true that some short-sighted people might clear cut a woodlot for a quick short term profit, thatâs not standard practice. But done well, it can be part of an environmentally sound mix. How does Forest Harvesting Affect Nitrogen in so comparisons regarding the environmental performance of homes using wood and other building materials could be materials made from wood have been shown to present significantly lower impacts to the environment, But done well, it can be part of an environmentally sound mix. The fact is, done poorly wood burning can have a negative environmental impact. It’s as simple as that. For example, three trees may be growing too close together for all of them to do well as mature trees. Trees taken down by maintenance crews and tree surgeons are used as firewood. And no other way of heating your home adds as much beauty and comfort on a cold winter night as a wood burning fire. Much of this would wind up in a landfill if not used as firewood.