If you have been thinking about getting a wood burning stove, you may have heard a lot of misleading and confusing media coverage on the environmental impact of wood burning stoves. To help you demystify these topics, we have put together this guide to provide clarity on what to look for when choosing a wood burning or multi fuel stove for your home. Continue reading for valuable insights.
What are Eco Design Stoves? Why is Eco Design so important?
An Eco Design stove is an eco-friendly alternative to wood burning stoves, as they support the Government's Clean Air Strategy and help to further reduce emissions so we can achieve a greener future.
Eco Design wood burning stoves are designed to allow as much air to the fire as possible, ensuring the fire is not ‘starved’ and, hence, smoky. According to the SIA, Ecodesign stoves can reduce particle emissions by up to 90% when compared to an open fire, and up to 80% when compared to a traditional stove.
Not only does this design reduce the amount of smoke and harmful particle pollution emitted by the fire, but it also increases its burning efficiency (over 70%) of the fire creating more heat with less fuel, creating less emissions and saving fuel in the process.
What is HETAS Cleaner Choice?
In line with on-going government strategies to promote cleaner air and to better support consumer decisions in the purchase of environmentally responsible products, HETAS has launched the independent “Cleaner Choice” initiative for UK biomass and solid fuel products.
These developments aim to reform the currently recognised HETAS Product Approval Scheme, to align with changing legal requirements as well as keeping up with demand from consumers for appliances that can be utilised for the environmentally responsible and safe burning of cleaner and lower carbon fuels.
These changes will affect the range of appliances HETAS will certify moving forward to publicly list and better promote cleaner burning and efficient biomass appliances, surpassing current government clean air requirements.
What is ClearSkies?
All appliances that show the clearSkies mark have been independently certified by the Scheme administrator, confirming that they meet or exceed Ecodesign Regulations.
This is based on the appliance’s independent test results for efficiency and four different types of emissions, and give the assurance that you are choosing a low emission and low carbon heating solution for your home.
All Level 3 and above appliances certified under the clearSkies scheme have been verified by the clearSkies Administrator, Kiwa Ltd, as complying with both the Ecodesign efficiency and emissions performance requirements, and Defra Exemption and as having the appropriate independent test certificates in place to confirm this.
A clearSkies label on a wood burning appliance means you can be assured that the appliance you are buying meets all the energy and efficiency criteria, and the different levels allow you to identify how far beyond Ecodesign criteria they go in terms of reducing emissions and increasing efficiency. This is set out in the different levels of clearSkies certification which are:
Ecodesign compliant, but NOT listed as Defra exempt
Ecodesign compliant AND Defra exempt
15% improvement on Ecodesign AND Defra exempt
15% improvement in emissions & efficiency performance on Level 4 AND Defra exempt
Please note: Defra Exemption is granted by each individual country in the UK, and you therefore need to ensure that exemption is in place for the country where you are installing the appliance if you are installing it in a Smoke Control Area.
What is a DEFRA approved stove?
A Defra approved stove is an industry term for an SE (smoke exempt) stove which has been approved to burn specific fuels in a smoke control area that would usually not be allowed - i.e. wood.
The Defra approved logo is very recognisable and if you see a stove with this logo and Defra approved in the title or specification, it will be an approved appliance for use in a smoke control area when burning approved fuels such as wood.
If you burn firewood in a smoke control area and your stove is not Defra approved, you could be fined up to £1,000 for each offence. Most smoke control areas are built-up areas in towns and cities. If you're not sure if you live in a smoke control area, you can check with your local authority. If you live in England, you can visit the smoke control area map on the gov.uk website to easily check if you live in a smoke control area.
Flexi Flue Direct Eco Wood Burning & Multi Fuel Stoves
All our stoves are extremely efficient, Eco Design ready and DEFRA smoke control exempt, so you can you can be sure that even if you do live in a smoke control area, all of our stoves will be compliant. Some of our stoves also have HETAS Cleaner Choice and/or ClearSkies accreditations which means they are even kinder to the environment, than what they are legally required to be.
