What can we do?

Recommendations for a smoke-free Armidale (by the turn of the century?)

• The American Lung Association (Washington, USA) advises not to burn wood, and suggests converting wood-burning fireplaces to use natural gas. In several places in the U.S., it is a requirement not to rely on woodstoves as the only source of home-heating. This allows home-owners to use alternative heating during periods when smoke would be likely to build-up. These recommendations make good sense for Armidale, where very high levels of particulates from wood-smoke occur during winter inversions. A flued gas heater, for example, produces less than one fifth of one percent of the particulates emitted by a correctly operated AS4013 standard woodheater. Off-peak electric storage heaters are also worth considering. An off-peak storage heater in an insulated house is likely to have lower running costs than a woodheater in a home without insulation.
• Understand how woodheaters should be operated to minimise smoke emissions. A great deal of information on how to do this is now available from local councils, the EPA, and Environment Australia, amongst others. See below.
• Home Insulation. Insulating the walls and especially the ceiling of your house can save a great deal in lost heat. Check with the local council for interest-free loans for installing insulation.
• Improve the overall energy efficiency of your house. In addition to insulation, there are many ways in which you can make your house more energy smart. Weatherseal leaks around doors and windows; install draught excluders on outside doors; install blinds on windows and add lining to curtains, and reduce the amount of space you heat in the house, e.g. heat only the rooms you are using.  (Savings for Star-rated houses).    (Allunga - Energy-Efficient house).
• Improve the solar energy capability of your house. Look at ways to let more sunlight into the house during the day; if you have a North facing patio area, enclose the area with glass or similar material, to trap and store as much of the sun's energy during the day. If you are building a new house, investigate passive solar designs. Check out solar water heating units ($500 rebate scheme)  and other solar heating products. More investment in this area would mean new business opportunities in Armidale.
• Urge the local council or State government to introduce a scheme to subsidise the change-over from wood heaters to cleaner heating alternatives, such as electricity or gas, backed by advice on reducing energy requirements in homes by improved energy efficiency measures.
• Lobby local councillors and state MP's to demand better air quality. Make them aware of the urgency of the problem, and look for support for positive action to be taken as soon as possible. Funding from the State government may be needed to subsidise woodheater change-over programs. There is also a need for tighter regulations on using wood heaters in built-up areas. If you are brave, suggest that all wood heaters should be registered with Councils and pay an annual "polluter fee", used to fund education programs and other measures to reduce pollution.
• To demonstrate what can be achieved by more efficient house design, the Council/University should set up a project to renovate an older style house in town, uninsulated and dependent on a woodheater. The project could monitor temperature and energy usage in the house before and after renovation with wall, floor and roof insulation, installation of solar water heating, improved glazing and window furnishing, and replacement of the woodheater by gas or electricty. Funding for the project could be obtained from many organisations promoting energy efficiency and alternative energy sources.

Correct operation of wood heaters

According to Environment Australia, testing has shown that the same heater with the same firewood will produce up to four times as much smoke if operated poorly, compared to good operation.

The photo shows a typical amount of smoke emitted for many hours every night by a heater satisfying the latest Australian Standard - AS4013 - when turned down for the night. A single incorrectly operated AS4013 wood heater can produce as much particulate pollution as heating the entire town of Armidale with natural gas!

• Most important of all, always run the heater on high (all air controls fully open) for at least 20 minutes after re-loading. The longer a high or medium fire is maintained before moving to a slow burn, the less smoke is produced.
• Check your chimney!!! If your heater is producing visible smoke more than 15-20 minutes after lighting, or a few minutes after re-loading, you are doing something wrong. Learn how far the air control can be turned down without producing visible smoke, and never turn down below this!
• Do not over-fill the heater. There must be space over the top of the fuel to allow flames to develop and burn off the gases released.
• Do not use wood which is too long. There must be enough space for the air to move down the glass and into the base of the fire. This means at least 5 to 10 cm between the front of the logs and the door. Also place logs in the firebox so that there is at least 2 cm between each log.
• Always buy seasoned wood and store it in a covered, ventilated area.
• If your heater has a "chinaman's cap", consider replacing it with a concentric rain excluder.

For more info, check out Dept Env Protection, Perth (The whole document is interesting, or if in a hurry use your browser's FIND command to locate chinaman).

The local council and EPA should also have information leaflets, and be able to offer advice.

Brief info on woodsmoke by Environment Australia
Info on woodsmoke/heater operation by Environment Australia (use FIND to locate the section on Operating a Woodheater)

How are other communities managing the problem of woodsmoke pollution?
Links to Further Information