With temperatures in Sefton due to drop to almost freezing next week, it is time to think about winter heating!
Did you know that wood burning is the most polluting way to heat your home?
Wood burning produces fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), which enters your bloodstream when inhaled and can cause heart and lung disease, as well as increasing your risk of diabetes and dementia.
Even homes with newer “Ecodesign” wood burners are three times more polluted than those without.
Recent research from Global Action Plan, Hertfordshire County Council and Ricardo revealed that each year, air pollution from burning in UK homes contributes to nearly 2,500 premature deaths. Across the population, this adds up to over 27,000 life years lost to early death.
Burning wood doesn’t just pollute your home – it pollutes your local community and harms the health of your neighbours. Yet wood stove use has been rising since 2022, particularly in urban areas outside major cities, with many choosing to install wood burners for lifestyle reasons.
92% of people burning wood in the UK already have another way to heat their home, but unfortunately many are not aware of the facts about wood burning and are inadvertently putting the health of their family and local community at risk.
That’s why we’re supporting #CleanAirNight 2026, to share the facts about wood burning to ensure that everyone can make informed decisions about how to heat their homes.
Want to join us? Visit Clean Air Night to find out more and join the conversation on #CleanAirNight
You can also find a lot of incredibly useful information on our own Smoke Control Sefton website to help you burn safely and efficiently.