Blog: Wood heating, an atmospheric and affordable solution, but what is its effect on the climate and health? 

Last week I was able to participate in the air protection days in Lappeenranta for the first time (23-24.8.2022 August XNUMX). This is a great annual event where air quality, climate change, and energy and transport policy issues are all included as topics of discussion.

The Air Protection Days event clarified for me the idea that air quality is closely linked to the themes of climate change. I was already starting a series of climate-related blog posts, and now, inspired by the Air Protection Days, the first topic ended up being wood heating. 

Industry and transport are the most significant sources of emissions affecting air quality, but still burning wood for heating purposes also affects regional air quality significantly. In Helsinki, air quality has been examined very closely in recent years in the HOPE project, whose extensive display e.g. proves as expected, that in the urban areas of the core, the air quality is the weakest during weekday hours and along major roads. I think the most interesting results of the research are to show, that in the area of ​​small houses, the highest emissions of small particles and air pollution occurred after the working day in the afternoon and in the evening as a result of the use of wood heating. These emissions were also repeated on weekends. Now high energy prices attract people to burn wood even more for heating purposes in Imatra as well.  

Fortunately, wood heating is still allowed, but everyone can take care of their own and others' health (as well as the climate) by burning clean and dry wood in the right way.

Here are three links where you can read more practical information on the subject

• Burn wood cleanly (Hengitysliitto)
• This is how you burn wood correctly: see 5 tips (Kuningaskuluttaja | yle.fi)
• This is how much you can save by burning wood - see tips for easy lighting (PKS)).

It was nice for me to notice these tips while reading that lighting the trees is also the best way to act in terms of health and the climate. YLE's link has videos on the subject. Please remember that burning garbage in your own fire pit is not allowed. 

The next climate blog, which is actually the second part of this story, will be published in the next few days and its topic is the indoor air of buildings and the challenges of climate change for construction. 

Story tips and feedback can be sent by email to jani.mannikko(at)imatra.fi with the subject WEATHER BLOG.

Jani Männikko
Climate coordinator
the city of Imatra