Wood and the Environment

Wood is an essential component of the natural environment. It is a truly green source of fuel because, unlike fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas - it doesn’t release any extra carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. When the wood of a tree is burned, no more CO2 is released than what the tree took out of the air when it grew.

Using wood for heating makes it one of the few sustainable, environmentally-friendly fuels available to us.

CO2 is one of the identified greenhouse gases, creating a blanket around the Earth that traps the heat of the Sun and contributes to climate warming. Trees and plants take CO2 from the air and use the carbon as food to build their tissues, releasing oxygen back into the air. Animals and people do the opposite by breathing in oxygen and releasing CO2.

It is estimated that the fossil fuels used in just 1 year account for about 1 million years worth of trees and plants in absorbing CO2. When using wood we need to ensure that we plant more trees than we use, so that we are continually replenishing the CO2 absorbing capacity.

The more wood that is used, then the demand on fossil fuels is less and the more the environment benefits.

Britain’s Woodlands

The Forestry Commission is among the leaders in the world in developing and implementing standards for the sustainable use of forests. They have placed sustainability at the heart of their activities to realise the full potential of the economic, environmental and social resources of our woodlands.

The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) is an organisation which promotes responsible management of forests and certifies organisations who accord with their sustainability standards.

Statistically, from a low point of 5% at the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain’s woodlands are now nearly 10% and rising.

Sustainable Wood & People

This means that as trees are felled they are replaced by other trees. Unlike using fossil fuels, this ensures the sustainability of the forest and its ecological function for biodiversity, wildlife, climate and water cycles. Sustainability also includes local people who benefit from the forest either by being employed or from harvesting the wood.

Can using wood really help to save the Planet?

The U.K. Government, by signing up to the international Kyota Protocol, has given a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as at our 1990 level by 12.5%. However, the Government has exceeded this requirement by pledging to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2012.

In the U.K. it is widely accepted that households are one of the biggest contributors, responsible for 26% of all emissions. This has led to Building and Planning requirements being tightened to drive efficiency with a 10% Renewable Energy Target being adopted. The Government intends to increase this to 30% by 2010.

Whilst most people are concerned about the impact of climate change, in order for a real difference to be made behaviours and lifestyles have to change so that meaningful actions that reduce carbon emissions can be taken.

Currently, perception and individual action focuses on recycling, but it is heating and hot water that accounts for nearly 70% of the total carbon emissions of a home. To start to reduce these emissions it is these areas that need to be the priority for households .

The investment in a stove therefore, using a sustainable fuel like wood for heating and hot water, can make a real difference in contributing to reducing CO2 emissions.