Dear EcoNews,
I have some friends who recently bought a house with a wood-burning stove. They mentioned that the regulations around fireplaces in California have changed so that only gas-burning fireplaces can be built into new homes. After listening to the recent EcoNews Report about the dangers associated with gas stoves in the kitchen, I was hoping to gain some more information about why these regulations are in place, how these heating sources affect our health and the environment, and what other possibilities exist for those of us who love having a fire indoors.
– Fire Desirer
Dear Fire Desirer,
Thank you for those wonderful questions! As winter wreaks havoc throughout Humboldt County, it’s admittedly unsatisfying to argue against the coziness of a night spent around the fireplace with family and friends. Depending on state and local ordinances, however, restrictions limit the use of these wood-fired heating sources, particularly in new homes. While this may seem inconvenient for those who prefer the traditional ambiance of a crackling fire, it is essential to understand the health and environmental reasoning that underlies these regulations.
From a public health perspective, wood smoke contains fine particulate matter and other pollutants that can harm human health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Specifically, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces can exacerbate pre-existing health issues, including asthma and heart disease. It can be so harmful that the collective consequences of lingering wood-stove pollution (indoors and outdoors) are, in some cases, more damaging than second-hand smoke from cigarettes. For example, the EPA notes that the lifetime cancer risks from wood smoke are “twelve times greater than that from an equal volume of second-hand tobacco smoke.”
From an environmental perspective, traditional wood-burning fireplaces are also not the most energy-efficient ways to heat homes and can contribute to climate change by releasing harmful polluters, such as black carbon, into the atmosphere. While the degrees of impact vary, depending on where and how one sources their wood (i.e., cutting live carbon sequestering stands vs. dead snags, etc.), it’s fair to say that there are cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally sound ways to heat your home.
The recent EcoNews report highlighted the public health dangers associated with gas stoves in the kitchen, particularly their potential to release harmful chemicals into the air. However, it is important to note that gas fireplaces are generally designed with better ventilation systems and are less likely to cause indoor air pollution than the gas stoves mentioned in the report. While gas-burning fireplaces are cleaner, more efficient alternatives to traditional wood-burning stoves, they are also far from perfect. Gas-burning fireplaces still release carbon, reduce air quality, and the various steps associated with supply-side sourcing are also emission-heavy (think leakage, transportation, refinement, etc.).
Ideally, we will look to all-electric fireplaces, heat pumps, hot cocoas, and good company to provide a similar fireside ambiance while protecting ourselves and others. Luckily for us, various incentives are in place to encourage this transition. If that’s still a hard no for you, consider primarily relying on electric heat throughout the year and reserving those cozy, fireside nights for a special occasion.
– Luis Neuner, EPIC