Why does everyone install wood burners knowing how terrible they are for the environment?

[Don'tcallthepolice]

Just this

I don’t know, but I strongly suspect that you have a theory to share with us…

No honestly l don't. I wonder if l have it wrong.

Same as people who continue to fly abroad on holidays, they either don't know or don't care.

Because its either that or freeze to death. I retire in a few years and I know I won't be able to afford any kind of heating once I'm not working. I don't want to die of pneumonia while I'm still fit enough to have a good life.
If the government gave a shit about the environment or the people heating would be affordable, there would be better grants for alternative heating, there would be better public transport so thousands of cars weren't belching fumes into the atmosphere et ad nauseam.
I have insulated my house to the max having saved up to do so for years. One hour of dry woodburning will heat the house up for the whole evening.

Trees grow, absorb carbon, trees die, carbon released. It’s not extra ancient fossil carbon. As long as wood is properly kiln dried( which is likely admittedly a bit fuel heavy) don’t really see the issue.

To keep warm

People do lots of things that are terrible for the environment.

I also think the type of pollution isnt communicated well.

Not just bad for the environment, I don’t understand why people aren’t more worried about lung health

www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/01/avoid-using-wood-burning-stoves-if-possible-warn-health-experts

I live in an old building. Think 3ft stone walls from 1750s in oldest bits. I have added internal solid wall insulation and double glazing. Insulation in the loft. The fabric of the building needs to be heated through and I use two log burners. Other wise chimney breast gets damp. One was in situ and I installed one as it’s better than an open fire.

old building are designed to be heated by fires.

They are also very handy during the annual power cut to stop us all from freezing to death.

Im not convinced by the research, I think its flawed and wasnt based on different types of wood and different types of device

Wood is a renewable resource in a way that coal and gas are not.

And I like it and Im not going to stop using it. The cat would kill me for a start.

'Everyone' doesn't install woodburners do they?
Why do so many people still drive cars and get on planes knowing how terrible they are for the environment?

Planes?
Cars?
Meat?
Wipes?

Are you really saying you don't do anything at all that's bad for the environment?

I am thinking of installing one because of the risk of power cuts. I have an chronic illness that means I can get very ill if I get too cold, and the talk of power cuts makes me feel vulnerable.

I have held off for years because of the environmental concerns but need to balance this against my health. (I haven't flown in years, drive a tiny car, buy a lot 2nd hand so am trying my best )

Not bad for the environment in general. Wood is a renewable resource.

We only have wood heating precisely because of this.

Yes new research shows that it isn't good for the lungs, and I agree not good in cities but in the countryside it is a good, affordable option.

I have one. I love my wood burner. My partner is a tree surgeon and we only use properly seasoned logs, in a very good well maintained burner.

Most people I know have them. I don't think you'll get people to stop using them as it's a bit of a class marker for the middle classes.

I've lived in houses with woodburners my whole life, and it's not impacted upon my health. Which I know is anecdotal.

Cosy. Warm. Can be free to warm up a room if you have wood.

I think you’ve been brainwashed OP

Renewable, free heating. Attractive to look at, plenty of exercise chopping and stacking the wood for seasoning which also keeps me warm…

We’ve always had some form of fire, growing up my mother had an open fire before my grannie put in a woodburner - all still alive, no whiff of asthma or anything else people wang on about.

To keep warm and stay alive I expect.

Also they look nice.

We have two. They’d been installed a year or so before we moved in; into the fireplaces of an old Victorian house, so the heat travels up the floors from the log burner. We didn’t intend to use them, if I’m honest, but the radiator set up is woeful, there isn’t one at all in the big open plan kitchen/living room, and we’d all have frozen if we didn’t. They are eco-rated and all the leaflets say they don’t release lung-harming particles but I do still worry… but it’s literally that or freeze if it’s cold. It’s -5 outside today where I am; our house is 9 degrees.

We are hoping to get a new boiler and radiators sorted but between us making an offer and is actually moving in, costs have quadrupled for this, and there’s massive waiting lists…

The rest of our street uses them because it’s much cheaper to buy a cubic tonne of logs from the sustainable wood people nearby than it is to keep the heating on; and they think the houses heat better.

Some people will just use them because they prefer them, and some won’t know the dangers, but there will also be people like me who just don’t have an alternative right now.

I don't think you'll get people to stop using them as it's a bit of a class marker for the middle classes. It used to be, but not any more as the early adopters are now moving on. It is always that way! Once something becomes popular, it becomes undesirable.

We're not on mains gas, can't get oil due to where our house is (no access) so have electric storage heating. No way would I be without my stove and rayburn. We don't burn smokeless coal as we don't have anywhere to store or keep wood dry.

I also do not get why people do not mind the lung damage aspects.

This is a fun thread already!! Lots of middle class people defending their wood burning stoves 🤣

I literally don’t use of those things.

Does that mean I’m allowed to say that yes woodburners are bad? Because they are.

Whatever wood you’re using the internal pollution is terrible for your lungs and the external pollution is worse than all the cars in the country.