Why banning wood heaters won’t solve Queanbeyan’s air quality issues

At the Australian Home Heating Association, we understand the importance of clean air, but banning the installation of modern low-emission wood heaters is not the solution to the Queanbeyan-Palerang region’s air quality concerns.

Modern wood heaters are not the cause of winter air pollution. In fact, they’re part of the solution! Today’s EPA compliant wood heaters are designed to burn cleaner and more efficiently than ever, emitting nothing more than a heat haze when operated correctly with properly seasoned wood.

These modern units produce little more than a heat haze, delivering warmth from the original renewable fuel source – wood.

However, many homes in Queanbeyan and beyond are still using outdated wood heaters, often 15-20 years old or more. These old models,  that no longer comply with the emissions standards, are the true culprits of excessive smoke and inefficiency. A ban on new installations will not address the issue.

The solution is to encourage the replacement of these old, inefficient heaters with new EPA compliant models while still offering them to be installed in new homes. Programs across Europe and the USA have shown that change-out initiatives, where old wood heaters are swapped for new compliant ones, drastically improve air quality. In the USA, homeowners are offered tax rebates for upgrading their wood heaters, keeping wood heating as a sustainable, efficient, and environmentally responsible option for homes.

Queanbeyan Council’s draft policy aims to reduce wood smoke, but banning new wood heaters in urban areas won’t solve the problem of pollution caused by older units. If councils really want to tackle air quality issues, they should focus on phasing out non-compliant wood heaters by requiring homeowners to upgrade them when selling their property.

With the new emissions standard AS/NZS 4013 set for public consultation, the benchmark for wood heater emissions is predicted to drop to just 1 gram of particulate matter per kilogram of wood burnt, down from 1.5 g/kg – and a 75% reduction since 2015!

Removing wood heating entirely would be a step backwards. Wood is a renewable, sustainable resource when harvested responsibly. The real issue isn’t the fuel. It’s the age and inefficiency of the heaters in use.

The AHHA encourages the community to say NO to the Queanbeyan-Palerang Council, so that we can work together to promote cleaner, more sustainable wood heating solutions for a healthier future in Queanbeyan and surrounds.

Is your urban area going to be affected? Go to https://yourvoice.qprc.nsw.gov.au/draft-solid-fuel-heater-policy for more details.

Let’s help protect wood heating as a sustainable choice and support a smarter approach to improving air quality!