Isn’t burning wood bad for the environment?
Carbon dioxide emissions from woodfuel systems are 95% lower than gas, oil, LPG or electric systems in most cases. This is because the carbon dioxide that is released from burning wood was the same amount that was absorbed from the atmosphere during the growth of the trees. The only new carbon dioxide released is from the fossil fuel used during its processing and transport, which is why woodfuel works best at a local scale. Sulphur dioxide emissions from woodfuel boilers are also much lower than other fossil fuels and the emissions of other air pollutants such as small particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are lower than coal, equivalent to oil and only slightly higher than gas fired boilers. A guide to biomass and air quality can be found here.
