Have you heard the term Ecodesign stoves being bandied around? The wood-burning stove business has no shortage of jargon, and this is one of the latest technical terms to enter our vocabulary. While the Ecodesign principle is useful for customers (and certainly will be in the next few years), for somebody who is new to woodburners and trying to work out which appliance is right for them, it is another word with which to get to grips before you can make an informed purchase. In this article, we will aim to demystify Ecodesign stoves and answer some key questions about them. What is Ecodesign? Ecodesign isn’t restricted to wood-burning stoves. It is a Europe-wide programme to lower emissions based on a directive of the European Parliament that comes into full effect in the UK in 2022. As well as woodburners, it also relates to a range of other products, such as: Domestic and service industry lighting products: Directional and non-directional lamps (including ultraviolet radiation) Fluorescent lamps (without integrated ballast) High-intensity discharge lamps Ballasts and luminaires able to operate such lamps Electrical devices: Computers and servers Game consoles Simple/complex set-top boxes Standby for networked equipment Televisions Household appliances: Cookers Dishwashers Freezers Refrigerators Tumble dryers Washing machines Vacuum cleaners Heating and cooling devices: Air conditioners Heaters Comfort fans Heaters Industrial fans Local space heaters Solid fuel local space heaters Solid fuel boilers Ventilation units Water heaters Other products: Circulators Electric motors Electric power consumption standby and off mode External power supplies Imagining equipment Power transformers Professional refrigeration Water pumps How does Ecodesign affect woodburners? The Ecodesign regulations require significant reductions to emissions from woodburners. In fact, emissions need to be 55% lower than the current requirements for DEFRA exempt stoves (which can be used within smoke control areas). Burning wood produces particulate matter (PM). The amount produced can vary significantly depending on what is being burned and how the stove is being operated. In other words, using well seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20% and operating your woodburner efficiently significantly reduces the particulate emissions. What are Ecodesign stoves? The Stove Industry Alliance has preempted the introduction of the Ecodesign directive by working with Hetas to setup independent testing to verify woodburners that meet the lower emissions and minimum efficiency criteria for Ecodesign. It is branding stoves that pass the tests as Ecodesign Ready. Independent research conducted by Kiwa Gastec shows Ecodesign stoves can reduce emissions by 90% in comparison to an open fire and by 80% compared to an old stove. Should Ecodesign impact my buying decision? At the moment, buying an Ecodesign stove is a personal preference based on it having been verified as having lower emissions (in the same way that you might buy a new car based on similar reasons). When the Ecodesign directive came into force in January 2022, it only relates to the sale of new appliances, and any stoves sold prior to the start of the initiative will still be unaffected by the changes 🔥
Have you heard the term Ecodesign stoves being bandied around? The wood-burning stove business has no shortage of jargon, and this is one of the latest technical terms to enter our vocabulary. While the Ecodesign principle is useful for customers (and certainly will be in the next few years), for somebody who is new to […]
