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 aswell as stoves, but we’ll just focus on burners. 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 comes into force in 2022, it will only relate to the sale of new appliances. Any stoves sold prior to the start of the initiative will still be unaffected by the changes. Recommended Ecodesign Stoves If you’re interested in buying a low emissions, high efficiency woodburner that is Ecodesign ready, you need look no further, as we have a large range of stoves that have already got the SIA Ecodesign Ready certification on them. Get in touch for more information and your free no obligation quote 🔥
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 […]
