The Environmental Benefits

Why is it important?

Burning wood and wood pellets as a source of heating in your house or office does not contribute to climate change. 

Whilst it is true to say that some carbon dioxide is released when wood fuel is burned, these emissions are equivalent to the carbon dioxide the trees have already absorbed during their growing lifetime, see adjacent diagram. 

Managed correctly, the provision of wood as a sustainable heating fuel can also help the rural economy by creating new businesses and providing employment opportunities in rural areas where once thriving agricultural businesses are now failing. 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The table below illustrates the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere when various fuels are used.

As you can see, using home heating oil releases nearly 24 times the amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than using wood pellets. Only a fraction of this greenhouse gas can be absorbed naturally, the remainder hangs in the atmosphere contributing to the effects of global warming.