Not so fast, say the authorities!
Social October 25, 2024
In a series of statements filled with wisdom, authorities now plan to enforce a temporary ban on wood-burning fireplaces. According to this article, we learn that:
From Tuesday (1st Oct 2024), Amersfoort residents are only allowed to light their wood-burning fireplaces if the weather conditions allow smoke to dissipate quickly. Those who break the rules can be fined. Amersfoort is the first large Dutch city to take this measure.
The message is quite clear:
Wood burning has a large number of disadvantages. Our tip: don’t buy a wood stove to heat your house.
And suddenly, everything feels like gloom and doom:
The smoke from a wood fire contains a lot of particulate matter and other harmful substances. These not only pollute the air outside, but also the air in the house. This is harmful to your neighbors, but also to yourself and to your housemates
Of course, the main reason many households are switching from gas or electric heating to wood-burning fireplaces is the high cost of the former, making wood a more affordable alternative for cold days and nights. However, relatively few homes have this type of heating. Most don’t, and installing a wood-burning fireplace in a new house may not even be feasible—or, if it is, it’s very costly.
Amsterdam isn't far behind in considering this idea, either.
According to the city, 20 percent of all soot particles in the air come from wood burning, making it the second largest source of soot pollution in Amsterdam after industrial companies.
But it has now turned out to be so unhealthy that I think it is irresponsible not to do anything about it,” alderman Melanie van der Horst (Air Quality) said
However, Amersfoort offers an online tool (Stookwijzer) that allows residents to check if they are permitted to use their fireplace on a given day. For instance, this is what it might look like on a sunny, clear day:
So, good luck with that!
This initiative adds to a growing list of similar measures from authorities, including but not limited to:
And so on. 2024 has certainly been packed with notable ideas, and there’s likely more to come in 2025. But with the U.S. elections just around the corner, there’s still time for a major event or two before the year ends. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!