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How your home affects our air quality

Contents

Wood heaters
Petrol equipment
Boats
Your energy use
Open burning

Our homes are a significant source of air pollution in NSW.

  • How we heat our homes has a major impact on our air quality, especially during winter.
  • The use of petrol equipment like lawn mowers and garden tools, as well as boats, can be more polluting than your car.
  • The way we use energy affects how much coal is burned which affects how much air pollution and greenhouse gases are produced by industry.
  • The open burning of materials and waste can create pollution and risk spreading to larger fires.

Contents

Wood heaters
Petrol equipment
Boats
Your energy use
Open burning

Our homes are a significant source of air pollution in NSW.

  • How we heat our homes has a major impact on our air quality, especially during winter.
  • The use of petrol equipment like lawn mowers and garden tools, as well as boats, can be more polluting than your car.
  • The way we use energy affects how much coal is burned which affects how much air pollution and greenhouse gases are produced by industry.
  • The open burning of materials and waste can create pollution and risk spreading to larger fires.

Wood heaters

Wood smoke harms health in many ways.

Wood smoke can be toxic.
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

Few things seem as nice in winter as sitting in front of a fire. This same fire can actually have a negative impact on air quality.

Using a wood heater or fireplace can create toxic wood smoke that spoils local and regional air quality. In winter, wood smoke is the main source of particle pollution in our cities. On a winter weekend day, as much as 48 percent of PM10 particle pollution in Sydney is due to wood smoke. This number is even higher in colder climates.

A fire can also pollute your home if the fireplace or wood heater isn’t drawing out the smoke effectively.

Wood smoke contains toxic gases like carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and a range of VOCs.

You know there’s a problem if you can see or smell smoke from your wood heater.

If you are going to use a wood heater or the fireplace, use it properly. Pay close attention to what you burn and when, where and how you burn it.

Wood smoke harms health in many ways.

Wood smoke can be toxic.
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

Few things seem as nice in winter as sitting in front of a fire. This same fire can actually have a negative impact on air quality.

Using a wood heater or fireplace can create toxic wood smoke that spoils local and regional air quality. In winter, wood smoke is the main source of particle pollution in our cities. On a winter weekend day, as much as 48 percent of PM10 particle pollution in Sydney is due to wood smoke. This number is even higher in colder climates.

A fire can also pollute your home if the fireplace or wood heater isn’t drawing out the smoke effectively.

Wood smoke contains toxic gases like carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and a range of VOCs.

You know there’s a problem if you can see or smell smoke from your wood heater.

If you are going to use a wood heater or the fireplace, use it properly. Pay close attention to what you burn and when, where and how you burn it.

Causes of excessive wood smoke

reduce wood smoke and improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs

Reduce wood smoke and improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs.
Image courtesy of  Rosie Nicolai

When you reduce wood smoke you improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs. If your fire is smoking, check for the following:

  • not enough kindling
  • too much firewood in the heater
  • turning the air control to 'slow burn' too soon after light-up or refuelling
  • trying to burn a single large log rather than several smaller pieces
  • a log that's blocking the air supply to the base of the fire
  • using wood that's too wet or green
  • adding firewood without opening the air control
  • a heater flue that's clogged with creosote (black, sticky or sooty material) and needs to be swept. Symptoms of a clogged flue are:
    • a heater that's difficult to start
    • smoke entering the room when the heater door is opened.
  • a flue length that's too short to draw sufficient air to enable proper combustion
  • poor location of the heater and/or flue - a wood heater will perform better (heating and emissions) if it's located towards the centre of the home and not against an outside wall
  • DIY repairs that leave the heater with missing components or incorrectly installed.

 

reduce wood smoke and improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs

Reduce wood smoke and improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs.
Image courtesy of  Rosie Nicolai

When you reduce wood smoke you improve the efficiency of your fire and save on fuel costs. If your fire is smoking, check for the following:

  • not enough kindling
  • too much firewood in the heater
  • turning the air control to 'slow burn' too soon after light-up or refuelling
  • trying to burn a single large log rather than several smaller pieces
  • a log that's blocking the air supply to the base of the fire
  • using wood that's too wet or green
  • adding firewood without opening the air control
  • a heater flue that's clogged with creosote (black, sticky or sooty material) and needs to be swept. Symptoms of a clogged flue are:
    • a heater that's difficult to start
    • smoke entering the room when the heater door is opened.
  • a flue length that's too short to draw sufficient air to enable proper combustion
  • poor location of the heater and/or flue - a wood heater will perform better (heating and emissions) if it's located towards the centre of the home and not against an outside wall
  • DIY repairs that leave the heater with missing components or incorrectly installed.

 

Tips for reducing wood smoke

Using your wood heater effectively can drastically reduce wood smoke

Using your wood heater effectively can greatly reduce wood smoke.
Image courtesy of  Rosie Nicolai

Using your wood heater effectively can drastically reduce wood smoke. This is mainly a case of making sure enough oxygen can get in to fuel the fire and that you’re using the right kind of wood.

  • Check your heater complies with NSW standards.
  • Use seasoned hardwood - unseasoned wood has more moisture and is more likely to smoke.
  • Use small logs of aged, dry hardwood. Dry wood sounds hollow when tapped.
  • Store firewood under cover in a dry ventilated area. Freshly cut wood needs to be stored for 8–12 months.
  • Start the fire with plenty of dry kindling to establish a good fire quickly.
  • Add larger pieces of wood gradually, not all at once, and pack it loosely so air can get in.
  • Always open the air intake and flue for five minutes before and 20 minutes after adding larger pieces of wood.
  • Turn off the warm air circulation fan when lighting up and when refuelling.
  • Keep the flame lively and bright. Your fire should only smoke for a few minutes when you first light it and then when you add extra fuel.
  • Only add enough wood to burn to the end of the evening.
  • Never burn rubbish, driftwood or treated or painted wood. These pollute the air inside and outside your home and can be poisonous.
  • Don't let your fire smoulder overnight.
  • Check your chimney regularly. If there is smoke coming from the chimney into the room, increase the air supply to your fire.
  • Clean the flue or chimney every year to reduce creosote build-up.
  • Keep an ear out for the 'Don't Light Tonight' alert on nightly radio and television news.

 

Using your wood heater effectively can drastically reduce wood smoke

Using your wood heater effectively can greatly reduce wood smoke.
Image courtesy of  Rosie Nicolai

Using your wood heater effectively can drastically reduce wood smoke. This is mainly a case of making sure enough oxygen can get in to fuel the fire and that you’re using the right kind of wood.

  • Check your heater complies with NSW standards.
  • Use seasoned hardwood - unseasoned wood has more moisture and is more likely to smoke.
  • Use small logs of aged, dry hardwood. Dry wood sounds hollow when tapped.
  • Store firewood under cover in a dry ventilated area. Freshly cut wood needs to be stored for 8–12 months.
  • Start the fire with plenty of dry kindling to establish a good fire quickly.
  • Add larger pieces of wood gradually, not all at once, and pack it loosely so air can get in.
  • Always open the air intake and flue for five minutes before and 20 minutes after adding larger pieces of wood.
  • Turn off the warm air circulation fan when lighting up and when refuelling.
  • Keep the flame lively and bright. Your fire should only smoke for a few minutes when you first light it and then when you add extra fuel.
  • Only add enough wood to burn to the end of the evening.
  • Never burn rubbish, driftwood or treated or painted wood. These pollute the air inside and outside your home and can be poisonous.
  • Don't let your fire smoulder overnight.
  • Check your chimney regularly. If there is smoke coming from the chimney into the room, increase the air supply to your fire.
  • Clean the flue or chimney every year to reduce creosote build-up.
  • Keep an ear out for the 'Don't Light Tonight' alert on nightly radio and television news.

 

Find out more

Visit the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) website to learn more about wood smoke.

The Energy Smart Information Centre can help you find a cleaner alternative to wood heaters.

The OEH Stay Warm, Breathe Easy (PDF, 160kb) brochure has more information on clean heating.

See how local councils are tackling emissions through the Wood Smoke Reduction program.

Visit the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) website to learn more about wood smoke.

The Energy Smart Information Centre can help you find a cleaner alternative to wood heaters.

The OEH Stay Warm, Breathe Easy (PDF, 160kb) brochure has more information on clean heating.

See how local councils are tackling emissions through the Wood Smoke Reduction program.

 
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Petrol equipment

Petrol powered equipment

Small engines often aren't as efficient as car engines and emit a disproportionate amount of pollution.
Image courtesy of  Michael van Ewijk

Small petrol engines (less than 19 kilowatts) are used to power outdoor garden equipment like lawnmowers, brush-cutters, and hedge trimmers. These emit VOCs and NOx which contribute to smog in our cities. They also emit carbon monoxide, particles and air toxics like benzene.

Small engines often aren't as efficient as car engines and emit a disproportionate amount of pollution. For example, using a brush-cutter bought in 2002 for an hour creates as much pollution as running 10 cars for an hour.

What you can do

  • Get back to basics and go for hand operated rather than petrol-run equipment. Put down the leaf-blower and pick up that rake. It will be good exercise, too.
  • Choose electric equipment over petrol-run – it’s cleaner.
  • If you are buying petrol-run garden equipment like lawn mowers, choose four stroke carburettors or direct fuel injection engines as they're generally quieter, more fuel efficient and less polluting than two stroke carburettor engines.
  • During summer, avoid using and refuelling petrol powered garden or recreational equipment until the coolest part of the day to minimise evaporation.
  • Be careful of spills, as these create unnecessary emissions, and don’t leave the mower idling unnecessarily.
  • Keep your lawnmower well maintained so that it works as efficiently as possible. That means keeping the blades sharp and the underside clean, changing the oil regularly and using the right ratio of oil to petrol (in two-stroke models).
  • Cut back on the amount of lawn you have. This won’t just reduce your air pollution emissions, it’ll also save you water.
Petrol powered equipment

Small engines often aren't as efficient as car engines and emit a disproportionate amount of pollution.
Image courtesy of  Michael van Ewijk

Small petrol engines (less than 19 kilowatts) are used to power outdoor garden equipment like lawnmowers, brush-cutters, and hedge trimmers. These emit VOCs and NOx which contribute to smog in our cities. They also emit carbon monoxide, particles and air toxics like benzene.

Small engines often aren't as efficient as car engines and emit a disproportionate amount of pollution. For example, using a brush-cutter bought in 2002 for an hour creates as much pollution as running 10 cars for an hour.

What you can do

  • Get back to basics and go for hand operated rather than petrol-run equipment. Put down the leaf-blower and pick up that rake. It will be good exercise, too.
  • Choose electric equipment over petrol-run – it’s cleaner.
  • If you are buying petrol-run garden equipment like lawn mowers, choose four stroke carburettors or direct fuel injection engines as they're generally quieter, more fuel efficient and less polluting than two stroke carburettor engines.
  • During summer, avoid using and refuelling petrol powered garden or recreational equipment until the coolest part of the day to minimise evaporation.
  • Be careful of spills, as these create unnecessary emissions, and don’t leave the mower idling unnecessarily.
  • Keep your lawnmower well maintained so that it works as efficiently as possible. That means keeping the blades sharp and the underside clean, changing the oil regularly and using the right ratio of oil to petrol (in two-stroke models).
  • Cut back on the amount of lawn you have. This won’t just reduce your air pollution emissions, it’ll also save you water.
 
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Boats

It takes a lot of power to move boats through water.

Two boats

Operating a boat with a relatively clean engine for an hour produces the same pollution as about fifty cars operated at a similar speed.
Image courtesy of Joel Winter

Direct injection two stroke and four stroke engines are more fuel efficient than two stroke carburettor engines. Boats in general are more polluting than cars. For example, operating a boat with a relatively clean engine for an hour produces the same pollution as about fifty cars operated at a similar speed. If the boat has an older less efficient outboard engine, you can multiply that amount by about ten.

In 2007, the Outboard Engines Distributors Association introduced a labeling system which gives outboard engines star ratings, much like household appliances, to help people make better choices.

What you can do

  • If buying a boat, choose one with a high star rating engine. If you already have a boat, see if you can upgrade your old engine.
  • Ensure your boat and engine is in good working order to minimise water, noise and air pollution. Check for any oil or fuel leakages at the beginning of each trip.

It takes a lot of power to move boats through water.

Two boats

Operating a boat with a relatively clean engine for an hour produces the same pollution as about fifty cars operated at a similar speed.
Image courtesy of Joel Winter

Direct injection two stroke and four stroke engines are more fuel efficient than two stroke carburettor engines. Boats in general are more polluting than cars. For example, operating a boat with a relatively clean engine for an hour produces the same pollution as about fifty cars operated at a similar speed. If the boat has an older less efficient outboard engine, you can multiply that amount by about ten.

In 2007, the Outboard Engines Distributors Association introduced a labeling system which gives outboard engines star ratings, much like household appliances, to help people make better choices.

What you can do

  • If buying a boat, choose one with a high star rating engine. If you already have a boat, see if you can upgrade your old engine.
  • Ensure your boat and engine is in good working order to minimise water, noise and air pollution. Check for any oil or fuel leakages at the beginning of each trip.

Your energy use

Take the energy used in an average NSW home each day, multiply it by all the homes in the state and then consider how much coal needs to be burned in order to meet those demands.

Below is a chart showing which areas of typical energy use in the average home generate the most greenhouse gases. Given that many greenhouse gases are also responsible for air pollution, it's easy to see how your home can also contribute to our air quality.

Description

Power consumption
(kWh)
1 kW electric heater turned on for 1 hour 1
800W (highest setting) microwave on for 5 minutes 0.067
1,500 W hair dryer on highest setting for 10 minutes 0.25
100 W incandescent light for 1 hour 0.1
75 W incandescent light for 1 hour 0.075
15 W CFL for 1 hour (equivalent light to 75 W incandescent) 0.015
50 W halogen downlight (+10W transformer) for 1 hour 0.06
Energy used in 1 year by a home PC with LCD screen (if left turned on 24 hours/day, 365 days/year) 800
Energy used by an average pool filter pump in 1 hour 1
Ceiling fan for 1 hour .05
To bring 2 cups (500mL) of water to the boil 0.047
To bring 1.5 Litres of water to the boil 0.14
If the kettle is boiled twice a day, then energy saved by only boiling 500mL each time instead of 1.5 Litres, over 1 year 68
Energy used by a medium sized 4.5 star two-door fridge in 1 year 567
Energy used by a medium sized 3 star two-door fridge in 1 year 839
Energy used by a medium size 2-star clothes dryer
used once per week for a year		 305
Average Sydney house over 1 year 7,654
2 Watt clock radio on 24/7 for a year 18
Big (50") plasma TV used 3 hours a day for a year
(including standby energy consumption)		 435
Energy consumed by appliances in standby in a Sydney home (assuming 10 per cent of energy consumption is standby) 765.4

Take the energy used in an average NSW home each day, multiply it by all the homes in the state and then consider how much coal needs to be burned in order to meet those demands.

Below is a chart showing which areas of typical energy use in the average home generate the most greenhouse gases. Given that many greenhouse gases are also responsible for air pollution, it's easy to see how your home can also contribute to our air quality.

Description

Power consumption
(kWh)
1 kW electric heater turned on for 1 hour 1
800W (highest setting) microwave on for 5 minutes 0.067
1,500 W hair dryer on highest setting for 10 minutes 0.25
100 W incandescent light for 1 hour 0.1
75 W incandescent light for 1 hour 0.075
15 W CFL for 1 hour (equivalent light to 75 W incandescent) 0.015
50 W halogen downlight (+10W transformer) for 1 hour 0.06
Energy used in 1 year by a home PC with LCD screen (if left turned on 24 hours/day, 365 days/year) 800
Energy used by an average pool filter pump in 1 hour 1
Ceiling fan for 1 hour .05
To bring 2 cups (500mL) of water to the boil 0.047
To bring 1.5 Litres of water to the boil 0.14
If the kettle is boiled twice a day, then energy saved by only boiling 500mL each time instead of 1.5 Litres, over 1 year 68
Energy used by a medium sized 4.5 star two-door fridge in 1 year 567
Energy used by a medium sized 3 star two-door fridge in 1 year 839
Energy used by a medium size 2-star clothes dryer
used once per week for a year		 305
Average Sydney house over 1 year 7,654
2 Watt clock radio on 24/7 for a year 18
Big (50") plasma TV used 3 hours a day for a year
(including standby energy consumption)		 435
Energy consumed by appliances in standby in a Sydney home (assuming 10 per cent of energy consumption is standby) 765.4

What you can do

Visit Save Power website for energy saving tips

Make a Power Pledge - save power and carbon pollution.

  • Insulate your home. Rebates are available.
  • Switch to GreenPower.
  • Choose gas or solar over electric wherever you can. Rebates are available.
  • Buy appliances with the highest star rating you can afford.
  • Use energy-efficient light globes.
  • Switch off appliances at the wall.

  • Refer to the Your Home Technical Manual for more ways to save energy around your home.

  • The Save Power and Living Thing websites have plenty of tips to make your home energy smart.

  • Visit the NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) website and rate the energy efficiency of your home.

  • Visit the Save Power website and make pledges to save power at home.

Visit Save Power website for energy saving tips

Make a Power Pledge - save power and carbon pollution.

  • Insulate your home. Rebates are available.
  • Switch to GreenPower.
  • Choose gas or solar over electric wherever you can. Rebates are available.
  • Buy appliances with the highest star rating you can afford.
  • Use energy-efficient light globes.
  • Switch off appliances at the wall.

  • Refer to the Your Home Technical Manual for more ways to save energy around your home.

  • The Save Power and Living Thing websites have plenty of tips to make your home energy smart.

  • Visit the NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) website and rate the energy efficiency of your home.

  • Visit the Save Power website and make pledges to save power at home.

 
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Open burning

Bush fire

Image courtsey of M. Lauder

Burning in the open or in incinerators must be done carefully as it creates air pollution and runs the risk of the fire escaping, particularly during bush fire danger season.

Performing an open burn

Permits may be required from the relevant authorities to conduct open burns. Make sure you comply with all the relevant legislation and have obtained all the necessary permits.

There may also be restrictions placed on burning on particular days which override any permits obtained. Examples of restrictions include No-Burn Notices issued by the Office of Environment and Heritage or Total Fire Bans issued by the Rural Fire Service. You must check with all the relevant authorities whether any fire restrictions are in force for the period you plan to burn.

Total fire bands

During periods of extreme fire weather, a Total Fire Ban may be declared. This means no fires can be lit, including prescribed burning (even if you have a hazard reduction permit from the Rural Fire Service) and wood and heat-bead BBQs. Gas BBQs are allowed if there is a ready source of water.

The bush fire danger season typically runs from 1 October to 31 March.

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No Burn notices

Outside of the bushfire season, OEH may prohibit the burning of fires in the open or in incinerators by issuing a No-Burn Notice (see section 133 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 if it is of the opinion that, because of forecast weather conditions, burning is likely to contribute to the build-up of air pollution.
Outside of the bushfire season, OEH may prohibit the burning of fires in the open or in incinerators by issuing a No-Burn Notice (see section 133 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 if it is of the opinion that, because of forecast weather conditions, burning is likely to contribute to the build-up of air pollution.

Backyard burning

Backyard burning and unauthorised incineration are prohibited at all times in all council areas in the Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle regions, and in other NSW council areas listed in the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010.
Backyard burning and unauthorised incineration are prohibited at all times in all council areas in the Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle regions, and in other NSW council areas listed in the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010.

Find out more

To find out whether a No-Burn Notice is in force you can:

  • check on the regional air quality index web page
  • check the Public Notices section of the Sydney Morning Herald. The No-Burn Notice will be published here on the day that it is in force
  • ring the OEH Environment Line on 131 555.

For what to do during the bushfire danger season or a Total Fire Ban, visit the NSW Rural Fire Service website or phone 1800 679 737.

For more information, visit the Office of Environment and Heritage website.

To find out whether a No-Burn Notice is in force you can:

  • check on the regional air quality index web page
  • check the Public Notices section of the Sydney Morning Herald. The No-Burn Notice will be published here on the day that it is in force
  • ring the OEH Environment Line on 131 555.

For what to do during the bushfire danger season or a Total Fire Ban, visit the NSW Rural Fire Service website or phone 1800 679 737.

For more information, visit the Office of Environment and Heritage website.

 
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