Pellet Fires Ideal Logburner Replacement to Meet Ecan's 1st April Deadline

Winter heating is the last thing on most people’s minds while the summer sun is still shining, the deadline for Christchurch homeowners and landlords to switch to cleaner heat sources is rapidly approaching.

From 1 April 2010 residents in Christchurch's Clean Air Zone 1 (the majority of Christchurch city out to Belfast, Yaldhurst, Hoon Hay Valley and Sumner) will not be able to use their open fires or solid fuel burners older than 15 years during the winter months.

The ban has been in place since April 2009 but will be enforced for the first time from this year by Environment Canterbury. The ban extends from 1 April until 30 September each year and people who use their fires during this time may face enforcement action. Outside these months people are able to use their fires, as long as they burn dry firewood, cardboard or paper.

In Kaiapoi home owners with open fires and older wood burners will not be able to use them after 1 May 2011, while the ban in Ashburton will be effective from 1 May 2012.

As one of the main suppliers of approved wood pellet fires, Switch Energy is pleased with the uptake to date of pellet fires in the Canterbury region.

“Figures from Environment Canterbury suggest that close to 20% of people who are removing open fires and non-compliant woodburners are choosing to replace them with low emission pellet fires,” says Switch’s national operations manager, Dougal Ferguson.

“Now we are focusing on spreading the word about the benefits of pellet fires to the rest of New Zealand, as they truly are the innovative type of heating technology that will take New Zealand homes into and beyond the new decade.”

Ferguson says families installing the pellet burners are usually those who enjoy the ambience of fire as a source of home heating, but also appreciate the eco-friendly benefits, convenience, cleanliness and safety of wood pellets.

“Unfortunately, log-burners are now virtually obsolete as heating technology has evolved to take into consideration the need for low emission, environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to heat our homes.

“People still love the effect of a fire and pellet fires are proving to be a great alternative solution.”

Anyone considering installing a pellet fire in their home can view ECan's list of authorised solid fuel burners here.

All Clean Heat Project heating appliances must meet the standard of 40mg of particulate per megajoule of energy produced (40mg/MJ OUT).

EECA Energywise clean heat funding is available to help home owners and landlords who are replacing existing open fires and non-compliant logburners with pellet fires and other forms of non-polluting heat.

7 Good Reasons to Switch to Pellet Fuel to Heat your Home:

• Reduce your dependence on limited supplies of oil, gas and coal and switch to a renewable energy source that is made from woodwaste.
• Provides the cleanest burn of any solid fuel.
• Allergy free, no dust and debris that can contaminate the air and cause health issues for your family.
• Pellets are clean and easy to handle and store in about one third of the space of firewood – plus no chopping, splitting or stacking is required.
• Has a neutral effect on the environment.
• Not subject to world price variations like imported oil – as more pellet fires are installed, the price of pellets will become more and more competitive.
• Positively reduces greenhouse gases.

To find out more about pellet fires and what is involved in installing one in your property, you can visit the Switch website at www.switchenergy.co.nz or one of the company’s dealers nationwide.