Online searches for ‘wood-burning stoves’ have increased by 36% since the same period in 2020, according to research conducted by MediaVision.
The research suggests that many households are looking into wood-burning as a possibility to heat their homes following an increase in bills and energy shortages.
Searches for other ways to keep the house warm are also on the rise, with searches for solar panels up by 27% and draught excluders up by 29% compared to 2020.
Searches for ‘ground source heat pumps’ (which qualify for a £6,000 grant) have risen by 33% this year and those for ‘air heat pumps’ (which have a £5,000 grant) by 26%, with spikes in activity in October when the grant was announced.
Louis Venter, CEO at MediaVision, said: “When it comes to keeping warm, despite what some companies might think, star jumps and cuddling pets aren’t top of mind. However, there is clearly an appetite to be greener, with searches for heat pumps and solar panels on the rise following clear spikes in online activity for those items during the COP26 summit.
“But that said, clearly nothing beats a wood-burning stove. Despite the potential pollution issues, we saw a big increase in search volumes this year. This could be a result of increasing energy bills, or the possibility of more major electricity shortages.
“Either way, many people may be going old school with our heating options. While green energy is important to us, we’d still rather be warm. The increase in interest in hot water bottles can also be attributed to this trend, as research has suggested that wearing one and turning down the heating can save a lot of CO2.”
Hello Friends,
We have seen an increase in the use of wood burning and it is a nightmare. Often it is impossible to sleep properly because the air is so filthy. I agree with Olaf. They should be banned in built up areas and in any case the wood is far better being used to make things or better still left standing and doing a great job of providing us with oxygen.
We think they should be banned in suburban and village streets too. Even if you live in a rural area, a dreadful wood burner right next door to you can be hell – and unhealthy.
Can MediaVision please declare who commissioned this research?
Isn’t it a sad reflection of our times that people are willing to sacrifice not only their own health, but without consultation the health wellbeing and quality of life of their neighbours too by switching to a far dirtier form of heating just to save a few pennies.
That is of course assuming they do save any pennies. The cost aspect is the last lie in the stove industry arsenal which hasn’t really been publicly busted to any great extent. But I am sure anybody googling for a bulk bag of kiln dried wood will be shocked at how expensive it is. And is paying up front for a bulk bag of fuel really an option for those in genuine poverty – I don’t think so. Plus thing of all that extra Co2 emitted and harmful air pollution emitted during the kiln drying process.
Banning new wood burning stove installations and the use of them in all built up on the grid areas would be a great start in tackling both air pollution and climate change. It is no coincidence that the dirtiest forms of heating also emit the most Co2
Using properly prepared fuel is more expensive than gas or electricity. This is driven by fashion, by hype etc. In my area there are several installed in garden pods, thereby by passing environmental laws covering dwellings. And they are burning any old wood, including trees cut from public woodland,pushing out smoke, fumes and particulates. But the local authority turns a blind eye.
Yeah using a wood burning stove is the best renewable resource there is. There’s also no green energy it all has some type of environmental pollution solar panels windmills nuclear electric cars they all destroying the Earth as well with how you make them . Are you strictly wood the heat my home the light company’s power companies everybody’s got enough of your money it only get any more of your money. What is the best renewable resource that you have.
Some burn their kitchen waste too, smells terrible.