Understanding the Key Determinants of Residential Firewood Consumption in Australia: A Nationwide Household Survey

Romanach, Lygia; Frederiks, Elisha R.

doi:10.3390/en14206777

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A 2022 government survey found that wood heaters were used for main or supplementary heating in about 11% of occupied private dwellings in the ACT 14 . A national survey found that people in larger households and with higher household income were more likely to use firewood, 22 suggesting that affordability is not the main reason for using wood heaters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We assessed PM 2.5 exposure for the calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022; we excluded 2019 and 2020 because of the influence of the 2019–20 bushfires (“Black Summer”) 20 on ambient PM 2.5 levels in the ACT. Based on the annual and diurnal patterns of ambient PM 2.5 levels in the ACT (Box 2 ) and responses to a survey on the use of wood heaters, 22 we defined 1 April – 30 September as the wood heater season. We calculated the mean PM 2.5 concentrations at the three air quality monitoring sites (overall and by site) for the wood heater season and for the remainder of each calendar year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment

Vardoulakis,

Johnston,

Goodman

et al. 2023

Medical Journal of Australia

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ObjectivesTo estimate the number of deaths and the cost of deaths attributable to wood heater smoke in the Australian Capital Territory.Study designRapid health impact assessment, based on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data from three outdoor air pollution monitors and published exposure–response functions for natural cause mortality attributed to PM2.5 exposure.SettingAustralian Capital Territory (population, 2021: 454 000), 2016–2018, 2021, and 2022 (2019 and 2020 excluded because of the impact of extreme bushfires on air quality).Main outcome measuresProportion of PM2.5 exposure attributable to wood heaters; numbers of deaths and associated cost of deaths (based on the value of statistical life: $5.3 million) attributable to wood heater smoke.ResultsWood heater emissions contributed an estimated 1.16–1.73 μg/m3 to the annual mean PM2.5 concentration during the three colder years (2017, 2018, 2021), or 17–25% of annual mean exposure, and 0.72 μg/m3 (15%) or 0.89 μg/m3 (13%) during the two milder years (2016, 2022). Using the most conservative exposure–response function, the estimated annual number of deaths attributable to wood heater smoke was 17–26 during the colder three years and 11–15 deaths during the milder two years. Using the least conservative exposure–response function, an estimated 43–63 deaths per year (colder years) and 26–36 deaths per year (milder years) were attributable to wood heater smoke. The estimated annual equivalent cost of deaths was $57–136 million (most conservative exposure–response function) and $140–333 million (least conservative exposure–response function).ConclusionsThe estimated annual number of deaths in the ACT attributable to wood heater PM2.5 pollution is similar to that attributed to the extreme smoke of the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires. The number of wood heaters should be reduced by banning new installations and phasing out existing units in urban and suburban areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment

Vardoulakis,

Johnston,

Goodman

et al. 2023

Medical Journal of Australia

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“…Several previous studies have been conducted to evaluate the nexus of wood energy uses and the sustainability of forest resources, e.g., [ 27 ]; to evaluate the carbon footprint related to the woody bioenergy production process at the stage of silviculture and harvesting, e.g., [ 28 ]; or along supply chains, e.g., [ 28 ]. Each region has geographic, biophysical, and sociodemographic characteristics that can have an impact on the tradition of using firewood as an energy source [ 29 ]. Therefore, paying attention to local perspectives to meet global demands will be one of the keys to developing the use of renewable energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable energy from secondary wood products contributes to local green development: the case of small-scale privately owned forests in Ciamis Regency, Indonesia

et al. 2023

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Background Wood biomass from forests is a renewable energy source that has the potential to support global green development. However, the process of traditional firewood extraction and its contribution to the energy supply varies and is usually underrecognized, especially in the local context. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the traditional use and estimate the supply and demand for wood bioenergy from small-scale privately owned forests (SSPF) in Ciamis Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Methods The sample location was determined in 3 subdistricts, namely, Sukamantri, Ciamis, and Banjaranyar, which represent the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively. The data were collected through observations on stands, interviews with respondents, key informants from users and business actors of wood in the SSPF, and observations on the processes taking place in the flow and use of biomaterials and firewoods. Results and conclusion Firewood is a secondary product that cannot be separated from the main products along SSPF’s chain of production based on the integration of raw material sources, linkages between actors, and volume sharing. The local knowledge and wisdom entanglements included the identification of the type and quality of firewood, distribution of resource allocation for household and industrial needs, and sharing of firewood for household needs. Although wood biomass contributes to the fulfillment of households and industrial needs of 8.51 million m3, there are indications of an imbalance between the potential supply and the demand for firewood due to its high intensity of use in industries. Therefore, multistakeholder and cross-regional support are needed to achieve sustainable SSPF management and fulfill the self-sufficiency of wood energy.

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“…Moreover, the book “Hel ved”, explaining cutting, drying, tinder, and burning, became the 2015 best-selling book in Norway [ 34 ]. Though firewood consumption has not recently been investigated as it has been in, e.g., Australia [ 35 ], the consumption in Norway is considerable due to the cold climate [ 36 ]. Much research has been devoted to regulative standards and manufacturing of wood burners regarding combustion efficiency, improved heat transfer, and reduction of exhaust gas soot particles and other pollutants [ 37 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Fire Revealing Coastal Norway’s Wildland–Urban Interface Challenges and Possible Low-Cost Sustainable Solutions

Log

Gjedrem

2022

IJERPH

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The Calluna vulgaris L. that dominated coastal heathlands of Western Europe were for millennia managed by regular burning cycles for improved grazing. Most places in Norway this practice has, however, been neglected over the last 5–7 decades, resulting in accumulation of above ground biomass including degenerated Calluna and successional fire-prone species, e.g., native juniper (Juniperus communis) and exotic blacklisted Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Today, in dry periods, the heathland represents a fire threat to the increasing number of homes in the wildland–urban interface (WUI), as exemplified by the June 2021 Sotra Island WUI fire. The fire burned 700 ha of encroached heathlands, destroyed three buildings, and threatened settlements. In the present study, the Sotra fire was investigated to understand the fire development and analyse possible risk reducing measures. Photographic material obtained during the fire, weather conditions prior to and during the fire, involved fire fuel, fire spread mechanisms, firefighting response, and possible consequences under slightly changed circumstances were analysed. Compared to previous fires in coastal Norway, the Sotra fire represents a step change in fire development including, e.g., pyrocumulus-like clouds, fire whirls, and fire spread 270 m across a fjord. Preventive measures based on the local context are analysed, including engaging voluntary communities to remove fire-prone fuel, e.g., juniper and Sitka, to create defensible space. Moreover, strategic fire breaks in the terrain, e.g., well-managed heathland strengthening existing fuel breaks, e.g., lakes, cultivated fields, naked rock, and roads, are recommended. Mechanical cutting is suggested as a short-term measure while fenceless grazing may represent a long-term solution to prevent regrowth. During a period of record high energy prices, this may provide free of charge firewood and make way for future local food production, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while reducing the fire risk.

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Understanding the Key Determinants of Residential Firewood Consumption in Australia: A Nationwide Household Survey

Cited by 8 publications

References 18 publications

Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment

Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment

Renewable energy from secondary wood products contributes to local green development: the case of small-scale privately owned forests in Ciamis Regency, Indonesia

A Fire Revealing Coastal Norway’s Wildland–Urban Interface Challenges and Possible Low-Cost Sustainable Solutions

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