Paying the price for cleaner air

BY TRACY NEAL

It's crunch time for many Nelsonians who like to keep the home fires burning, as the first phase-out date for older enclosed woodburners looms.

From next Friday, homeowners in some areas of urban Nelson and Stoke will not be able to use woodburners installed before certain dates. Lighting up could lead to a fine, as the Nelson City Council makes headway towards implementing changes that will help the region meet strict national air quality standards.

The deadline has now passed for homeowners in these zones seeking consent to replace their original burner with an approved, clean-burning model.

Some residents are miffed at being forced to spend several thousand dollars to replace what they consider to be perfectly good burners, particularly when their installation date falls just outside the deadline.

Council environmental educator Jo Martin says there has been the "odd grumble", but little more than that.

"At the end of the day, people want to breathe clean air."

Homeowners in the Nelson Hospital area, Bishopdale, Victory, Toi Toi, the area between the two Nelson colleges, Washington Valley, Tahunanui, and the Tahunanui Hills south of the Cliffs have to replace burners installed before 1996.

Woodburners installed before 1991 in homes in Stoke, Wakatu and Enner Glynn cannot be used after January 1.

Rocks Rd homeowner Mike Brady says it is a "real shame" that he has to replace his pristine burner, installed in 1995. He is facing a bill of about $5000 to upgrade it to a compliant model.

"It's perfect – there's nothing wrong with it. If it had been installed in 1996, I would have until 2012 to replace it."

While Mr Brady understands the reasons behind the call for cleaner-burning fireplaces, he is a bit perplexed that his neighbourhood has been included in the first phase-out stage.

"The really irritating thing for me was that during the debate over the roading issue, I was told by a city councillor we didn't have any pollution in this area."

Mr Brady was founder of the Save Nelson's Waterfront and Rocks Rd Association, and a vocal opponent of the controversial 2007 option to add "clearways" to Rocks Rd for traffic heading towards Nelson.

The council has carved the city into zones it calls "airsheds", and the most affected areas are those where the new rules are being applied first.

Those who haven't yet filled out the paperwork required to install an approved clean-burning woodburner in the phase-one zone will now be unable to replace their original burner – the deadline for consents was Christmas Eve. They will have to use alternative clean heating systems like a heat pump or a flued gas heater.

The Nelson and Tasman councils began the process of clearing the air several years ago to meet strict national air quality standards.

Under the standards, by 2013 councils around the country will be allowed just one day a year when pollution exceeds 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

However, in August this year the Tasman District Council asked the Government for more time to achieve clean air in Richmond, in its submission to the ministerial review of regulations under the national environmental standards for air quality.

The council has already banned open fires in new homes in Richmond, and people buying a home with an old woodburner have to replace it with a cleaner model.

Tahunanui resident Terry Holton, who does not have a woodburner but has made his voice heard in opposition to the changes (he has plenty of friends who are affected), says that in terms of alternatives, heat pumps are the most cost-effective.

He installed a diesel-fired heating system when he built his Tahunanui home in 1969 – before the first oil shock.

"The price of diesel then was 17 cents a gallon. It went up last winter to $1.92 a litre."

He used the system for 30 years as his sole form of heating, but 18 months ago he could no longer afford it.

He installed a heat pump five years ago as a standby, but found that he was using it most of the time. Because it didn't heat the whole house, he put a second one in the lounge.

"The heating bill is nothing as dear as the oil, and I have the house well insulated."

Mr Brady chose the option of applying for consent for a replacement burner through the city council's contractor, Nelson energy management specialists Emsol.

"We decided to go through the process. They came out and assessed our home – a representative spent 1 1/2 hours assessing the layout of our house, and how big a fire we should have."

Mr Brady has consent to install an approved woodburner, and the cost will be spread out and included in future rates payments.

Ms Martin says the rules won't affect people who enjoy outdoor brazier fires on summer nights, when the environmental factors governing air quality are different to those in winter.

"You can light a brazier in summer, but you can't use them in winter months from May to September."

She says it is a good idea to use very dry firewood, which doesn't produce much smoke.

TIME LINE

Homes with woodburners installed between 1996 and 1999 have until the start of 2012 to replace them. Those installed between 2000 and 2003 will be phased out by January 1, 2013 (except for those that qualify as clean air models). Homes in Stoke, Wakatu and Enner Glynn with 1991 to 1995 models will have to replace them from 2012. In the rest of urban Nelson – including Atawhai, the Wood, the Brook and the Port Hills – there are no restrictions on old woodburners. No-one in Nelson is allowed an open fireplace, under a rule that took effect at the start of last year. If a house doesn't have a woodburner now, it will never be allowed one.

- © Fairfax NZ News