[Dreamweaverr]

Is the Spare the Air Day Law a Healthy Protection of the Environment or the Government Run Amuck? - Associated Content

[Lyndsey]

I saw a report of The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition that said children living in wood-burning households experience “higher rates of lung inflammation, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases.” However, I heard that burning wood pellets is more eco-friendly. Does anyone else know more about this?

[Dreamweaverr]

I don't know officially but I can tell you from personal experience that regular wood smoke often sets my asthma into full swing when wood is burning. The pellets and those packaged firelogs do not bother me at all.

[Lyndsey]

Originally Posted by Dreamweaverr

I don't know officially but I can tell you from personal experience that regular wood smoke often sets my asthma into full swing when wood is burning. The pellets and those packaged firelogs do not bother me at all.

I heard about wood smoke and asthma, but I'm glad to hear there's a difference with pellets. I have friends who live outside the city and they rely on the pellets. They are pretty eco-conscious and would be reluctant to choose anything that could be harmful.

[BethT]

I have close friends who live in the north of ontario, and they too rely on wood pellets. I think they are definitly the better choice over burining wood logs.

[Lyndsey]

Montreal has had several heavy smog warnings this winter, so a proposed bylaw about wood burning has made the news. They are proposing banning the use of fireplaces and wood burning stoves. I can't help wondering though, is that really the biggest source of smog, or is that just easier to shut down than some other sources?

[crysandlg]

I heard the same thing.

[Simon47]

I have a coule of cents to offer on this. Wood pellets are a great choice since it is made from waste material. A far better choice to make than cutting trees. One fact though is that for every selective logged tree taken from the forest, about 25 other non marketable trees are destroyed and laid waste. I liveed in Northern Ontario and at every logging operation you can see citizens move in and scavenge the waste for their stoves.

The issue of wood smoke and asthma is not alleviated by the use of pellets over logs. It is the function of the stove and whether the system of stove and piping is well sealed. It does one well to purchase a good unit and have it properly installed for both human health and reduction of wood consumption be it pellets or logs.

It has been hotly debated that wood stoves and the burning of wood be abolished globally and some effort is being expended overseas in third and second world countries to convince them not to engage in the use of wood burning technology. While this might be a sound approach it is often not practical for them that do not have access to better coal technology or nuclear, solar, wind or water power. Never mind the lack of access to stable governments or mutually beneficial social infrastructure.

Sim

We might raise the question of whether many of us will even be able to afford electricity in the future and whehter wood will even be available to burn.