Fuel’s gold
»»Heating with coal, peat and wood preferred »»Study shows extensive use despite risks
MORE than half of all households in Ireland continue to use coal, peat and wood to heat their homes, according to the State’s environmental watchdog.
A study commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency found 54% use solid fuels with 16% using them as the primary source of heating.
In addition, 36% of households used solid fuels to supplement their main heating systems which are based on non-solid fuels such as oil and gas.
It estimated that the average consumption of supplementary solid fuels by such households is approximately three-quarters that of the primary fuel source.
However, it found low levels of knowledge among households about the environmental and health risk associated with the burning of solid fuels.
At the same time, a survey of over 1,800 households found policy options to reduce the use of solid fuels including grants and regulations on the use of smoky solid fuels were more supported than opposed.
The research, which highlights the extensive use of solid fuels by Irish households, comes as a major political controversy has erupted over proposals by the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, to ban the sale of turf.
The initiative by the Green Party leader has caused major division among the Coalition parties with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael backbenchers strongly objecting.
The research found almost 14% of households use turf, including 4% for whom it is their primary source of heating.
And 94% of households that use turf as their primary heating source burn it for at least 42 hours per week on average during winter months.
Over 30% of households in all counties apart from Dublin, Offaly and Donegal use solid fuels to supplement their main source of heating with the figure reaching over 60% in some counties in the south-east and border regions.
The study found low-smoke coal and sod peat were the most widely used solid fuels in households for which they were the primary sources of heating with wood logs and peat briquettes most widely used as a supplement for
OUTSPOKEN Ryan
households with other heating sources. According to the report, the number of households switching to solid fuels is greater than the number switching away from fuels such as coal, peat and wood.
Dr John Eakins, one of the report’s main authors, said: “Interviews with households examining their lived experiences of using solid fuels highlighted the strong affinity with burning solid fuels, particularly among rural dwellers.
“Rural dwellers also placed a high value on access to nontraded fuels which they indicated was a significant part of the
way in which they provided fuel for themselves.” While some households recognised the need to change their heating systems, Dr Eakins said information and assurances would need to be provided to persuade them to transition.
He added: “Measures to prevent householders falling into energy poverty would be key to acceptance if such activities were restricted.”
The study found the location and age of dwellings were key factors in determining a switch towards the use of solid fuels.
It also found people whose main source of fuel for heating their homes was solid fuels were more likely to have lower incomes and lower education levels as well as being more likely to live in older houses.
People living in buildings built after 2011 are less likely to use solid fuels.
Dr Eakins said the fact that primary and supplementary users of solid fuels had different characteristics and motivations was important for designing policies to transition people away from using them.
Solid fuels are estimated to account for 17.6% of all energy used to heat homes in Ireland – the second highest rate among the 28 EU member states after Poland where they represent 40.2%.