It may seem surprising but the third of the fuel used in the world for air conditioning and domestic hot water is wood; even in certain places in Africa it accounts for two-thirds, that is, more than half of the country’s energy supply.
With such a high number of users, it is important to ask if it is a neutral fuel or if, on the contrary, its emissions are too high for the home of the present and the future.
In the case of Spain, the most used biomass is firewood. The amount is around 1.22 million tons in recent years.
So, what impact is burning wood as fuel having on our surroundings?
Impact on our health and on our planet
It is not a neutral fuel: it generates emissions. Thus, stoves and chimneys emit carbon monoxide, toxins and very fine particles that are highly polluting. And they do it not only in the air of the neighborhood but in that of the room in which they are, with which they can be harmful in high quantities.
This leads to a significant increase in respiratory diseases, heart problems and cancer risk. In addition, those particles that are emitted absorb sunlight and warm the atmosphere. They therefore aggravation the greenhouse effect and are agents that accelerate the degradation of polar ecosystems by depositing on ice plates, which accelerates their thaw process.
The use of wood as a fuel can increase carbon emissions into the atmosphere by 6%, while the use of clean energy such as wind or solar energy reduces it by 6%.
During the 1950s, the burning of wood reached such high levels that in much of Europe caused severe deforestation. It was made to stop thanks to coal, which, however, would bring other associated problems. Even so, forests in Spain only occupy less than 36% of the territory, an area of about 26 million hectares. Reducing the burning of firewood and splinters would achieve greater preservation.
Solutions at our fingertips
Due to these consequences, so far from the idea that many people have on wood as a neutral and renewable fuel, different solutions are being bet on.
Thus, the European Union has developed an emissions regulation that is expected to harden by 2022; therefore, it is necessary to look for renewable, neutral options that allow considerable economic savings.
In that sense, Sunthalpy not only represents an option of zero emissions and zero energy expenditure, but also contributes to reducing toxic pollution (particles, NOx, SOx, PAH, …) in cities and in the buildings themselves.
Allowing good energy efficiency, being environmentally friendly, sustainable, with 0 CO2 emissions and creating a healthy environment, is, fortunately, possible.
Ah! And is it much more comfortable and economical?
