are woodstoves/fireplaces "ethical" to use anymore? I'm sick of the horrible smoke from my neighbors

Question

Lots of new couples are buying homes in my neighborhood. Suddenly, the whole block has a cloud of thick, gray, harsh smelling smoke. I guess it's romantic or a novelty for them.
So is it bad for the environment? I certainly feel like the air is polluted now. Is the amount of smoke going into the environment for 1 or 2 people to keep warm worth it? Especially when we no longer have to heat our homes that way?

not sure i understand your hostility, echoes. For one thing I DO NOT drive, I never have owned or will ever own a car if i have a choice. I tried to ask neutrally because I really don't know about the impact of burning things to the environment. It sure feels like pollution when my eyes are stinging and my mouth is coated in acrid smoke residue when I walk out of my neighborhood Notice I didn't say Drive, thanks).

Answer 1

Do you live in a smokeless zone? If yes then you can report people for violation of the law.

However, wood burning stoves are environmentally friendly, much more so than many other methods of heating the home and water. Secondly, if you are burning wood, there should be no clouds of smoke, that is why we have chimneys. If you are using your own timber, waste or off cuts, it is even more environmentally friendly.

I think your question is a really important one and shall star it, why? because you demonstrate the theory below perfectly. If you use any form of heating whatsoever there are costs to the environment and other people. We have to balance these costs with the benefits so they are as eco friendly as possible. Look at how many people oppose wind farms, object to their neighbours' planning consent for installing wind turbines or solar panels.

If you look at it from your own individual view point then, yes, there may be some disadvantages to people having wood burning stoves, however, you do not live in isolation. The advantages to all of mankind and other living things and natural systems should outweigh your own personal 'wants'.

'Not In My Backyard'

Answer 2

A well designed stove or Rumford fireplace can be an efficient way of heating a room, if the rest of the house is unheated. A fire which does not get properly hot will not burn all the gases which come from wood, this may be what you're suffering from.

Hope you find a more positive way of dealing with this than pretending to join the PC brigade. GL

Answer 3

New couples? Its not a trend of young new couples. Maybe they've never had one before and want to try it out. They live there, and they havent banned fireplaces so there for it is very ethical. I'm sure your car puts off more pollution in the whole time you've been driving than there fireplace usage. Is it ethical for you to be driving????

Answer 4

I thought is was bad seeing as how burning in your backyard is bad... But I learned this...It's good for the environment!! When you heat with wood instead of oil or gas, you displace a fossil fuel with a renewable fuel. Check out the link.

Answer 5

This is too good to be true. I am laughing my *** off and then some. I can imagine environmentalists burning tires in their backyards. Who’s business is it to tell someone not to use a wood burning stove or fireplace. Get real.

Answer 6

It's good because it cuts down on the number of trees. Hydrocarbons released by trees cause more pollution than cars.

In short, trees pollute more than cars.

Answer 7

Not ethical anymore. We back there in Kazakhstan forbade them for good. We are good citizens since then.

Answer 8

I have heard that pellet stoves are the way to go now!

Answer 9

it hasnt anything to do with ethics.
they are burning wood, if you want something cleaner burning then hook them up with nucular power.
live and let live.