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Environment

UK energy crisis sparks rush for firewood despite air pollution fears

People are buying up firewood and installing wood-burning stoves to heat their homes to reduce the impact of the hike in UK energy prices

By Adam Vaughan

2 September 2022

Wood burning in a wood-burning stove

Many people in the UK are turning to wood fires for heating to avoid high bills for gas and electricity

Tim Gainey/Alamy

UK wood suppliers have reported an unprecedented surge in demand for logs, briquettes and other biomass products as households rush to minimise the impact of energy bills rising 80 per cent next month.

However, experts cautioned that a resurgence in burning wood in stoves, fires and boilers at home could exacerbate air pollution and damage people’s health.

“What we’re seeing is an absolute panic buy, like a covid emptying of …

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