Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Winter weather has settled in, and as Cantabrians crank up their wood burners, we start to see high-pollution days in many of the areas we monitor.
This cold season, we’ve already seen breaches of national air quality standards in Kaiapoi (six days over national standards so far), Timaru (three days over national standards so far), Ashburton (two days over national standards so far), and Washdyke (14 days over national standards so far).
“We know home heating is a major contributor to air pollution in Canterbury,” said Principal Science Advisor Teresa Aberkane.
“Weather and topography also play a big part in how long woodsmoke stays in the air: during the winter our cold, still, frosty days mean the smoke from home heating isn’t blown away overnight and gets trapped until morning when the air warms up or the wind picks up.”
Air quality monitoring and health impacts
We monitor air quality at 10 sites across eight airsheds, focusing on particulate matter (PM), specifically PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometres in size) and PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size).
These tiny particles are important to monitor because they are the ones small enough to be breathed in. When breathed in, PM10 can deposit in the upper airways and cause irritation, as well as affecting the lungs and heart.
PM2.5 can lodge deep into our lungs and reach the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious respiratory, heart and lung problems.
Improving air quality
We’ve seen significant improvement in Canterbury’s air quality over the last two decades, thanks in large part to the efforts of Cantabrians who have switched their smoky burners for lower emission forms of heating, such as heat pumps or ultra-low emission burners.
Did you know we offer home heating subsidies to help low-income households living in Clean Air Zones, generally the urban areas of Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Geraldine and Waimate, transition to cleaner forms of heating and further improve air quality?
Find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply on our financial assistance page.
Burn Warmer Cheaper this winter
Cantabrians also help reduce pollution by using only dry wood and adopting efficient burning techniques.
“Remember to get your fire going quickly using the upside-down method, keep it burning hot, and don’t damp it down overnight,” said Principal Implementation Advisor Dr. Paul Hopwood.
“I’d encourage all wood burner owners to visit our Warmer Cheaper website for videos on efficient burning techniques, a burner maintenance checklist, and a list of Trusted Good Wood Merchants.”
“With everyone playing their part, we can reduce air pollution and all breathe easier,” said Dr. Hopwood.
