The Clean Air Strategy 2019 | An Update from HETAS   We wanted to update you on the reaction of HETAS to last week’s publication of the governments Clean Air Strategy 2019. HETAS summarised many of the key developments in a post last year in a post about misleading headlines relating to the banning of wood stoves, with many of these points remaining applicable to the strategy published this week. Here are the key action points from the Clean Air Strategy 2019.

  • Legislate to prohibit sale of the most polluting fuels
  • Ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022
  • Make changes to existing smoke control legislation to make it easier to enforce
  • Give new powers to local authorities to take action in areas of high pollution
  • Work across government to look at opportunities to align our work on air quality, clean growth and fuel poverty in future policy design
  • Develop a dedicated communications campaign targeted at domestic burners, to improve awareness of the environmental impact of their actions
  • Work with industry to identify an appropriate test standard for new solid fuels entering the market

  Read there latest post about what industry is doing in relation to each of these points.   HETAS, Woodsure, SIA and others are of course busy engaging with all of these issues using their individual perspectives to influence as appropriate. On Monday we had our highest ever number of website visits with consumers looking for a reputable source of information as well as searching for installers, appliances, retailers and sweeps. Since the heating season started we have had an increase in consumer contact with HETAS of over 100% giving us the opportunity to spread the right messages to potential purchasers and existing users. Over the last couple of years we have talked regularly with Defra’s Air Quality team to monitor the reactions of consumers and the trade. We will continue to follow up with reactions. We look forward to the next response to consultation from Defra on “fuels and appliances” which we are expecting early this year. We will keep you up to date with developments and we will increase positive PR alongside the proposed positive actions that come out of that consultation.