Air Quality Trends Looking Clearer

An inventory survey of air emissions from home wood burners in Hastings, Havelock North and Napier over the last winter suggests that there has been a decline in smoke contaminants since 2005.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council commissioned Environet Ltd to update the 2005 air emission inventory to survey contaminants going into our air.

The 2005 survey found that 88% of the smoke emitted within the air sheds was produced by domestic heating, compared to just 3% from industry. Subsequent monitoring over the cold winter months identified specific areas with higher concentrations of particulates from smoke than was permitted by the national environmental standard. These areas were defined as air sheds.

While the 2005 survey covered the whole region, this winter’s survey focused on the known air sheds to investigate trends. The reduction in pollutants being emitted may be assisted by increased awareness of air quality issues and conversion of old, inefficient burners with cleaner heating devices.

“We are encouraged by this as it looks like people are more aware of the effects of home burning and smoke in the air and are acting to improve matters,” said Council’s Healthy Homes Programme Manager, Megan Rose.

“It looks like more people are using their home burners more efficiently or are switching to cleaner heating options.”

However while these results are encouraging, Ms Rose says there is still a way to go to ensure our air is as clean as it should be.

“This winter the Hastings air shed exceeded the national environment standard 15 times and Napier three times. As high levels of PM10 have been linked to health impacts for people with respiratory problems, it is in all our best interests to keep up the good work,” says Ms Rose.

Since the original survey was undertaken the Regional Council has implemented Heat Smart Hawke’s Bay, a financial assistance programme to help people move towards cleaner methods of warming their homes. Since launching last November, 249 applications for clean heat conversions and 269 applications for insulation have been approved.

ENDS

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