In April the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced they were extending the time period for evidencing the purchase of alternatives fuels, including wood and solid fuels to the end of May 2023.
The £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) is a government scheme aimed at supporting households that rely on alternative fuels for heating. It is available to those not connected to the mains gas grid and covers homes heated by tank or bottled gas, LPG, oil, wood, or solid fuel. The payment is in addition to the £400 payment from electricity suppliers.
Recently, the government announced an extension to the AFP scheme. Eligible households can now use receipts from June 2022, instead of September 2022, until May 2023 as evidence to claim the payment. This change will ensure that those households that purchased fuel in bulk ahead of the winter 2022 heating season will receive the support they are entitled to.
Most households meeting the eligibility criteria automatically received the payment as a credit on their electricity bill. However, in some cases, the discount was not received automatically, for example if you:
-pay for energy through a landlord, housing manager or site owner
-live in a park home, houseboat or off the electricity grid
Andy Hill, chair of the SIA, commented: “This is a common-sense announcement and ensures that those households that did plan ahead, buying their wood logs and solid fuel supplies in the summer months last year, will not be penalised for doing so. Wood and solid fuel heating is an essential lifeline for the many thousands of homes that are off the gas grid network, and for remote and very rural locations it is vital to ensure that a fuel supply for the winter months is sourced well in advance.”
You can check your eligibility and apply for the AFP scheme via the government’s official website here.
Every year we send a limited-edition Charnwood calendar to each of our fantastic Charnwood stockists. It has become something of a tradition and a nice way to share some beautiful artwork and our latest wood-burning stove images.
We are delighted that the wonderful author/illustrator, Rachel Bright, has generously given us a beautiful graphic poem to take pride of place on this year’s front cover.
It’s so wonderful, in fact, that we just had to share it with you.
Doesn’t it just capture the imagination? It weaves a story that surely resonates with anyone lucky enough to own a wood-burning stove – it really makes you want to light the fire and snuggle!
Most of us have our own magical stories that were only possible due to the warm and cosy focal point the fire provides. Bone warming heat and mesmerizing flames that draw loved ones together and into orbit around the woodstove on a cold winter’s night.
And to some peoples’ surprise, many of us actually look forward to winter precisely because of the joy our wood-burning stove brings.
With all the uncertainty in the world, it’s truly comforting to sit back on a cold night with a warm fire blazing. Knowing that you can depend on it whatever the weather and circumstances in the wider world. This is a huge motivator for us to continue creating the latest, most efficient stoves on the market and contribute to a more sustainable future.
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All of us here at Charnwood and A.J Wells & Sons wish you a very merry, warm and toasty Christmas.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, well known to us all from our lockdown television screens, has just released an annual report on air quality in the UK. The Stove Industry Association (SIA) made a significant contribution, and the resulting report provides a fair and balanced appraisal. The findings confirm much of what the wood-burning stove community has been saying for some years now.
The report highlights the issues with open fires and old woodstoves and endorses the use of modern Ecodesign wood-burning stoves and encourages the use of best wood-burning stove practices.
Air pollution emissions can be significantly reduced “…using modern, less polluting stoves and burning wood that is dry”. Additionally, “For air pollution emissions, there is substantial difference between the different open fire and stove designs, the age of the appliance and how well maintained it is, and the moisture content of the wood, for those who want to burn wood.”
Chair of the SIA, Andy Hill, commented: “In this Report the CMO and his team have considered a wide range of contributors to air pollution from industry, transport, and transboundary sources, as well as domestic solid fuel heating. We are pleased that the report recognises the huge advances in stove appliance technology that have been driven by the Ecodesign regulations and that it calls for the Clean Air Act requirements for smoke control areas to be properly adhered to. The report also highlights potentially ground-breaking new technology in some industries, and, similarly, the stove industry continues to develop and invest in new technology to reduce emissions even further.”
The myriad benefits of wood burning
The report recognises that the reasons for burning solid fuel in the home are varied with Professor Whitty noting that these include “aesthetic as well as practical, ecological or economic reasons”.
This line is important and acknowledges the unique qualities wood-burning stoves possess. It is something that we feel should be more fully recognised when making evaluations and comparing the overall impact of each home heating solution.
The myriad benefits wood burning offers the individual and society cannot be fully replicated by any other heating solution. Wood-burning stoves offer potential carbon neutrality, significant well-being benefits, heat security and perhaps most importantly right now, low-cost fuel.
Wood burning – the past, present and the future
With the recent positive progress of nuclear fission in the news, there is real hope on the far horizon for an energy source that transforms our society. However, even when this possibility is realized, likely many decades into the future, there will still be a strong argument for wood burning stoves. Perhaps not as a main source of domestic heating, but as a tool for connection and social bonding, while offering a supplementary heat source for when inevitable interruptions of supply occur.
Until then, wood-burning stoves have a key role to play in helping families through the challenging times we all face. No other heat solution can provide such a range of benefits that help so directly with the cost-of-living crisis and contribute to the environmental goal of Net Zero 2050.
Our favourite time of the year is fast approaching! For some it’s watching ELF, others their first advent calendar window, for us the festive season kicks off at the Ideal Home Show Christmas event! From the 23–27 November at Olympia London, this wonderful Christmas shopping extravaganza provides everything you need to prepare your home for the festive season.
You can browse and shop from hundreds of brands across 4 Christmas themed show sections; Gifts, Pets, Home and Decorations. There’s live entertainment, expert demos, celebrity chefs, and thousands of festive gift, home and food ideas that will leave you feeling festive and ready for the season ahead!
Christmas Past (2021)
Last year a Charnwood ‘Bembridge’ wood-burning stove took centre stage in Good Homes Magazines ‘Updated Heritage’ roomset. The team also gave a talk on the Interiors Stage discussing all the latest Charnwood developments as well as the introduction of EcoDesign regulations. It was wonderful to meet so many of you to chat and answer your questions.
Good Homes Christmas Roomsets
The Good Homes style team return with 4 beautiful roomsets each with their own distinctive decorating scheme. Created in association with Next Home, they are called Scandi Luxe, Arctic Shimmer, Winter Berry and Woodland Jewel.
It’s a showcase that delivers for a range of tastes, each providing inspiration to help you fill your home with festive spirit in line with the latest trends. A Charnwood Island I and Aire 5 were selected for two roomsets and the sneak peek photos below indicate a perfect setting for the warmth of a Charnwood wood-burning stove.
Arctic Shimmer x Charnwood Island I
Photo: Next Home
A Charnwood Island I will feature in a serene Arctic Shimmer roomset with winter whites, soft greys and sparkling silver alongside a host of tactile materials.
The Island I is the smallest stove in the Island collection, delivering an output of 2-7kW of heat. Its uncomplicated looks and gentle curves ensure it sits well in any situation, be it modern or traditional. This stove meets Clean Air Act requirements with excellent efficiency of over 85% and an extremely low smoke particle level of 9mg/m3 (the Ecodesign limit is 40mg/m3).
Woodland Jewel x Charnwood Aire 5
Photo: Next Home
A Charnwood Aire 5 has been chosen to feature in the elegant Woodland Jewel roomset. Comprised of rich colours from dark evergreen hues to on-trend amber paired with tortoiseshell accessories and sumptuous soft furnishings.
The Charnwood’s iconic Aire 5 wood burning stove has been designed to maximise the view of the fire. The minimal styling of the Aire 5 fits comfortably into virtually any fireside situation whether it be freestanding or within a traditional fireplace. The stove delivers a comfortable 2-5kW of heat to the room with a crystal clear burn – a wonderful focal point for the room.
The Aire 5 incorporates Charnwood’s unique BLU burning technology. Not only a vast improvement on the new 2022 Ecodesign standards, BLU also meets with Defra exemption limits; allowing wood to be burnt cleanly and safely in smoke control areas.
Vlaze Hearths
Vlaze Hearths will be used to create a clean, modern platform on which to stand our stoves. Vlaze is our sister company and are experts in using porcelain enamel for the living environment and creating luxury fireside products.
The smooth gloss surface finish is heat and fire-resistant, easy to clean and available in a wide range of colours & designer finishes. The hearth plates are available in 5 sizes to suit most stoves and boast a 12mm depth conforming to UK building regulations for non-constructional hearths.
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As with Vlaze, the quality of Charnwood Stoves can only be fully appreciated in person. To book your tickets and discover a world of festive delights click here – we hope to see you there!
If you can’t make it to the Ideal Home Show Christmas, then we recommend searching for your local official Charnwood stockist here.
Glamping’s popularity continues to soar with a range of luxury camping options available across the UK. Log cabins, yurts, shepherds’ huts, and other ‘tiny home’ accommodation are fantastic ways to bring comfort and relaxation to the most beautiful locations. Many owners are adding wood-burning stoves as trends continue to show they are a key consideration for holidaymakers. After all, there is nothing quite like staying in an idyllic spot with the radiant heat of a wood-burning stove to get you into holiday mode. In response to this rapid growth in glamping stoves, HETAS has released new regulations for installation in leisure accommodation units. Here’s an overview of some of the key points raised and why, with the release of Charnwood’s Aire 3 Stove Pod package, we have the perfect glamping solution.
Suitability
When choosing your glamping stove, bear in mind that HETAS regulations state that “Only appliances that have been appropriately tested to the required CE type test standards (i.e. BS EN 13240) and have a measured gross efficiency of above 65% shall be installed.’’
Size
It is also important to make sure that the wood-burner you choose has sufficient output for your space, but not be too large that it negatively affects emissions and efficiency. As a general guide, a 3kW output heats a 30m3, 5kW a 60m3 space, while a 7kW output will heat approximately 90m3. Between 3 and 5kw is an ideal output for most leisure accommodation, however, we recommend speaking with your supplier to ascertain what best suits your needs.
Efficiency
Whilst a minimum efficiency of 65% is currently required, in light of DEFRA’s recent announcements and with more changes coming in 2022, it makes sense to choose an EcoDesign ready stove. This future proofs your investment, while also being the eco-friendly and cost-efficient choice. The majority of Charnwood stoves are EcoDesign ready and accredited with the highest 5 Star ClearSkies rating.
Clearances
Each stove manufactured undergoes CE type testing to verify the safe distances required from your stove and other surfaces. Due to the limited space in most glamping setups that means these minimum distances cannot usually be obtained. Therefore, heat shielding is required to protect and ensure any adjacent combustibles do not rise above 85C.
Hearths
Situated underneath the stove, hearths should extend 150mm on the sides and 225 mm at the rear and front of the appliance. They should be made of suitable non-combustible material and provide sufficient support for the weight of the stove and chimney system.
Shields
If your stove’s guidance on clearance is below 700mm, it is eligible for use with a heat shield in your leisure accommodation. A heat shield can reduce the safe distance required for your stove to just 95mm and in the case of Charnwood’s Stove Pod and Aire 3 package this is reduced to just 50mm – a significant space saving.
HETAS state a heat shield should extend to the extremities of the hearth (150mm on either side) and 200mm above the top surface, without obstructing the flow of cool air behind the shield. A gap of 25 mm should be maintained between the shield and the combustible surface.
For more information on all the regulations, we recommend speaking with your nearest supplier and checking out the HETAS website.
Aire 3 Stove Pod Package
Whilst there are a number of regulations to be mindful of, Charnwood has taken the headache away by creating the perfect glamping stove package, allowing you to easily meet all HETAS and Defra regulations. It exceeds efficiency and clearance targets and is designed to be quick to fit and provide many years of good use.
The Aire 3 is one of the most efficient stoves on the market, demonstrating 86% efficiency on independent tests. It’s one of the few glamping stoves that is EcoDesign ready and has been given a 5-star clearSkies rating – the highest possible award. With a 2-5 kW output, it is the perfect size for most leisure spaces and provides a crystal-clear burn. The glass door is designed to maximise the viewing area and your guest’s enjoyment of the fire. It also benefits from being easy to operate, with a single air control and removable ashpan, which lends itself to guests that may not have previous wood-burning experience.
The stove pod provides a sleek, safe, and secure enclosure and is designed for ease of installation. We recommend this is carried out by a heating specialist, however, the Stove Pod’s unique design means that you will save on time and labour when compared to alternatives.
The Stove Pod is a freestanding unit that doesn’t require affixing to any walls which is particularly important in a yurt and other glamping accommodation. It is an exceptionally sturdy design and will provide years of use, even from the most inexperienced holidaymakers. The internal shelf supports the flue providing far greater stability and the curvature of the design focuses heat into your space.
The steel skin is magnetic and Charnwood offer a number of tools and pots that can be attached, while the flue support incorporates a handy warming shelf for plates, pots and pans. It is available in a matt black hammered powder coat with the option to add a VLAZE vitreous enamel liner for a stylish, easy to clean finish.
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We welcome the new glamping stove regulations for which the Aire 3 Stove Pod package offers a perfect solution. As with all Charnwood products, beauty and longevity come as standard, but it is the intelligence of the design that makes the Aire 3 Stove pod package the ideal choice for the glamping stove market.
For more information do get in touch with your local supplier. For the latest news follow us @Charnwood.
FAQs
Can you put a wood stove in a yurt?
Absolutely! They are very popular as they provide a comfortable, radiant, source of heat while being extremely beneficial for one’s wellbeing. A stove pod is an excellent stand-alone option as it is far easier to install and doesn’t need to be affixed to the tent. We recommend speaking with your supplier or heating specialist about installation.
Can you put a wood stove in a Tiny House?
A wood-burning stove is a great option for a Tiny house. Due to the limited space, you will need to consider a heat shield and hearth to adhere to HETAS regulations. A stove pod would be an ideal option as it’s easy to install and reduces clearance requirements to an absolute minimum.
Can you put a wood stove in a Shepard’s hut?
A Shepard’s hut heats up quickly and benefits from the warm radiant heat of a wood-burning stove. It’s a perfect choice for those who are living off-grid and want a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel source.
What is considered a non-combustible wall?
While brick, metal, stone and tile are non-combustible, many walls include some combustible elements, such as wood, in their underlying structure. If enough heat is transmitted through the non-combustible part of the wall to the vulnerable underlying material, it could present a fire hazard. To prevent this a heat shield is your only option.
Do you need planning permission to install a wood-burning stove?
No, you do not need to have planning permission. However, you must adhere to DEFRA controls and HETAS Regulations. We recommend consulting with your supplier/heating specialist for advice.
Does having a wood stove increase insurance?
Not necessarily. Your insurer may consider your wood stove in the same category as a space heater or other similar heating appliance. Consult your insurer and if there is any increase, it is likely to be small.
Charnwood stoves specified for Danh Vo's Chicxulub show
We were recently asked to supply six Ecodesign Ready wood burning stoves for a show at The White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey, London. The work ‘Live Free or Die’ is part of artist Danh Vo’s exhibition, Chicxulub. Stacks of firewood are used to fuel six Charnwood Skye 7 stoves installed throughout the gallery, in return giving off heat and an atmospheric light which illuminates the space.
A Charnwood Cove 1 wood burning stove appears in a temporary exhibition by artist Virginia Overton at Jay Jopling’s White Cube Bermondsey contemporary art gallery
Located in the centre of the building in an 81m² top-lit space, the Cove 1 stove will burn wood supplied from logs stacked on the opposite wall throughout the five-week exhibition. The stove, says the gallery’s website, will “fill the space with a scent of wood and the sound of crackling, contributing to the feeling of being in a welcoming place.”
The 4kW stove is Defra approved for London’s smoke control area and was installed by London wood burning specialists Stoake.
Virginia Overton’s exhibition is situated in the North Galleries and the 9 x 9 x 9 space and will run from September 30 to November 6 2016. For more information about the artist and her exhibition please visit: http://whitecube.com/exhibitions/virginia_overton_bermondsey_2016/
Ecodesign is a new European-wide programme to lower emissions and improve air quality.
The awards aim to discover products that provide new and interesting solutions to future kitchen, bathroom and bedroom projects.
Chosen for its durability and vibrancy the judges described Vlaze as “An innovative use of a familiar material and a welcome cost effective solution”
Vlaze will be exhibiting their range of new finishes at KBB Live from 6-9 March 2016 – including exclusive enamel patterns from design houses Mini Moderns and Voyage and some fresh new surface finishes not seen before in vitreous enamel. There will be a Cove 1 with a wall mounted Vlaze heatshield on display.
For more information and to register for tickets visit www.kbb.co.uk
We’ve teamed up with Certainly Wood once again, to offer you the chance to win a Country Living Bembridge Stove in matt Black.
Certainly Wood are one of the UKs leading suppliers of 100% British kiln dried logs and kindling – all locally sourced from sustainable British woodlands with a guaranteed moisture content of less than 20%. They are also founding members of the new ‘Woodsure Ready to Burn’ scheme, backed by Defra.
Terms and Conditions: Prizes must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred, though Charnwood reserves the right to change the prizes in the event of unforeseen circumstances. The prize is for a Bembridge wood burning stove in matt Black only and does not include accessories. Installation of the stove is not included in the prize and this must be carried out by an Authorised Charnwood Stockist. The prize is not transferable and there will be no cash alternative. Full terms and conditions apply and can be found here.
