Old wood fires are being removed in their hundreds from Canberra homes to reduce wood smoke pollution in the suburbs, but new wood-fired technology that claims to produce lower emissions are still being implemented across the capital.
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The ACT government's wood heater removal program aims to financially support households to replace wood fires with "more efficient heating options", an ACT government spokeswoman said.
"Unfortunately, recent statistics indicate that wood heater installations are increasing rather than decreasing," the spokeswoman said.
"While new wood heaters must meet stricter environmental standards - potentially limiting their potentially negative health and environmental impacts - the government will continue to encourage Canberrans to consider moving away from woodfire heaters for their energy needs.
"The program removes the cost barriers facing many households to remove these wood fired heaters from their homes. The ACT government notes that wood smoke can have clear health and environmental implications."
Since 2004, the replacement program has removed 1135 wood heaters from ACT homes and businesses in an effort to upgrade them with newer reverse cycle systems.
Last year, 23 wood fires were removed from Canberra properties compared with 30 in 2016.
"Along with Armidale and Launceston, Tuggeranong Valley is among those valleys in Australia with the highest wood smoke pollution—a particular issue in winter months. Many residents, as well as the Asthma Foundation and the Lung Foundation, are keen to see continued work to reduce pollution in these areas," the spokeswoman said.
Wood heaters are prohibited in Coombs and future suburbs in Molonglo Valley, however, the existing suburb of Wright will be exempt. Wood heaters are already banned in Dunlop and East O'Malley.
But Canberra fireplace retail store Burning Log Outdoor Indoor marketing manager Emma Griffis said the popularity of wood fires had been constant over the past decade, it was just the design that had changed.
"Industry-driven advances in technology have improved the efficiencies of wood fires and in turn, make them burn cleaner," Ms Griffis said.
"Purchases of gas log fires increase in popularity every year and not far behind are our designer wood fireplaces."
She said the designs and styles of wood fireplaces had changed dramatically so much so that "you can now have a suspended wood fire hanging from your ceiling and pivoting".
Ms Griffis said nothing could replicate the ambience and warmth of a wood fire.
"Mother nature has provided us with a form of heating that has served us from the beginning of time and continues to do so today."
