Combating wood smoke pollution using behavioural and technological solutions: a case study of Armidale, a regional town in NSW, Australia

Abstract

Winter levels of air pollution in Armidale regularly exceed the national standard for airborne particulate matter. Most of these winter emissions come from wood heaters, the main source of heat for about one third of all households in the city. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of two strategies: the first involving education materials and the second involving a technological intervention using SmartBurn canisters, which are designed to help fires burn more efficiently and reduce emissions. 316 participating households (Participants' Mean age=48.80 years, SD=14.64) were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental conditions: (1) Education only, (2) SmartBurn only, (3) Education and SmartBurn, and (4) No intervention (control group). Household wood smoke emissions were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. A 2 (Education/No Education) x 2 (SmartBurn/No SmartBurn) analysis of covariance (ANCOVA - with pre-test scores of smoke emissions used as a covariate) was conducted to examine the effectiveness of two wood smoke reduction strategies. Results indicated statistically significant main effects for both education and SmartBurn interventions (p<.05). Contrary to our prediction, education by SmartBurn interaction failed to reach statistical significance. However, there is a trend for households in the education and SmartBurn condition to produce lowest smoke emissions than that of all three conditions (education only, SmartBurn only, and control group). In first of its kind experimental trial of comparison of two wood smoke reduction strategies, our findings suggest that either strategy was effective in significantly reducing household smoke emissions. An important finding is that a cost-effective strategy such as providing information about best practices related to firewood purchase and storage and wood heater operation can be as effective as using a technological solution in reducing smoke emissions.