Staying cosy through the winter matters to all of us, but comfort shouldn’t come at the expense of our health. This Clean Air Night (22 January 2026), Global Action Plan is highlighting the hidden health and pollution impacts of burning wood at home. Particularly the fine particles released into the air that we then breathe in.
Clean air is fundamental to our wellbeing. Actions that reduce air pollution don’t just protect our health; they also support a healthier environment and contribute to climate goals. To enjoy clean air every day, we need to make meaningful changes now. #cleanairnight
If you’d like an indication of air quality in your area, you can visit the Mole Valley website. It provides data from 19 diffusion tubes across the district that measure levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), offering a useful snapshot of local air pollution.
Support for Reducing Wood Burning at Home
If you currently rely on a wood‑burning stove to heat your home, it may be worth exploring support from HEAT, a fully grant‑funded service offering free home energy assessments. If your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below, or you don’t have an EPC at all, you’re likely eligible for a free energy consumption visit. Improving your home’s thermal efficiency could reduce the need for log burning altogether.
You can also explore Surrey’s FREE Home Improvement Guide. This is a user‑friendly manual offering detailed, practical advice on suitable retrofit measures for three common Surrey house types. It covers everything from simple, cost‑effective upgrades to full‑scale retrofits, along with guidance on how to arrange installation.
Guidance for Period Properties
Owners of older or historic homes often face unique challenges when improving energy efficiency. Historic England provides tailored advice on enhancing thermal performance using traditional building methods that respect the character of your property. Their guidance covers:
- Climate action through the adaptation of historic buildings: An approach
- Permissions and decision‑making
- Common interventions for improving energy efficiency in historic buildings
Request a HEAT Survey
Surrey County Council and Zero Carbon Guildford, who manage the HEAT scheme, have recently been made aware of scam calls offering home energy surveys or insulation. They will never cold call residents. If you receive an unexpected call of this nature, please hang up and contact the team directly:
📧 EnergySurveys@zerocarbonguildford.org
📞 07443 870 691
