This was effectively back-door legislation as it was slipped in to changes to Building Standards (equivalent of Building Regulations) and was designed to stop the installation of fossil fuel appliances in new build properties.
The ban on wood burning appliances was brought in on the basis that burning wood emits CO2. That’s true of course, but the CO2 from burning wood is from biogenic sources, not fossil. It simply didn’t make sense and caused widespread disruption and confusion across the industry. Even people who were unlikely to live in a new build were concerned.
The Guild board took decisive action. Sweeps (and others) needed immediate information and guidance to understand the situation. A campaign was prepared to help sweeps engage their customers and encourage them to contact their local MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament). Free pre-printed postcards and lists of MSP’s were supplied to anyone who requested them, including non-member sweeps, installers, fuel dealers and stove shops. Customers sent the postcards to their local MSP. Multiple articles were published to increase awareness and create links for sharing online. Letter and email templates provided yet more ways for customers to contact their MSP. Paid social media advertising targeted public audiences engaging thousands more (these posts ultimately attracted thousands of comments and many hundreds of shares).
We considered this ban to be more serious than just a regional issue with the potential to spread elsewhere simply through ignorance of the facts surrounding CO2 and wood burning for heating. All the campaign information and tools were offered or shared to all the sweep associations to re-brand for themselves and use as they saw fit.
It was a sharp learning curve with much information to process and collate. As always, the most important and difficult part is effective communications with sweeps. Communications worked well and the campaign took off.
Guild Chair Lawson Wight said: ‘Giving sweeps in Scotland an understanding of the situation and some simple positive actions was key. The culture of co-operation is strong in the Guild, and this spilled over to other groups. Many thanks to Scotland director John Stone who did a great job.’
Throughout this time, the Guild liaised with the Stove Industry Association (SIA) for technical expertise and information sharing. It was a great example of cross industry action with a common goal. The SIA political lobbying and the grass roots consumer action by sweeps was helped by positive media reporting and representations by individual MSP’s
Following a difficult few months, the Scottish government instigated a review of the new Building Standard. Fast forward to the end of 2024: The standard for biomass was reversed representing a complete vindication of the core campaign arguments. The Scottish government issued the following statement:
“These amendments have been introduced on the premise that while combustion of biomass does physically produce CO2 emissions at the point of use, these emissions are balanced out against CO2 that was absorbed from the atmosphere when the biomass feedstock grew. As a result, for the purposes of reporting on emissions, and in line with international carbon accounting practice, the Scottish Government considers the combustion of biomass to produce net zero CO2 emissions at the point of use.”
During the campaign, some of the Guild articles and social posts promoting the biogenic and renewable aspects of wood fuel were publicly trolled online by a small but vocal group of chimney sweeps . This statement from the Scottish government highlights the misunderstandings of this group and we hope for a more informed and co-operative approach in the future.
The Guild board would like to thank John Stone and Lawson Wight for all their work behind the scenes and the rapid and effective campaign response. Thanks also for the invaluable technical support and political lobbying of the Stove Industry Association, it was a pleasure to work with them. Last but by no means least, thanks to all the Scottish sweeps, installers, fuel suppliers and their customers who took positive action which made all the difference.
New Build Heat Standard Letter to Councils
New Build Heat Standard Factsheet
