Burn Brighter This Winter Resources

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Burn Brighter This Winter is a community education program designed to inform wood heater owners of the best techniques to use when operating their heater so as to reduce smoke emissions and improve air quality in their local environment. This page provides a range of information and resources which Local Government officers may wish to utilise.

Burn Brighter This Winter key mess​​​ages

The key messages for Burn Brighter this winter are:

  • Only burn dry, seasoned firewood
  • Always burn with a flame - don't let your fire smoulder
  • After reloading, open the air intake and burn your fire on high for 20 minutes, especially before going to bed​

Community education pro​​ducts

A ra​nge of community education products have been developed by the EPA which Local Government officers can freely download and use for community education purposes. These resources include:​

 Burn Brighter This Winter Factsheet (PDF 737Kb)

 Burn Brighter This Winter Postcard (PDF 247Kb)

 Burn Brighter This Winter A2 Poster (PDF 869Kb)

 Burn Brighter This Winter A3 poster (PDF 310Kb)

Social media resources - new in 2022

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​​Don't smoke out your neighbours - burn brighter this winter - EPA

BBtW Social Media Tile Landscape





       Don't smoke out your neighbours - burn brighter this winter - EPA

       BBtW Social Media Tile Square

​​
Don't smoke out your neighbours - burn brighter this winter - EPA 

BBtW Social Media Tile Portrait


​Factsh​eets for the Smoke Regulations

  Factsheet - Rules for Backyard Burning   (284Kb)

  Factsheet - Rules for Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking   (331Kb)​

  Smoke Regulations & Wood Heating FAQs - DL Brochure   (802Kb)​

Community edu​cation videos

The videos below can be viewed here or on ​YouTube. These videos can be used as education tools by councils.​

Burn Brighter This W​inter Part 1 of 5 – Why do wood heaters smoke? (Approx. 8 minutes)


Burn Brighter Th​​​is Winter Part 2 of 5 - Smoke is wasted fuel. (Approx 2 minutes)


Burn Brighter This Winter Part 3 of 5 – How to operate a wood heater more efficiently. (Appr​ox 5​ minutes)


B​urn Brighter This Winter Part 4 of 5 – How to burn wood overnight and reduce smoke. (Approx 1.5 minutes)

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Burn Brighte​​​r This Winter Part 5 of 5 – Maintaining a wood heater. (Approx. 2 minutes)


​​Lectures about d​​omestic wood smoke

In addition to these community education resources, the EPA has produced in-depth lectures which provide more information about issues relating to domestic wood smoke.  The video links below will take you directly to YouTube.

Video presentation by Dr Fay Johnston, GP and Senior Researcher Menzies Research Institute on the health impacts of wood smoke. (Approx 10 mins)​​​​​​​


Video presentation by Dr John Innis, Senior Environmental Officer, Air, EPA on the Tasmanian wood smoke experience and air quality monitoring around the state. (Approx. 30 mins)


Video presentation by Pr​ofessor John Todd, Academic and Consultant with 30 years' experience in wood heater research; on why wood heaters smoke ​and how to operate a wood heater more efficiently. (Approx. 30 mins)

Regulatio​​ns

Emissions of smoke from wood heaters are regulated in Tasmania. More information: Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Smoke) Regulations 2019​  ​

Air Quality Monitoring P​rogram

The EPA also undertakes an Air Quality Monitoring Program which includes monitoring air quality in real time.

​Department of Health Air Quality Information

Information about air quality and your health is available from the Department of Heal​th Air ​Quality page​​.​

​Department of Heal​​th A​lerts

Information about any current public health alerts is available from the Department of Health Alerts page​.

Air quality monitoring assistance

The EPA may be able to assist councils to monitor air quality in their municipality. For more information about the Air Quality Monitoring Program contact the EPA Air Specialist - see below.

Further Info​rmation

For further information about Burn Brighter this Winter contact the Coordinator Local Government Engagement.​