By Tony Reid
The Auckland Council has received a ticking off from its own officials, who say not enough is being done to combat air pollution in our biggest city.
The pollution is so bad it is killing hundreds of Aucklanders each year, according to a report.
It is not cars that are the worst problem, but domestic fires.
Open fires and wood burners provide much needed warmth to around a third of Auckland homes.
But with that comfort now comes a health warning.
“Air pollution has effects on our health, particularly people who are susceptible to poor air quality [like] people who have asthma,” says Janet Peterson, Auckland Council’s air quality expert.
The fire place is one of the biggest polluters.
- 49 percent Auckland’s annual emissions come from domestic heating
- 75 percent in winter
- Poor air quality is linked to 700 premature deaths in Auckland each year
- Health cost $727 million per annum
The pollution accounts for a brown haze that sits over Auckland 30 days a year.
And while industry and cars are well known sources of pollution, the damage from domestic heating has been underreported.
“A typical open fire burning for one night is equal to one year in a post 1996 petrol car, so this helps to explain why the evening home heating peak is so much higher,” says Kristen Webster, Auckland Council’s air quality principal specialist.
Auckland councillor Wayne Walker says the figures are “alarming”.
“I would suggest that most householders aren't familiar with what's going on and aren't familiar with what the hazards are and certainly aren't familiar with the impact of home heating,” he says.
Today's session didn't offer up solutions to the home heating problem. Some councillors were wary of getting too carried away.
“Don't just pick on the small householder who probably is a little old lady who has had a fire for years and probably doesn't have asthma or anything like that,” says Auckland councillor Mike Lee.
A total ban on home fires is unlikely but there are alternatives. Phasing out open fires is one option. Auckland Council will be presented with the rest in a couple of months.
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