Solid fuel burner bylaws come into effect tomorrow

A rule prohibiting the sale of properties with non-compliant solid fuel burners comes into force tomorrow.

The point-of-sale rule is part of the Rotorua Air Quality Control Bylaw, established in 2010 to help clean up the city's air.

Anyone buying or selling a house in Rotorua now needs to check their wood, coal or pellet burner is a "clean air appliance", allowed under the bylaw.

"Rotorua has serious air-quality issues, mainly caused by home heating with old wood burners and open fires. To reduce our air pollution it's crucial we remove polluting appliances," Bay of Plenty Regional Council Strategic Development group manager Fiona McTavish said.

"Based on current real estate sales figures we believe this rule will remove around 400 polluting appliances in Rotorua in just one year."

A solid fuel burner is any appliance that burns coal, wood or wood pellets. Approved wood burners produce less pollution than older burners and are more efficient at providing heat.

Clean air appliances are those that meet the Ministry for the Environment's heating efficiency and emission rating standards.

All free-standing and insert wood burners installed after September 1, 2005, should be clean air approved. Open fire, pot belly stove, cooker, coal range, Marshal heaters, chip heaters and multi-fuel burners (burns coal and wood) do not meet clean air standards and would have to be removed.

For more information go to www.boprc.govt.nz