Using wood energy in households in a sustainable manner is complex but feasible. This was one of the main findings of the workshop “More heat with less wood”, that gathered experts from diverse backgrounds such as air quality, human health, heating technology researchers and technical cooperation agencies, housing and land management experts as well as project managers and chimney sweepers. Participants also called for improved coordination between UNECE’s different programs and other development agencies when working on the use of wood energy in households.
The workshop was accompanied by an exhibition on the premises of the Palais des Nations, informing about the complexity of making wood a clean and efficient source of energy in households. Wood stoves, thermal insulation material, firewood and numerous other objects illustrated the complex environment associated to the supply and conversion of wood into a renewable energy source.
Participants in their majority confirmed the complexity of the use of wood energy in households for project developers, decision makers and housekeepers. They also encouraged the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section to maintain and improve its network of experts and continue to facilitate forums and initiatives aimed at developing a holistic approach to the healthy and resource-efficient use of wood for heating and cooking in households in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia and the Russian Federation.
The workshop was organized by UNECE, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partner organizations. 35 technical experts, project managers and decision makers attended the workshop that was financially supported by the Climate Fund of the German Federal Foreign Office.
The presentations and documents of the event can be found here: www.unece.org/forests/moreheat2015.html.