Learn about heating your home safely at the Clean Air Night pop-up

Did you know that Clean Air Night is Tuesday 17 November 2026? To promote it, we will be holding a Clean Air Night pop-up in Teddington hospital. Drop in to learn about the impact of wood burning and ask our air quality officers questions.

Try our interactive game to discover which everyday household items produce the most pollution.

• Date: Tuesday 17 November 2026
• Time: 10am to 2 pm
• Location: Foyer of Teddington Memorial Hospital

Wood burning: the costs to your home and health

With winter approaching and energy prices rising, wood burning may seem like an alternative way to heat your home. But research shows it is almost always more expensive than central heating. In fact, 92% of people burning wood in the UK already have another way to heat their home.

The impact goes beyond cost. Breathing in polluted air from wood burning increases your risk of heart and lung disease, asthma, diabetes and dementia. If we stopped burning wood in the UK where another heat source is available, we could save 1,500 lives a year and save the NHS £54 million.

There are also local rules to be aware of. Richmond upon Thames is a long-standing Smoke Control Area, and recent updates to legislation mean even small amounts of smoke from approved stoves or authorised fuels can now lead to fines.

To learn more about the impact of wood burning, explore our work with the London Wood Burning project and Global Action Plan.

Free winter warmth home service

If you are looking for ways to keep warm, support is available. We work with not-for-profit company Thinking Works to provide a free winter warmth home service for vulnerable residents, including energy advice, heating grants and fire safety checks.

Find out more about the support available through our winter warmth home service.