When rumors circulated that a proposed city ordinance would ban all wood-burning fireplaces in Edina, I couldn’t help but want to find answers. To me, this proposal was ridiculous. Individuals should be able to decide whether or not they want to burn wood on their own property, even if it may be a threat to the environment and their own health. When I dug deeper, though, I discovered that the rumors are fictitious, and that the actual current proposal is pretty legitimate.
The current proposal is simple: to convert the three wood-burning fire places inside the Centennial Lakes Park Centrum Building to gas. In the Centrum Building, people can rent out a space for special events, or hang out inside and take a break from the ice skating offered from mid-December through mid-February.
Although I personally enjoy the warm cozy feeling and nostalgic smell affiliated with wood burning fireplaces, I had to think in a broader sense and agree with the proposal for a couple of reasons. First of all, black carbon soot produced from wood smoke makes up 50% of toxic atmospheric emissions, according to the head of the United Nations Environment Program. Not only do the toxic atmospheric emissions from black carbon soot contribute to air pollution, but it also puts everyone’s health at risk. Health hazards directly related to wood smoke exposure include cancer, lung conditions such as emphysema, and reproductive birth defects. In addition, the transportation of firewood contributes to the deadly spread of insect-borne tree diseases such as emerald ash borer. So, if the public within the Park Centrum Building is involuntarily exposed to wood smoke, and converting the fireplaces to gas eliminates toxic atmospheric emissions, then this proposal is pretty legitimate.
Not only does the Park Centrum Building’s conversion to gas fireplaces eliminate the negative wood smoke effects, but it also eliminates unnecessary costs for the city. Gas fireplaces would save Edina $900-$1375 a year. Not to mention the expected payback period is 7 years.
It is important to realize that wood smoke’s negative effects should never endanger people occupying city property, where the city has control over air quality. Though it may be our right to choose to burn firewood on our private property, we should think twice about the negative effects that burning firewood entails, and consider converting to the safer and more profitable gas fireplaces.