Patio heating and climate change
Patio heating is sometimes criticized because of global warming. But: climate-neutral patio heating is possible and will become the norm. In this blog, Terras & Co informs you about environmentally friendly choices for warmth and atmosphere on your terrace…. because they are already there!
Electric Patio Heating
This is CO2 neutral if you have green electricity. Patio heaters that work with infrared are also very energy efficient, because the air is not heated, but only the people who are in the range of the heater.
Patio heating on wood
This is CO2 neutral if new plantings are made for the wood that has been felled. Recently, wood burning has been criticized because of air pollution in densly populated areas during cold, windless weather conditions. Using dry wood, a good design of the fireplace and control of the air supply ensure good combustion, hardly any air pollution and a high heat efficiency. This requires knowledge. Ask the Terras & Co team to advise you.
Patio heating on LPG or natural gas
Propane, butane and methane (natural gas) are still often fossil fuels and therefore cause global warming, unless CO2 compensation takes place, for example by planting forests or by CO2 storage. But: there are more and more green (renewable) alternatives. This transition to green fuels go hand in hand with the transition to renewable sources to produce electricity. Propane and natural gas produce hardly any harmful emissions in a good patio heater, only CO2 and water. The CO2 emissions are lower than compared to burning solid fuels. Moreover, propane and butane are by-products of the extraction of natural gas and petroleum. In the past, this gas was often flared because it was cheaper than processing and transporting it separately. LPG (liquified and bottled propane and butane) is used all over the world for cooking, heating and as engine fuel, because LPG produces far fewer harmful emissions than petrol, kerosene or petroleum and it is cheaper because it is a by-product.
Terras & Co is researching new products and fuels to make patio heating completely CO2 neutral.
1. Green “natural gas” (renewable methane gas)
This is already available in some areas through the natural gas network, availability will grow. Public transport buses and delivery services also run a lot on this gas. It is made by bio-fermentation. The source can be organic waste or residual waste from agriculture. Almost all our gas patio heaters are ready for this.
2. Bioethanol
This is alcohol and it is produced by bio-fermentation. It is renewable and burns clean. The largest application is in the greening of car fuel: it is mixed with petrol to reduce the share of fossil fuel: E5 is petrol with 5% bioethanol and E10 contains 10%. There are already patio heaters on bioethanol, which will be added to the Terras & Co product range after research.
3. Green propane
By means of offsetting CO2 emissions with certificate.
This fuel has recently become available. Ask Terras & Co to advise you.
How much CO2 is released when I use my fire pit table?
During normal use, we assume a consumption of 400 grams of propane per hour (medium to high flames), with a gas fire of 40 x 40 cm. This releases 1200 grams of CO2.
During one hour, the fire pit table produces about the same amount of CO2 as driving 10 kilometers with a modern middle-class petrol car.
With the same CO2 emissions, a single passenger on a European flight would travel only 5 kilometers.