Fight against patio heaters

Bravo B&Q. As the retailer that shifts the highest number of patio heaters in the UK, its decision to stop selling them is a brave one. It follows pioneering anti-patio heater retailers Wyevale and Notcutts, the first to announce that they would no longer stock the CO2 belching beasts.

Here’s what The Energy Saving Trust says about their carbon footprint: a propane patio heater with a heat output of 12.5kW will produce around 34.9kg of CO2 before the fuel runs out (after approximately 13 hours). This is equivalent to the energy required to produce approximately 5,200 cups of tea.

Since the smoking ban, pubs have gone mad for patio heaters, thinking it will draw in customers. I've taken to telling them it won't. If your local sets up a troop of heaters outside, like mine did, it makes sense to tell the landlord you don't like them. I know it’s nice to be able to sit outside in the evening, sipping pints, but for that we’ll have to wait a few months.

Talking of things that shouldn’t be sold, don’t forget that you only have ten days to send in your nomination for The Landfill Prize.

Comments

[ClandonMan]

When the autumn came, I dropped into my local pub landlord a photocopy of an article about the damage caused by these heaters. I wanted to make sure he was aware of the issues in case he was considering acquiring one or more to warm the smokers in their enforced eviction. Gladly none has appeared so far, so perhaps a simple copy of a suitable article may educate and enlighten enough to prevent a terrible waste of money and resources.

Does anyone know the number of kilos of CO2 the average British bonfire generates? as well as all the other nasty gases? I'm sure they are greater polluters than Patio heaters?

Regards,
Peter

[M Murphy]

When these heaters first appeared in the shops I was astounded, couldn't imagine anyone wasting money heating the open air! But since the smoking ban in pubs I have modified my views a little. I feel this ban has totally screwed the social lives of many old people living alone (particularly old men I imagine) who have been deprived of possibly the only bit of social interaction they had managed to hang on to. Social isolation is one of the worst aspects of ageing, but I guess many youngsters will shrug and say 'tough - who cares, they'll be dead soon anyway'. I hope those that feel that way get as little compassion as they give.

[List of infrared heater manufacturers]

Heaters are a big help to people but the alarming side of it is it can cause a lot of damage if people are not educated about their use and the effect to them