Calculations: Two simple steps can give Oslo’s inhabitants 345 more years of life – Tu.no

Each year, 1,700 people in Norway as a result of high levels of the finest airborne dust, PM 2.5, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Oslo, according to Environment Directorate the city in the country with the worst air quality, and fuelwood is an important source of particulate matter emissions.

Many old stoves

In a memo environment Directorate has sent to the Climate and environment Ministry shows that it will be very economically profitable to replace the old stoves in Oslo with new ones.

Fire and rescue agency in Oslo, according to Environment agency registered 119,482 stoves in its base.

Off

particulate matter

• Exposure to particles in outdoor air contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and lung cancer.

 

• The exposure over time gives the most serious health outcomes.

 
• Studded Use, fuelwood and dust in the streets contributes to much particulate matter in the air.

 
• Diesel vehicles have higher emissions of exhaust particles than petrol cars.

 

Source: Environment Agency

These are 68,097 elderly closed furnaces.

to replace all these stoves with clean-burning stoves would according directorate only cost 380,000 crowns, despite that investment costs for clean-burning furnace is estimated to be 12.000 million.

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Money saving

the reason for the low overall rate is that the stoves are so much more efficient that homeowners will use less wood for firing and so save money.

In math has Environment Agency was based on the savings homeowners will make up to 2030, without taking into account funding for replacement (see fact box).

the following illustration shows the estimated yearly average for the smallest airborne dust (PM2.5) in 2013 compared to what the situation will be in 2020 if emissions from wood heating is reduced by 30 percent and about the same time 50 percent of diesel cars in reference scenario instead, petrol cars and if in addition all heavy vehicles meet emission requirements EURO VI and all light commercial vehicles complies with EURO 6.

such a replacement would reduce particulate matter concentrations in the city with a minimum of 1 microgram / m3.

The health benefits to society of this would according to Environment Directorate calculation be all 64.8 million kroner.

In this equation, the Directorate has considered whether the health benefits of so-called DALY, as means life years adjusted for disability and combine information on morbidity and mortality.

Every such life year is valued at 500,000 crowns. This measure would thus according to the Directorate calculation provide the population with a total of 130 extra life years (DALY).

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– economically profitable

– It is good for air quality and public health that have reduced emissions from wood burning in cities. Replacement of old to new ovens are also an economically profitable measures, says section Siri Sorteberg in Environment Directorate to TU.

If in addition the open fires in Oslo were removed, would gain been even much larger. Oslo’s fire department here recorded 29,753 brick fireplaces.

Agency calculates that the replacement of old stoves combined with removal

support for replacement wood burner

• Oslo municipality provides support to support the replacement of old stoves for new, clean-burning wood stoves.

 

• Support rate is 6,000 million nnenfor Ringvei 3 and 1,500 kroner outside Ringway 3.

 
• The grant is limited to 50 percent of the cost.

 

Source: City of Oslo

of open fires would result in a health benefit on 172.8 million kroner, or a total of 345 extra year of life.

“In summary shows our assessment that this measure has considerable value and low cost. The measure will also help PM10- [particulate matter] concentrations decrease towards national goals, “writes Environment Directorate.

According to the note, fuelwood for about 30 percent of the smallest airborne dust (PM 2.5) in Oslo . Of this, approximately 55 per cent of old wood stoves, 29 percent of new furnaces and 16 percent from open fires.

Environment Directorate emphasizes that there is a great deal of uncertainty about their effects and costs before making thorough analyzes .

Read also: How do you achieve optimal characteristics and proper fuel in the stove?

strong measures

Climate and environment Ministry considers now introducing new national targets for air quality.

the targets are set by how clean the air must be for it not to hurt people.

But it must be extremely strong measures in order the objectives to be fulfilled for all citizens.

Environment Agency also writes that Oslo probably will gain significant health benefits if the city intensifies sweeping and dust attenuation at the same rate as Trondheim did a few years ago. Just how big health gains are, however, not Directorate rained out.

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