Hospitality is a major part of the UK’s economy, which has taken a significant hit since the start of the pandemic. In London alone, there are nearly 14,000 businesses that are either a pub, a restaurant or a caf\u00e9 \u2013 providing employment and services to millions.<\/p>\n
In order for these businesses to safely re-open, providing outdoor seating \u2013 and heating \u2013 will be crucial. As pubs, cafes and restaurants look for heating options, it is important to choose electric heaters over gas to avoid exposing their staff and the public to air pollutants that are dangerous to health.<\/p>\n
Polluting gas heaters<\/strong><\/p>\n New research by Future Climate<\/a> for Environmental Defense Fund Europe found that the local nitrogen oxides (NOx<\/sub>) pollution produced by a single standard outdoor gas heater at 5 hours per day for a year is approximately the same as that produced by a typical gas-heated home for a year. After road transport, heating and powering homes and businesses with gas is the second largest source of NOx<\/sub> pollution<\/a> in London.<\/p>\n Yet a gas-heated home disperses this pollution outside, away from inhabitants, while the outdoor gas heater is emitting that pollution directly into the surrounding space and likely the air that customers and workers breathe. So if a beer garden has 10 gas heaters working for a single night \u2013 that\u2019s equivalent to the pollution from gas heating 10 homes, all packed into the space where several people are sitting.<\/p>\n Benefits of electric heaters<\/strong><\/p>\n Fortunately, there is an alternative that does not produce any local NOx<\/sub> air pollution emissions, uses less energy and produces 60% less carbon dioxide: electric heaters. In addition to the environmental and health advantages, electric heaters have many other benefits:<\/p>\n Electric heaters also are better suited for the outdoors because they are designed to transmit heat to surfaces without heating up the air. As a result, electric heaters are less impacted than gas heaters by cold air and wind, which can reduce and blow away the warmth produced by gas heaters.<\/p>\n Local authorities should adopt pavement licensing schemes that do not permit gas heaters, like Newcastle City Council has in place<\/a>. Or, authorities should prioritise giving licenses to venues that use electric heaters with controls. Similarly, any public funding to help businesses adopt social distancing measures with outdoor seating should be on the condition that measures are put in place to limit air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n Other ways to reduce pollution<\/strong><\/p>\n There are other ways that businesses can contribute to a green and healthier recovery. By making changes to the way pubs, cafes and restaurants cook food, they can reduce pollution and protect people\u2019s health.<\/p>\n\n