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Description
The project is focused on an informational and educational campaign on proper heating in boilers and heaters for solid fuels. The campaign consists of informing the public in various ways: popular lectures with practical demonstrations, leaflets, a radio spot, and above all a short film that will be broadcasted on regional TV and available on the project''s website. The film will include an assessment of air quality in the Liberec Region, relating in particular to emissions from local heating, legislation on domestic heating (ban on the use of boilers 1st and 2nd emission class from 1st September 2022), in the instruction on proper operation of boilers and heaters for solid fuels, on the use of quality and properly stored fuel. The film will also include short interviews with experts and shots of the municipalities with the highest emissions of benzo (a) pyrene in the winter season. Another part of the project consists of several one-day performances SMOKEMAN INTERVENES implemented in selected municipalities of the Liberec Region (e.g. Česká Lípa, Mimoň, Nový Bor, Semily, Jilemnice, Turnov, Frýdlant, Jablonec nad Nisou, Tanvald), during which Ing. Jiří Horák PhD., a.k.a. Smokeman, does a show with his team and a mobile boiler room in a public space. The performances will be intended for older primary and secondary school children and the public. The project also envisages the shooting of a short radio spot and its publication on local radio stations. The project will also include distribution of informational and promotional materials in electronic and physical form.
Summary of project results
Heating with solid fuels such as wood or coal is still relatively common in Czech households, especially in rural areas. Choice of a right heat source has a major impact on energy savings, health of local inhabitants and the overall emissions burden. Our campaign "How to Heat Properly" aimed to educate the public about efficient heating methods in solid fuel boilers and heaters, emphasizing the significant influence of solid fuel combustion on air quality and its contribution to overall air pollution in the Liberec Region. Our objective was to demonstrate the importance of proper boiler maintenance and the selection of high-quality fuels. It''s crucial to highlight that improper heating adversely affects human health. We conducted our awareness campaign with the goal of reaching as many solid fuel boiler users, as well as those impacted by them, as possible. Our aim was to provide clear instructions on how to heat more efficiently and cost-effectively, while also inspiring citizens to actively engage in safeguarding their health and improving air quality within their communities.
In our project, we produced a series of three short informative videos addressing air quality concerns in the Liberec Region, specifically focusing on emissions from local heating sources. These videos provide guidance on the proper operation of boilers and solid fuel heaters, emphasizing the importance of utilizing high-quality fuel. Our efforts to disseminate this information included broadcasting the videos on regional TV station RTM+ during the heating season, as well as uploading them to YouTube, where they garnered nearly 45,000 views. To complement the video campaign, we created six audio spots conveying the same key messages, which were broadcasted on local radio stations.
Furthermore, we organized awareness-raising events titled "SMOKEMAN Intervenes" in six towns across the Liberec Region. During these events, our colleague dressed as Smokeman, accompanied by his team and a mobile boiler, provided practical demonstrations to schoolchildren on proper heating practices and potential pitfalls to avoid. To further amplify the positive impact of our initiatives, we carried out a leaflet campaign targeting 15,000 households in the region that rely on solid fuel heating.
Our data suggests that we''ve reached over 60,000 residents in the Liberec Region, particularly those in areas with poor air quality. Through videos, audio spots, leaflets, and participation in "SMOKEMAN intervenes" events, people have become more aware of how solid fuel combustion affects air quality and the importance of proper maintenance of solid fuel boilers. We hope this awareness motivates them to operate their home heating systems correctly, caring for their health and improving air quality in their communities, ultimately benefiting the environment. Project materials will remain online and will be promoted before and during the heating season, including through channels such as our social media.