Energy wood – what to put in the fireplace on a cold Easter?

April – you know – weaving. Current meteorological models indicate that Easter 2026 may surprise us with weather far from typical spring weather. In many regions of Poland, there is a serious risk of cold air masses flowing from the north and north-west, which may result in a drop in temperatures. There will be cold mornings with possible frosts at the ground, cold wind and locally even sleet.

The times when you could smoke whatever you wanted in such a situation are gone. Climate change around the world is already so worrying that countries have made a number of decisions regarding products that are safe for the environment. Burning in a fireplace will also be subject to further restrictions in Poland in 2026.

The fireplace complies with the Ecodesign standard or it is better not to use it

There is no nationwide ban on burning in fireplaces in Poland. The exception is Kraków, where as part of local anti-smog activities, a ban on the use of solid fuel furnaces was introduced. In other regions of the country, fireplaces are permitted under the terms specified in local resolutions. However, the requirements for the type of devices have changed.

From the beginning of 2026, in the Greater Poland, Lesser Poland and Masovian Voivodeships, there is a ban on using fireplaces that do not meet Ecodesign standards or achieve thermal efficiency below 80%. The fireplace must also be registered with the Central Emission Register of Buildings. The risk of fines (up to PLN 5,000!) applies primarily to building owners who:

• they still use fireplaces without an ecodesign certificate,

• did not carry out the required modernization of the installation,

• are unable to demonstrate compliance of the device with regulations,

• use the fireplace in a manner contrary to local regulations (e.g. on days with a smoking ban).

In practice, this means that the mere fact of having a fireplace is not punished, but its non-compliance with the regulations or improper use is. Inspections may be carried out by municipal police, authorized municipal employees or other services, depending on local regulations.

What was considered energy wood?

Energy wood is a raw material that is industrially unsuitable or has limited potential for use in the non-energy sector. But it’s not the same as firewood.

Only round or split wood is suitable for heating houses, provided that its lower diameter is less than 5 cm without bark or 7 cm in bark regardless of the length of the wood, or up to 3 m long and its upper diameter is equal to or greater than 5 cm without bark or 7 cm in bark.

Additionally, for wood to be considered energy-efficient, it must have at least one defect: e.g. too much curvature, soft rot, brown rot covering at least 50%. cross-sectional area of ​​one of the ends, infusion covering at least 50%. cross-sectional area of ​​one of the ends of the wood or charring of at least 50%. surface.