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Berlin Relaunches Free Online ‘Stove License’ to Curb Wood-Smoke Pollution

The program offers 2,000 online places through April 2026 to help residents run the city’s 115,000 stoves cleaner and use less wood.

Overview

  • Registration is open for the Environment Administration’s Richtig Heizen mit Holz course, a free online training running from late October to April 2026 for 2,000 participants.
  • Officials say improved use and maintenance can cut emissions by up to 50 percent and lower wood consumption by up to 35 percent.
  • Guidance stresses burning only dry, untreated firewood and avoiding operation in windless or otherwise unfavorable weather to reduce particulate and carbon monoxide exposure.
  • Owners of stoves built roughly 1995–2010 remain subject to post‑2024 emission limits of 4.0 g CO and 0.15 g fine dust per cubic meter, with potential retrofits or fines up to €50,000 for noncompliance.
  • Cited costs include several hundred to about €1,000 for a chimney‑sweep measurement and several hundred to several thousand euros for particulate filters, while fuel‑rule violations can draw fines up to €10,000.