Environmental group gives patio heater warning

LONDON (Reuters) - The use of domestic patio heaters, accused of contributing to global warming through their carbon dioxide emissions, is set to double in Britain in the coming year, an environment group said on Wednesday.

The Energy Savings Trust, an independent organisation with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, said ownership of the heaters would rise from 1.2 million to 2.3 million.

It estimates that an average heater used the same amount of energy as a gas hob used in six months, and emitted 50 kg of carbon dioxide gas (CO2).

It said 2.3 million heaters would emit the same amount of CO2 as driving from Lands End to John O'Groats 200,000 times.

"Why don't people just wear a jumper," said Philip Sellwood, the Trust's chief executive.

The group surveyed 1,192 households across the country for their research. The study found that most heaters were only used for two months of the year, July and August, and the majority of owners used them once or twice a week.

The Trust also criticised the growing use of patio heaters by pubs and restaurants, a trend expected to increase in the light of the new ban on smoking in public places.

It said nearly 60,000 pubs, 25,000 restaurants and many other bars and hotels now owned the heaters.

"People are also influencing the larger, more damaging commercial sector with a third of pub goers choosing pubs where there is a patio heater," Sellwood said.