The Environmental Impact of Gas Fire Pits: What Buyers Should Know
This guide looks at how gas fire pits compare to wood-burning alternatives, covering emissions, fuel efficiency, and clean burning performance.
The Environmental Impact of Gas Fire Pits — What UK Buyers Should Know
Gas fire pits, whether propane or natural gas, are often chosen for their convenience, clean-burning flame and low-maintenance design. But if you're trying to understand their environmental impact before buying, it helps to look at the full picture: emissions, fuel efficiency, and how they compare to traditional wood-burning models.
Cleaner Burning Than Wood
One of the strongest environmental advantages of gas fire pits is their cleaner combustion. Gas produces far fewer particulates, soot and smoke than wood burning logs, which makes it kinder to local air quality.
Wood fires release higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which contributes to smog and respiratory irritation. Gas avoids these issues, making it a more practical choice for built-up environments.
Lower Carbon Emissions (But Not Zero)
Gas fire pits aren’t carbon-neutral, but they typically emit less CO₂ per hour than wood fires. Natural gas in particular burns efficiently, and propane has a relatively clean emissions profile.
However, it's worth noting that both fuels are still non-renewable. So while gas is cleaner than wood, it isn’t the most sustainable option available, it is however, the lower-impact choice between the two.
Fuel Efficiency and Controlled Output
Because gas fire pits allow you to control flame height and heat output, they prevent over-firing and wasted fuel—something that’s nearly impossible with wood. The ability to switch the flame on and off instantly also means you only use energy for the exact duration you need, improving overall efficiency.
Less Resource Consumption
Gas fire pits don’t require the harvesting, seasoning, storage and transportation of wood. This eliminates the environmental impact associated with logging or shipping firewood, especially for customers who rely on imported kiln-dried logs.
They also produce virtually no ash, soot or debris. Reducing waste and post-use pollution.
Riviera OFG415
Natural Gas vs. Propane
From an environmental perspective:
- Natural gas generally has the lowest emissions and best efficiency.
- Propane burns cleanly but is more carbon-intensive to produce and transport.
Still, both fuels offer a more controlled, low-smoke, low-waste solution compared with wood-burning alternatives.
A Good Middle-Ground Choice
Gas fire pits are not the “greenest” option in an absolute sense — bioethanol fire pits score lower in carbon impact. But for buyers deciding between a traditional wood-burning fire and a gas model, gas is typically the more environmentally responsible choice.
They offer lower emissions, better air quality, higher efficiency and reduced resource use, making them a strong middle-ground solution for households wanting the ambience of a fire without the environmental drawbacks of burning wood.