Are patio heaters the new menace to the environment, the hidden enemy slowly destroying mother earth merely so we can enjoy a barbecue in T-shirts and shorts, or are they just an easy target by over zealous environmental fanatics? That is the current question that is currently being debated heatedly by both proponents and opponents of this device.

Outdoor heaters and patio heaters of all kinds are though of in benevolent terms ever since their introduction to the mainstream market. After all, here was an appliance which helped to prolong the al fresco dining season at home with patio heaters or in a restaurants with commercial patio heaters. People were more than happy to extend their time outdoors without having to bother to suit up to fight of the cold. But what was considered by many as a smart "must-have" appliance is now in danger of becoming a symbol of environmentally destructive consumerism, in a similar way to the 4x4 vehicle debacle. Or are heaters merely a scapegoat chosen to appease the environmental nuts who scream for blood.

Leading the backlash is the Energy Saving Trust (EST) which has urged retailers to stop selling the heaters because of the "substantial" amount of carbon emissions they produce. According to their sources, the average patio heater uses the same amount of energy as a gas hob uses in six months and we estimate that the average patio heater would emit around 50kg of carbon dioxide per year." This bad publicity has affected sales somewhat and some major retailers have stopped stocking them altogether. The EST also warns that there are now 1.2 million outdoor heaters in household gardens, set to rise to 2.3 million next year - enough to emit the same amount of CO2 in a year as driving from Lands End to John O'Gara's 200,000 times. This data is refuted by Market Transformation Program (MTP), which provides data for government, they estimates a far more conservative 630,000 domestic heaters.

But is it really fair to target outdoor heaters as a villain in global warming. Our current knowledge of carbon emissions and household appliances is still growing, thus only the products which are most visibly easy to label as a "carbon criminal" will be put to the firing range. In defense of patio heaters their supporters feel that heating the outside has been a human activity since the time man found fire. Many folks enjoy sitting outside and there are health and other benefits associated with the outdoors.

Although patio heaters produce about 35kg of CO2 a year each and together are responsible for 0.002% of all carbon emissions they have admittedly become an easy target for obvious reasons. This amount is small when compared to carbon generated by vehicles and industries and one wonders why the humble heater has been put in the spotlight. Surely there are far more evil things done to the environment by large companies and industries as when compared with a few heaters. Is there not a more worthy cause to pursue?

What it all boils down to, is actually sensible use by people who purchase these appliances. A user who only turns on their heater on when needed and turns it off when not in use will contribute far less to the carbon emissions than a reckless user. It is after all a matter of choice, people who do not wish to use an outdoor heater should refrain from purchasing one and those who do want to use one should use them responsibly. This will be beneficial for all as a concerted effort for proper use will please both detractors and supporters of these outdoor heaters. But then the same can be said about almost anything that gives of carbon, from our cooking stoves to our vehicles and television sets. Why pick on outdoor heaters? Anyway the individual user will finally have the last say whether or not the outdoor or patio heaters remain a part of our daily appliances in years to come as in the end the public opinion far outweighs any concern for the environments real or otherwise.