Tuesday, February 4, 2014

EPA seeks higher emissions standards for wood stoves used to heat homes

Propane fuel prices are still at around $6.00 a gallon is most areas, and this may cause some people to look towards wood for fuel. But the Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, recently released a proposal last month to strengthen 25 year-old emission standards on wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to create greater efficiency.

“Efficiency is achieved by burner tubes, a hotter burning stove with a sealed door and that'll help with bringing the temperature of the fireplace up,” said Gary Jacobson, with Jacobson Heating and Air Conditioning.

The higher the heat, the more likely the harmful particles would be burned; the particles and emissions the EPA claims could pose health risks. The EPA’s new proposal does not seek to affect fireplaces and stoves already installed in homes, rather they're looking to alter those being manufactured and sold starting next year. According to the US Census Bureau in 2011, 2.4 million American housing units burned wood as their primary fuel. And with the potential production of newer, more efficient models increasing, chances are the prices will too.

“The bad thing about trying to reach high efficiency is they have to add more bells and whistles to the fireplaces, and of course, that adds extra cost to it,” Jacobson said.


The EPA will conduct a public hearing on this proposal in Boston later this month

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