REDUCING IMPACTS OF WOODSMOKE
Wood is a natural and renewable resource if harvested in a sustainable manner. However, the environmental benefits are canceled if people use inefficient wood burning devices that emit high amounts of fine particles and toxics. It is important to protect the health of those in, around, downwind and uphill of a household using a wood burning device.
Wood stove and outdoor wood boiler (OWB, aka hydronic heaters) owners can help reduce pollution by following recommendations for buying, siting, installing, operating and maintaining their wood stoves or OWBs.
Lower levels of pollution are emitted when seasoned firewood is burned in a manner that promotes complete combustion. Small, hot fires are better than large smoldering fires. For improved draft and combustion, as well as safety, the chimney or stack should be cleaned as directed by the manufacturer. Another important recommendation is not to install any device, such as the ‘rainhat' shown to the right, which impedes or reduces the vertical momentum of smoke out the stack. Vertical momentum helps to spread the wood smoke over a greater volume of air and also pushes wood smoke further above the ground thus diluting concentrations especially at ground level. The tips mentioned above along with government and manufacturer recommendations balance an individual's right to use wood for household heat with the right of others to breathe clean air.
Newer wood stoves are engineered to burn more efficiently and reduce pollution. Look for EPA certified wood stoves when installing/replacing wood stoves.
Consider pellet stoves when replacing a woodstove or if you are thinking of starting to heat with wood. Pellet stoves come as stand alone units or fireplace inserts and are very efficient as well as much cleaner than traditional wood stoves and fireplaces.
Fireplaces are not very efficient for household heating and allow more wood smoke to remain in the dwelling. If you have a fireplace, consider installing an EPA certified fireplace insert.
OWBs have been a controversial form of heating with wood in the US and Canada for several years. The controversy is caused largely by the smoke and health impacts that the emissions from OWBs have on neighbors, but there has also been concern about the use of the units to illegally burn materials other than seasoned firewood.
If you are considering an OWB you should:
• Look for a unit that has been engineered to emit less pollution this may also mean it is more efficient which could save you money in the long run,
• Choose a unit that is the proper size for your heating requirements,
• Check the regulations for siting criteria to see if you can meet them, and
• Follow the operation and maintenance guidelines of these units.
For the foreseeable future, EPA is not proposing to regulate OWBs. Therefore, Maine DEP is working on regulations to minimize the impact OWBs have on air pollution in residential neighborhoods to protect the health of your own household as well as your neighbors.
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