US Environmental Protection Agency considers new standard for emissions generated by some residential woodstoves and heaters from 2015
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a standard for emissions generated by new woodstoves and heaters from 2015.
Under the proposal, the agency suggests the next generation of wood burners would be an estimated 80% cleaner than those manufactured today, leading to improvements in air quality and public health across the United States.
The next generation of wood burners would be 80% cleaner under the new standard, the EPA claimsAt present, smoke from residential heaters can increase fine particulates in the air — a mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds that have been linked to strokes as well as heart and asthma attacks.
The EPA proposal covers several types of newly-developed wood fired heaters, including woodstoves, fireplace inserts, indoor and outdoor wood boilers, forced air furnaces and masonry heaters.
A large amount of residential wood heaters already meet the first set of proposed standards, which would be phased in over a five-year period in order to allow manufacturers enough time to adapt emission control technologies to model lines.
EPA hopes the standard will help counter problems caused by wood smoke, but when finalised it would not cover fireplaces, fire pits, pizza ovens, barbecues or chimeneas.
The organisation will take comments on the proposed standard for 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register, and is due to hold a public hearing on February 26 this year.
A final ruling is expected to follow in 2015.
This entire comment was added the EPA’s public comments regarding proposed new performance standards for wood burning appliances.
http://www2.epa.gov/…/public-hearing-proposed-new…
Here is a New Year’s Day OpEd in “The Boston Globe” that I am countering with a genuine argument.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/…/NwDyFIXmYfceZBj…/story.html
This is my counter-argument.
“Who is already coming to rescue us from wood smoke?
Progressive, optimistic, courageous individuals and groups, can and are already doing this. They include scientists, governments, private businesses, and private citizens. Why expend precious energy, money, and lives on trying to fix wood stoves and fireplaces? We already have geothermal, wind and solar energies that don’t need fixing, and that can be conveniently provided, and within our financial mean$.
“Let’s use our energy, money and lives by wisely turning our eyes in the direction of what is already keeping the air clean. THAT’S the direction to be headed in.
Best of Health
Deborah “Deb” Marchant’,
Masters in Public Administration
From The Evergreen State College
Creator of Facebook “Citizens for a Wood Smokefree City of Shoreline, Washington
https://www.facebook.com/WoodSmokeFreeShoreline?ref=hl