New Program to Cut Outdoor Wood Boiler Emissions

Outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) have enjoyed increased popularity in recent years as homeowners, particularly in rural areas, have looked for lower cost alternatives to oil or gas heat. At the same time, the boilers’ reputation for high emissions levels and low efficiency has caused some states and municipalities, in the absence of federal oversight, to regulate them. According to a report released in 2005 by the New York State attorney general, sales of OWBs in the state tripled between 1999 and 2005. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a voluntary program aimed at cutting the emissions of OWBs and educating consumers.