Responsible Wood Burning Essential as Demand for Wood
Heat Continues to Rise
Hearth Industry Trade Association Urges People to Utilize New
Wood Burning Technology and Clean Burning Habits to Help Protect
Air Quality from Excessive Wood Smoke
Arlington, VA (March 9, 2001) - Due to the strong demand for
wood heat across North America, the hearth products industry
is urging people to follow responsible wood burning tactics
when they stock up a cozy fire. The concern is over the need
to protect air quality from excessive wood smoke.
According to the Arlington Virginia based Hearth Products Association
(HPA), responsible wood burning tactics entail utilizing new
wood burning technology and clean burning habits to reduce wood
smoke.
"Wood burning is a great choice if people do it right
and act responsibly," says Carter Keithley, president and
CEO of HPA. "Heating a home with wood has many benefits
including energy independence. Wood heat helps people control
high home heating bills, keeps a house warm when the power goes
out and helps reduce global warming."
New wood burning technology includes EPA-certified, clean burning
wood stoves and fireplace inserts. It also includes low emission
fireplaces and masonry heaters. Clean burning habits encompass
burning dry, seasoned wood; starting a fire with a fire starter,
building short, hot fires with small pieces of wood; and using
manufactured fire logs.
Keithley points out that responsible wood burning can help
reduce wood smoke substantially. For example, EPA-certified
appliances produce almost no smoke. And, using an EPA-certified
appliance instead of an old wood stove can help cut wood smoke
pollution by up to 85 percent. EPA- certified stoves and fireplace
inserts are those manufactured on or after July 1, 1990 - or
sold on or after July 1, 1992.
"People that are using old wood stoves or are burning
firewood in a traditional fireplace are producing unnecessary
amounts of wood smoke," adds Keithley. "They can make
a difference by changing out to new wood burning technology.
Fireplace users can also significantly reduce wood smoke by
using a manufactured fire log instead of firewood."
Old wood stoves, fireplace inserts and traditional fireplaces
belch out large quantities of wood smoke because fail to burn
the wood completely. New wood burning technology stoves, fireplace
inserts and fireplaces are manufactured with state-of-the art
technology that helps burn the wood smoke almost to a point
where there's nothing left to burn.
HPA's concern is based on a strong commitment to clean air
and more than ten-year effort by the hearth industry and its
member stove manufactures to develop wood burning hearth products
and fuels that are environmentally responsible. This interest
is also a result of the hearth industry's experience after the
oil crisis in the 1970s when the increased production and use
of wood burning stoves resulted in regulations by the EPA due
to excessive wood smoke.
"Our member manufacturers have invested tens of millions
of dollars n product research and development to make sure that
their products meet EPA's requirements," adds Keithley.
"And, that effort is paying off for the environment."
The Hearth Products Association is the North American trade
association for manufacturers, distributors, and hearth specialty
retailers of all types of hearth appliances, fuels and accessories,
including stoves, fireplace inserts, fireplaces and masonry
heaters. Formed in 1980, the organization serves over 2,300
members in the U.S. and Canada. Hearth specialty retailers offer
a wide selection of hearth appliances and accessories and are
experts in the installation and service of all appliances.
