Traditional outdoor wood burning boilers/furnaces are often substantially dirtier and less efficient than other home heating devices. The smoldering fires and short smokestacks of outdoor furnaces can create heavy smoke close to the ground where people are more likely to inhale the particulate filled smoke. Repeated breathing can result in respiratory problems and the worsening of existing conditions.
Although these units are designed to burn dry, seasoned wood, some people use them to burn green wood, which is less efficient and generates much more smoke. Others burn household trash or construction debris releasing harmful chemicals into the air. Not only is this practice unsafe, it's often illegal.
In an effort to control the pollution associated with traditional outdoor wood burners, the EPA has initiated a voluntary incentive program for manufacturers to clean up their act. The new emission standard set by the EPA is 0.60 lbs of particulate per 1 Million Btu of heat input. This is a reduction of 66% compared to the average 1.8 lbs of particulate per 1MM Btu emitted by older model outdoor furnaces.
In response to the new EPA standards, outdoor furnace manufacturers have transformed formerly smoky, inefficient furnaces into 87% efficient heating plants that emit virtually no smoke.
The method used to accomplish this feat is wood gasification. The process of wood gasification has been around since the 50's, but this is the first time it's been successfully adapted to small scale use.
Wood gasification produces a firebox temperature of around 2000 degrees F. This is 800 degrees hotter than older models and accounts for the higher efficiency and equally lower emissions.
As I mentioned earlier, the new EPA emission standards are voluntary. However, if you want to install an outdoor furnace in Maine, Vermont, Washington, and some Canadian Provinces, the standard is mandatory; and each state and local regulating agency will continue to have the authority to determine if the use of outdoor wood burning furnaces is appropriate in their area.
Homeowners can distinguish the cleaner and more efficient models by the descriptive orange colored hang tags that show the unit meets EPA's voluntary program performance levels.
By buying a wood gasification unit, outdoor furnace consumers will not only have a cleaner, less polluting furnace than current models, but also reduce fuel consumption and heating costs by 20-30%.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
