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Budget-Conscious U.S. Turns to Wood Fuel
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Wood-burning stove use is on the rise because of increasing oil prices. The development could have serious environmental effects.
30-Second Summary
With their budgets squeezed by the rising cost of oil, some Americans are choosing to abandon oil heating altogether and return to a “simpler” way of life: using wood-burning stoves to heat their homes.
But this rustic heating method is not without drawbacks. Some environmental groups are worried about the air pollution that could result from the recent jump in wood’s popularity.
According to a 2006 report cited by The New York Times, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, a non-profit group, estimates that average emissions from one wood boiler—an outdoor wood-burning heating unit—equal the pollution created by 22 wood stoves, 205 oil furnaces or 8,000 natural gas furnaces.
Sally Markos, of the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency in Springfield, Ore., told the Times that “the air pollution will get worse on days that people are feeling the economic pinch.”
In an effort to curb the effects of increasing wood stove use, the Environmental Protection Association set clean-burning performance standards for wood-burning stoves in 1998, but they are not mandatory.
And the problem could get worse. The Financial Times reports that oil prices reached an all-time high of over $100 this week. Fueling the price hike are analysts’ predictions that OPEC will not raise oil supplies.
With increased wood use, some local governments are taking action.
The Springfield city council this week voted in favor of a measure that bans residents from using their wood-burning stoves whenever the county air advisory issues a “red” alert, marking days when smoke levels are high.
Wood burning is the single biggest contributor to countywide pollution in the winter.
But this rustic heating method is not without drawbacks. Some environmental groups are worried about the air pollution that could result from the recent jump in wood’s popularity.
According to a 2006 report cited by The New York Times, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, a non-profit group, estimates that average emissions from one wood boiler—an outdoor wood-burning heating unit—equal the pollution created by 22 wood stoves, 205 oil furnaces or 8,000 natural gas furnaces.
Sally Markos, of the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency in Springfield, Ore., told the Times that “the air pollution will get worse on days that people are feeling the economic pinch.”
In an effort to curb the effects of increasing wood stove use, the Environmental Protection Association set clean-burning performance standards for wood-burning stoves in 1998, but they are not mandatory.
And the problem could get worse. The Financial Times reports that oil prices reached an all-time high of over $100 this week. Fueling the price hike are analysts’ predictions that OPEC will not raise oil supplies.
With increased wood use, some local governments are taking action.
The Springfield city council this week voted in favor of a measure that bans residents from using their wood-burning stoves whenever the county air advisory issues a “red” alert, marking days when smoke levels are high.
Wood burning is the single biggest contributor to countywide pollution in the winter.
Headline Links: ‘With Oil Prices Rising, Wood Makes a Comeback’
After many years of declining use, wood heat is popular once again thanks to rising oil prices. But environmentalists worry that increased wood burning will lead to air pollution – and that’s not all. New Hampshire Fire Marshal J. William Degnan said poorly maintained wood stoves are “just a tinderbox waiting to happen.” Still, those opposed to paying thousands of dollars for oil may not be easy to sway, like Vermont resident Brian Cook, who plans on sticking with his wood-burning stove, saying, “I did not want to pay $3,000 to heat this house.”
Source: The New York Times
As wood burning stoves are cited as the biggest contributors to pollution in winter, the city council in Springfield, Ore., voted this week to ban wood-burning stove use whenever a “red” advisory is issued, marking days when smoke levels are at their highest. City councilor Hillary Wylie worried that banning wood stoves could mean very cold days ahead for people who depend on them. “I really am concerned about people who have breathing difficulties, but I’m also concerned about people who depend on wood heat on cold days,” she said.
Source: The Register Guard
Background: Crude rises to all-time high
An article in the Financial Times states that oil prices closed at a record high of more than $100 Tuesday due to supply problems and rumors that Opec will not increase supplies. According to the story, both the International Energy Agency and the U.S. Government have reduced their forecasts for global oil consumption this year, “reflecting the slowdown in economic growth expected as a result of the credit crunch.”
Source: Financial Times
Historical Context: Wood burning surges in the 1980s
Wood-burning stoves peaked in popularity in the 1980s after oil prices soared in the mid-1970s during the Arab oil embargo. The stoves were seen as “cheap, home-grown and renewable” despite the resulting pollution, according to a Jan. 19, 1984, Time magazine article. The article focuses on Missoula, Mont., which then “had the smogbound look of Los Angeles” due to the overwhelming amount of wood-burning going on in the area.
Source: Time
Reference: Wood-burning safety information
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information on environment-friendly ways to use wood-burning stoves, including a 110-page list of EPA-approved wood-burning stove manufacturers. The EPA recommends having a certified professional install a new wood stove, performing annual maintenance on the stove and following the agency’s wood-burning suggestions.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Vermont’s Air Pollution Control Division includes a page with facts and safety information about wood-fired boilers on their Web site. Outdoor wood-powered boilers are regulated carefully in that state.
Source: Vermont Air Pollution Control Division
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