Promoting Clean Wood Burning

Following a recent proposal by a municipality in the Montreal area to attempt a ban on all wood heating, the idea that heating with wood is an unsound environmental choice has become a hot topic of discussion.

The wood heating industry has evolved substantially over the past few years. The vast majority of appliances sold on the market now meet the emission limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the Canadian standard CSA B415.1. Wood burned in these certified appliances emit up to 90% less particulate (pollution) than older stoves, making it a clean, renewable energy source. Also, Pellet Stoves (burning compressed sawdust) are high efficiency appliances that produce extremely low particulate emissions. They are manufactured from waste products and other renewable resources across Canada. They represent a significant source of heating fuel from material that could otherwise be sent to landfills.

Wood heating enables millions of North Americans to heat their homes at a reasonable cost. It represents a reliable source of renewable energy, independent of electricity, which reduces our dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels for heating is a major source of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. In comparison, pellets have only a small carbon footprint and wood is essentially carbon neutral.

Numerous countries, provinces and municipalities, have adopted laws that regulate the sale of wood heating appliances that do not meet the latest standards in terms of particulate emissions. Among them, we can name the United States, Australia, New Zealand, as well as numerous countries that are part of the European Union. In Canada the Provinces of British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland have also introduced laws regulating the sale of wood heating appliances. In most cases, financial incentives were given to homeowners to replace their old stove with new, certified wood or pellet heating appliances. The problem of pollution created by old stoves has not been ignored – it has been transformed into an opportunity through carefully designed initiatives. There is clearly a worldwide trend of energy diversification by promoting the use of a renewable energy source such as wood and wood pellets.

North America is home to many stove and fireplace manufacturers that are among the leaders in this important worldwide industry. Those enterprises represent thousands of quality manufacturing jobs. They work hand-in-hand with government and municipalities in order to establish intelligent and responsible regulations on wood heating that will have a positive impact on the environment and local economies.

The Hearth Products industry is there to support states, provinces, and municipalities to adopt measures that will lead to the responsible use of wood as a source of heat. Do not hesitate to contact HPBA (www.hpba.org) or HPBAC (www.hpbacanada.org) for more details. Residents of Quebec are invited to contact APC - l'Association des professionnels du chauffage (www.poelesfoyers.ca).