[Greenbuilding] certified (& non-certified) wood stoves

[George J. Nesbitt]

No!
    Not even all EPA certified wood stoves are clean burning. The 
catalytic converters burn out in a year or less, and then you have a 
horribly polluting stove. What you want is an Advanced Combustion Wood 
Fireplace that meet the EPA Phase II (1990)standards without a catalytic 
converter. There are several manufactures that make them (Regency, 
Aladan, Quadfire), you can also get pellet stoves, install with sealed 
combustion air supply. Masonry stoves whether site or manufactured, 
probably won't qualify (there is one manufactured unit that works, but I 
don't know which one, I would have had to have been killed if the name 
was reveled to me, so I'm still alive). Gas fireplaces should be Direct 
Vent with a high P.4 rating (Canadian Test procedure).
    Of course some woods have more energy in them, and burn cleaner. Dry 
wood burns cleaner than wet wood. Operator behavior is a big problem, 
but I think the Advance Combustion Wood Fireplaces are easier to use and 
more forgiving?
    For more info go to 
http;//energy-publications.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.cfm "Heating with Wood", 
"All about Wood Fireplaces", and "All about Gas Fireplaces".
    I have to thank the utility rate payers of California for funding my 
education for free. PG&E for offering great classes. And specifically 
Skip Hayden (another great Canadian eh?) of the Advanced Combustion 
Technologies Lab, Natural Resources Canada.
 

Reuben Deumling wrote:

>I am curious whether it is possible that (some) non-EPA-certified wood
>stoves are (or may be) comparably clean burning as those that are certified?
>I'm sure someone has researched this and perhaps also knows what the g/hr or
>other emissions thresholds are. I think in the US they are being tightened
>again....
>
>Also, how much of the pollution is likely due to firewood quality (moisture
>content) and user behavior vs. stove design (as certified)? In other words,
>if I have a non-certified stove but use the best dry wood and know how to
>optimize fuel air mixture (I don't ), can I theoretically achieve as good or
>even better performance in terms of pollution than if I am sloppy, have wet
>wood, and use a certified stove?
>
>Finally, are there ways to determine, by, say, looking at the smoke coming
>out of my chimney, if my setup passes muster, or could be improved?
>
>Books, websites, or other expert advice is also most welcome.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Reuben Deumling
>
>
>and this from yesterday's local paper:
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