EPA Publishes Updated Regulations
Earlier this month, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published their revised regulations on emissions from wood heating appliances in the U.S. These regulations, found in the “New Source Performance Standard” (NSPS), mark the first time in over a decade that the emission standards have been updated.
The process began in 2009, when the EPA decided that wood heating technology had advanced to a point that the previous emission standards (established in 1988) were becoming less relevant. This was of particular concern in regards to wood boilers, a method of heating that has grown in popularity over the past few years, raising concerns about air pollution in many areas and driving several states to sue the EPA. The updated NSPS finally establishes standards for wood boilers, but also strengthens those for other sources of heat such as woodstoves and fireplaces. Cookstoves remain exempt, however, just as they’ve always been (though certain states have their own regulations that impact cookstove use).
For more, please check out our in-depth look at the revised regulations and how they affect woodstove and cookstove users: The EPA and Wood Stoves: What You Need To Know.
