OUTDOOR WOOD BOILERS AND WOOD BURNING
Outdoor wood boilers are devices located outside, typically 20 or more feet from a building or home and look like small sheds which have a smokestack usually six to ten feet tall. They are designed to burn wood which in turn heats a reservoir of water that is piped underground to provide heat and hot water. These devices are commonly used as an alternative means to save money due to the high cost of oil and natural gas. This is not a “green” alternative and is associated with health problems, nuisance complaints and air pollution.
According to the American Lung Association (April 2000), wood burning from fireplaces and woodstoves is the largest source of particulate matter air pollution from residential homes. Particulate matter is linked to adverse health affects particularly among young children, the elderly, and people with preexisting heart diseases.
Improper use/operation of wood burning equipment, including their misuse as incinerators; lack of maintenance; and normal degradation with use; produces several times more air pollutants than original design values.
Along with particulate matter, wood smoke emission contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, and chemicals known to be carcinogens. Not only is this a source of air pollution, but it is also a source of indoor air pollution for those who use wood burning devices to heat their homes and to their neighbors. Some recommendations from the ALA for those who must burn wood are to use the cleanest technology available that meet the EPA-certified standards; burn only clean, dry, seasoned, hardwood; never burn wood that has been treated, trash, or colored paper; and keep stovepipes and chimneys clean.
The MA DEP acknowledges that smoke from wood burning is a significant contributor to air pollution, containing carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, soot, fine particles, and other chemicals that can cause health problems.
The MA DEP regulations limit visible smoke and prohibits air pollution that puts the public’s health at risk, interferes with property uses, threatens natural resources, or creates nuisances. Outdoor wood boilers are dirtier and less efficient than most other home heating technologies. The New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau states that even when properly used, ONE of these units emits more fine particle pollution as 2 heavy-duty diesel trucks; 12 EPA-certified indoor wood stoves; 45 passenger cars; 1,000 homes with oil heat; and 1,800 homes with natural gas heat.
If you must burn wood to heat your home please follow the recommended guidelines for woodburning on the Board of Health website.
References:
| 
