Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
News * Financial Incentives * Related Links * Videos
News:
The Chico Enterprise Record newspaper won national and state journalism awards on series of articles on residential woodburning including the District's proposal to adopt a Mandatory Wood Burning Curtailment Rule for the Chico area. Follow this link to the 21 articles printed during May 2010.
Current District Rule 207, Wood Burning Devices , adopted by the Governing Board on December 11, 2008. Summary of Rule 207 Requirements, District-Approved Zero Clearnace Fireplaces
Sample Wood Burning Model Ordinance for local jurisdictions. The Governing Board declined to adopt proposed new Rule 208, Mandatory Wood Burning Curtailment Periods and requested official input from the City of Chico. The City of Chico has since adopted an mandatory ordinance based on District forecasts.
Butte County Asthma Profile July 2008
The Woodpile is now online, with original articles, news and commentary about the future of residential wood heating. The Woodpile is a project of The Wood Heat Organization Inc.
Q & A Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Summary-of-Health-Impacts-from-Wood-Smoke - Numerous scientific studies report potentially serious adverse health effects from breathing smoke emitted by residential wood combustion. A table extracted from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District provides reference material including Author, Journal and summary of the study.
Financial Incentives:
Wood Stove Replacement Voucher Program: Please contact the District for more information on upcoming opportunities for changing out your old polluting wood stoves.
PG&E Care Program Provides a monthly discount on energy bills for income qualified households and housing facilities.
Related Links:
Air Resources Board News Release - Wood Smoke is a Serious Threat to Public Health.
Air Resources Board Health Update - The Potential Health Impacts of Residentail Wood Burning (power point presentation)
US EPA PM2.5 Area Designations
U.S. EPA Wood Stoves and Fireplaces Website:
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Burn Wise: Learn Before You Burn - Burn Wise is a partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that emphasizes the importance of burning the right wood, the right way, in the right wood-burning appliance to protect your home, health, and the air we breathe.
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Wood Burning Efficiency and Safety - Tips on proper stove installation, good wood burning practices, and how you can ensure safer heating of your home.
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Healthier Home, Cleaner Environment - Learn the impacts of wood smoke on your health and the environment, as well as the quality of the air where you live.
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Basic Information - What you need to know to select a cleaner burning hearth product for your home, including retailers and installers in your area.
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Technical Information - Learn why newer wood stoves burn cleaner and safer and review test data on stove emissions.
Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) Website - Information on Stoves and Fireplace Inserts, Save Money, Clean the Air
Identification on Non-EPA Certified Stoves - HPBA Wood Stove Change out Program
INHALATION TOXICOLOGY International Forum for Respiratory Research Woodsmoke Health Effects: A Review
New England Journal of Medicine, Special Article, 1/22/09: "Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States"
Videos:
Split, Stack, Cover, Store: Provides four easy steps on how to dry wood for proper use in wood stoves or fireplaces.
Wet Wood is a Waste: This short video offers tips on how to use a simple moisture meter to test wood to see if it dry enough to burn. Properly dried wood should have a reading of 20% or less.
Chico Enterprise-Record Video: A Burning Issue: May 2010 series on wood smoke to better understand the medical, environmental, political and economic realities of heating homes with wood.
Home Green Home: Burning Wisely The Home Green Home article is the latest in a series exploring the ways Americans are improving the efficiency and reducing the footprint of their homes.
Libby Montana Video - Clearing the Smoke - The Libby Report
Burn it Smart #1 - DVD on Advanced Woodstove Technology: View it on YouTube
Burn it Smart #2 - DVD on Firewood: From Forest to Woodshed: View it on YouTube
Wood Stove Operation - Informative video from Environment Canada's Clean Air Online Website
How to Start a Proper Fire - View it on YouTube