Burn to Wise

Program of U.S. EPA

How to Implement a Wood-Burning
Appliance Changeout Program

September 15, 2014 with updated links in 2/2022

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Communities across the United States have successfully implemented wood-
burning appliance changeout programs to reduce ambient and indoor air pollu-
tion, help protect health and heat homes more efficiently while saving money. A
wood-burning appliance changeout or retrofit program is a voluntary program
that provides information and incentives (e.g., rebates, discounts) to encourage
households to replace, retrofit, or remove old, inefficient appliances like wood
stoves, fireplaces, and hydronic heaters. Changeout programs can be an effec-
tive way to reduce particle pollution, air toxics, and other harmful pollutants both
indoors and outdoors.

Drawing ori best practices from programs across the
country, this guide focuses on ways communities can
implement an effective residential wood-burning ap-
pliance changeout/retrofit program. A changeout
should be just one component of a long-term com-
munity wood smoke reduction strategy.

Create a Successful Program

To develop a successful wood-burning appliance changeout program, you'll want to:
Demonstrate the need.

Develop a preliminary plan.

Identify partners.

Secure funding.

Modify the plan to include partners and funding.

Initiate a wood smoke outreach and education campaign.

Implement appliance changeouts.

Evaluate the program.

For guidance on developing a long-term
wood smoke reduction
strategy, see
https://www.epa.gov/bumwise/strateaie
s-reducinq-residential-wood-smoke

Studies indicate that education and outreach on cleaner burning and proper maintenance is a
vital component to improving air quality and health protection.

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Demonstrate the Need

Showing why a residential wood-burning appliance changeout program can benefit your community will
help garner support from decision-makers, funders, partners, and community members. Their support
is vital to encouraging homeowners to participate.

Make sure to explain the benefits of reducing residential wood smoke. In particular, less wood smoke
means:

Cleaner air indoors and out. Reducing wood smoke can help a community meet its air quality
goals and improve the air quality for those who burn and for their neighbors. It can be very
beneficial to those areas looking to reduce ambient fine particle pollution.

Improved health. Addressing wood smoke can help avoid heart and lung disease and illness
such as respiratory infections, chronic and acute bronchitis, asthma attacks and even premature
death.

Warmer homes. Many wood-burning appliances are old and inefficient. Replacing or removing
these older appliances promotes better combustion through cleaner, more efficient home heating
devices.

Changing out an old wood stove can save money, fuel, time and resources. New EPA-certified
wood stoves can:

Burn 50% or more efficient than uncertified stoves.

Use 1/3 less wood for the same heat.

Cut creosote build-up in chimneys that helps reduce the risk of fire.

Reduce fine particle pollution, air toxics and climate gases such as methane, black carbon
and C02.

To demonstrate the need, start with the following:

Collect quantitative and qualitative air data, such as:

Anecdotal data: Compile logs of citizen complaint phone calls, letters, emails, photographs,
and visual inspection reports from state, tribal, and local air pollution agencies.

Ambient air monitoring data: Record and track fine particle pollution levels. This can be
done with filter-based samples, continuous monitors or mobile monitoring. Some
communitieshave used speciated data to indicate that residential wood smoke is a
contributor to pollution. Levoglucosan, carbon monoxide, and black carbon are commonly
known wood and coal combustion species. This can be done in partnership with
governmental agencies, public health non-profits or possibly a university or college.

Indoor air monitoring data: Communities have used indoor air monitoring to record high lev-
els of indoor particle pollution, which has encouraged wood smoke reduction initiatives.

Ambient air emissions sources: EPA tracks the source emissions of the six common air pol-
lutants, including PM 2.5. To compare wood smoke contributions to other sources in your
area, visit https://www.epa.qov/environmental-topics/air-topics


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Identify priority zones: Identify areas in your community that are most vulnerable and that could
benefit the most from reduced particle pollution, in some communities, school zones are a priority.
In others, priority zones include areas with a large proportion of children or women of child-
bearing age, hospitals, nursing homes, childcare centers, low-income households, or densely
populated areas. You can use EPA's EJViewto create maps and generate detailed reports
based on geographic areas and data sets. EJView includes data from multiple factors that
may affect human and environmental health within a community or region:
https://www.epa.gov/eiscreen

Estimate appliance inventory: Conduct a home heating survey to get an idea of how many
wood-burning appliances you have in your community. This can help you determine how many
appliances are uncertified, home heating behaviors, and the types of outreach that will motivate
reductions. For an example of a home heating survey: https://www.nescaum.org/documents/cec-
abt-nescaum-residential-wood-survey-final-report-201904.pdf/

Estimate emission reductions: Use the EPA Wood Stove and Fireplace Emissions Calculator to
help estimate emission reductions: https://www.epa.aov/burnwise/wood-burnina-air-quaiitv-tools-guidance-
documents-and-resources

Estimate the funds needed to implement your
changeout program:

Administrative: Set aside anywhere from 5% to 25%
of the total cost of a program. On average, 10% is a
good start.

Outreach and education: Set aside funding for print,
radio, television, and newspaper advertisements;

Webpromotion; and other creative outreach
strategies. Focus on earned media (news or human
interest stories covered by the media). Consider
placing opinion/editorials on the program's benefits
authored by a well- known physician. Use internal
communications channels of major employers. EPA
provides free outreach materials on the Burn Wise
website, https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/burn-wise-
health-and-safetv-awareness-kit
Appliance purchase and installation: Estimate
$3,000 to $5,000 for wood stove to wood stove replacement costs (typically $1,500 for appli-
ance and $1,500 for flue and professional installation). Some communities provide total fund-
ing to low-income households; others provide vouchers that start at $500 to all households.

Some households may require chimney or mantel rebuilds that will cost more than the $1,500
installation estimate. Shipping costs may apply as well, particularly in remote communities.

Some areas may want to replace with cleaner burning options such as HVAC (up to $10,000).
Explore the option of a bounty program that offers $300 - $500 just to remove an old stove,
without any replacement. For more ideas on replacement costs, see Pugent Sound's Heating
Replacement Options at https://pscleanair.gov/409/Wood-Stove-Program

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Old Stove Changeout, Libby, Montana


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Appliance removal: Include the cost of removal and destruction of the old stove. Some
communities have partnered with metal recycling businesses to remove appliances at no
cost; others have paid up to $250 per stove for removal and destruction.

Follow-up: Include the cost of follow-up activities. For example, some communities have used
funds to pay for door-to-door visits and follow-up video or brochure instruction to ensure the
new stoves are operated properly and the households are burning the proper fuel (e.g. dry,
seasoned wood for wood stoves). It's helpful to conduct a follow-up survey for customer
satisfaction, program improvement and testimonials.

Wet wood can create excessive smoke which is wasted fuel. Properly dried wood should have a
moisture reading of 20% or less. Dry wood creates a hotter fire. Hotter fires save wood - ultimately

saving you time and money.

Develop a Preliminary Plan

Once you have collected the data, you can begin to create your plan. Having a preliminary plan will
help you organize your actions. Note: planning is an iterative process, so you'll need to adjust your plan
regularly as new information and ideas emerge.

Include in your plan:

Potential partners

Potential funding mechanisms

Whether you plan to replace, remove, or repair wood-burning appliances.

Types of appliances needed to replace the older, inefficient ones. Consider both wood and non-
wood alternatives. Promoting the cleanest appliance will provide greater reductions in particle
pollution and other pollutants. Some appliances to consider:

EPA Step 2 certified wood burning appliances can be found at

https://www.epa.gov/bumwise/epa-certified-wood-stoves This list includes pellet stoves,
wood stoves, hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces that meet the 2020 Wood Heater
New Source Performance Standard.

Natural gas stoves

Propane stoves

Energy Star® heat pumps

Other ENERGY STAR electric/gas furnaces

EPA-qualified fireplaces and fireplace retrofit devices- https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/choosing-right-fireplace-or-
fireplace-retrofit-device#fireplaces

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

The chart below indicates the relative emissions of fine particles for a number of appliances. In gen-
eral, hydronic heaters, wood-burning fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves contribute large amounts
of fine particles each time they are used.

rr

Relative Emissions of Fine Particles

" Average omitsions
(Ibs/MMBtus of heal output)
for heat source type. Data
from US EPA

1.4



0.013 0.0083

g GD ®	(8	S	0

Fireplace Uncertified EPA	Pellet	Oil	Gas

Wood stove Certified	Stove	Furnace	Furnace
Woodstove

Other items to include in your plan:

Number of appliances you plan to replace, remove, and/or repair.

Whether you plan to conduct air quality monitoring before and after the changeout.

Which households you plan to target (mostly low-income?) and how much of an incentive you
plan to provide. As an example, do you plan to provide the full amount for low-income? Do you
plan to provide more funds for cleaner burning appliances (e.g. $2,000 for a gas furnace, $1,500
for a gas or pellet stove, $750 for an EPA-certified stove)?

Retailers you plan to use for appliance purchase.

Professional installers you plan to use. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a
source for finding a certified chimney sweep. A source for certified hearth system planners and
installers is the National Fireplace Institute (NFI).

Timeline and method you plan to use to remove and destroy the old appliances. Destruction is an
important part of a successful program to ensure old polluting appliances are permanently out of
your air shed's inventory. Make sure to require proof of destruction (i.e., photo of destroyed stove
and/or "Certificate of Destruction" signed by retailer or recycler)

Types of education and outreach you plan to provide.

Details on how you plan to evaluate the program. Will you conduct a health-based and/or behavior
change evaluation?


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Identify Partners

Creating partnerships is a critical component of a successful changeout program. Partnerships will help
you leverage funding and resources, share your message, and promote change.

If it's a local changeout, meet with your city/town council, elders, county board or other

governmental officials to gain support.

Approach partners that have a vested interest. Let them know what's in it for them. Although you
and your potential partner may have common goals, explain what they are and convince your partner
to collaborate.

Shared goals might include:

Improving air quality

Reducing asthma, impacts on cardiovascular health,
and other health impacts of wood smoke

Reducing patient care costs

Promoting electricity, gas, or biomass

Improving energy efficiency

Improving visibility

Reducing the number of chimney fires
Increasing business for retailers
Proper appliance operation and maintenance
Lowering home heating costs
Promoting cleaner renewable energy appliances
Potentially reducing carbon footprint
Potentially increasing property value
Supporting local economy and job creation
Enhancing education about cleaner heating

Partnering with local CSIA-
certified chimney sweeps
can be an effective way to
reach households. EPA Bum
Wise has developed
outreach materials for
chimney sweeps and
retailers to use when talking
with households.

It is important to partner with your local hearth retailer(s) and/or HVAC contractors. Once you
determine how many retailers you have in the changeout area, coordinate a meeting or conference
call. You will want to cover things such as the project, what they will be expected to do, how they will
be paid, what the agreement includes and whether or not they plan to offer additional discounts or
rebates. Some programs have conducted a formal Request for Qualifications to recruit and select
reputable retailers and contractors.

Changeout programs across the United States have successfully partnered with one or more of the
following:

State, tribal and local air agencies

Local planning offices and mayors


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Local chapters of the American Lung Association

Local low-income service providers (e.g. Women, Infant and Children's Nutrition Program, Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Medicaid)

Health clinics or health departments

Gas and/or electric utilities

Individual stove retailers and chimney sweeps

Natural gas, propane, and/or wood pellet manufactures and dealers

Individual HVAC contractors

Housing authorities

U.S. or state forestry departments

Colleges or universities

Fire departments

Local Indian Health Service clinics
Green energy organizations

Facilities that dispose of old stoves so they cannot be resold or reused
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
Chimney Safety Institute of America

Secure Funding

Funding a changeout program may be the biggest challenge you face, it will take creativity and per-
severance to secure resources for a successful program. In the past, programs have used creative
strategies to hire staff, purchase equipment, and market the program.

Weatherization and other housing assistance programs are good places to start when

looking for home heating resources.

Agencies, organizations, and groups that may make grants, loans, or other funds available to support
a changeout program include:

Local, state, and federal agency Supplemental Environmental Projects from settlement and
mitigation agreements

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Block Grant program
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development funds/loans
USDA Rural Utilities Service loans

U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program
EPA pilot projects; Indoor Air, Community Grants


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Foundation grants or loans
Campaign partners via signed agreement

Heating appliance manufacturers' and retailers' discounts, rebates
in-kind donations

State and Federal Government tax credits on the sale of biomass
stoves and high efficiency HVAC equipment

Town managers

State legislatures

Zero- or low-interest financing

Power company on-bill utility financing and equipment rebates

Direct tribal funds

For more detailed information on funding opportunities, see EPA's
Guide to Financing Options for Wood-burning Appliance Changeouts-
https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/list-qualified-fireplaces-and-fireplace-
retrofit-devices.

Modify the Plan to Include Partners and Funding

Periodically review and modify your plan as your goals may change, depending on funding sources and
partners.

Initiate a Wood Smoke Outreach and Education Campaign

Timing your wood smoke outreach and education can be tricky. You want to begin as early as possible
to promote cleaner burning. Provide wood smoke facts and figures 3 to 6 months before launching
your changeout program to help households understand the benefits of changing from an old wood
stove to a cleaner home heating device.

Town/City/Tribal Meeting

Conduct informational seminars on wood smoke and cleaner-burning heating appliances and
promote participation in the upcoming changeout program.

Start your campaign at such trusted locations as fire departments, churches, or schools.

Door-to-door

Send influential individuals to homes located in priority zones.

Provide Burn Wise brochures and fact sheets like Dirty Little Secrets and Wet Wood is a
Waste.

Provide local contact information to households indicating where they can obtain detailed
information.

Social Media

Link to best burn tips on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EPABurnWise), Twitter (@epaburnwise),
blogs, and other social media outlets.

Funding Sources

v'' Grants
Loans
Bonds
V^SEPs

Tax Credits
>/ Rebates


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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

Ask partners to send additional best burn tips.

Link to video public service announcements (PSAs): https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/burn-wise-public-
ser vice-announcements

Website

Identify wood smoke as an issue and include best burn tips.

Post Burn Wise widgets: (https://www.epa.gov/developers/dat3-d3ta-products-bum-wise-wid!

Post video PSAs (https://www.epa.aov/burnwise/burn-wise-public-service-announcements).

Media

Provide articles for print and online distribution

(https://www.epa.aov/burnwise/burn-wise-health-and-safetv-awareness-kit).

Distribute radio PSAs: https://www.epa.qov/burnwise/burn-wise-public-service-announcements
Distribute video PSAs: https://www.epa.qov/burnwise/burn-wise-pubiic-service-announcements

Other

Post "Best Burn Tips" or "Wood Smoke Campaign" signs
and posters on buses, taxis, town/city/tribal government
buildings, schools, health departments, hospitals, libraries,
retailers, and other visible locations. Also offer videos to
these important community information resources.

Implement Appliance Changeout

You can implement your appliance changeout program in a variety of ways:

Hold a kickoff event. Involve key partners (e.g., local health department; EPA: Hearth, Patio and
Barbecue Association) in planning the event. Invite the press, town/city/tribal management, state
government officials, and the EPA Regional Administrator or other staff.

Provide a press release to local media.

Consider doing a press conference by telephone. This can attract reporters who may not
have the time or ability to go to an in person event.

Invite retailers, installers, and other partners to exhibit and participate.

Invite community members to participate. Hold the kickoff event at a fire department, farmers'
market, retailer's parking lot, town square, or other popular and high-traffic areas.

Issue vouchers and perform weekly program follow-ups.

Monitor how many vouchers are used week to week.

Continue outreach and education, especially to promote burning dry, seasoned wood.

Record and share success stories as the program continues. Spotlight households that see a
remarkable difference, such as less smoke in the home, reduced respiratory illness, lower heating

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

bills or other positive effects. Share these stories to encourage other households to participate.
Take photographs, make videos, or include testimonials on your website or offer to radio and
television.

Monitor and evaluate your program. Check in with partners and households to adjust parts of the
program plan as needed.

In July 2014, New York launched Renewable Heat NY, a program that includes outdoor/in-
door wood boiler and wood stove retirement with advanced system replacements. See more:
https://www.nyserda.ny. gov/AII-Programs/Renewable-Heat-NY

Evaluate the Program

Many programs have found that conducting pre- and
post-program analyses can help them determine how
their activities influenced wood smoke reduction. You
might partner with a university or environmental re-
search group to monitor and track pollution beforeand
after the changeout.

Request permission to follow up with households 2 to
3 weeks after the changeout to make sure each
household is adjusting to its new appliance. (This
may need to be adjusted based on when the stove is
installed) There may be questions related to fuel type,
flue, doors, or proper venting. A few months later, a
complete program evaluation can help provide a bet-
ter assessment on whether or not the air quality in- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency community event

doors or out has improved. An evaluation also can be

used to make program improvements to secure additional funding, guide a future changeout, or
design a continuation of the wood smoke reduction program without appliance changeouts. It is
also critical to obtain feedback from the retailers in order to improve program operation.

Read case studies and reports on programs including those in Libby, Montana, and Makah Nation, Washington.

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

The Seeley Lake Woodstove Changeout exceeded its initial goal and changed out 164
wood stoves in less than a year. See how they did it:

https://www.nescaum.org/documents/march-2018-residential-wood-heating-
workshop/seelev-lake-mt-chanqeout-and-partnerships.pdf

Other Considerations

Only allow appliances that exceed the EPA New Source Performance Standard limits.

Provide changeout incentives to only those moving from wood to an electric or gas appliance or wood
pellet stove. At a minimum, provide a much larger cash incentive (twice the amount) for electric, gas
or pellet stoves.

Do not allow more second-hand uncertified stoves or hydronic heaters to be installed in your area.

Long-term smoke reductions can be better protected when these appliances are no longer permitted
in the community.

Offer to repair non-wood devices in the home (e.g. broken furnaces). This can help the homeowner
avoid using the wood-burning appliance for primary heat.

Consider providing financial assistance for more than just appliances. Woodsheds are an
inexpensive and simple way to help ensure low-moisture fuels and, therefore, reduce wood smoke
and improve efficiency and air quality. Your program can provide vouchers or assistance to
households that are willing to install and use woodsheds to properly dry firewood. You could also
provide a higher incentive or give preference to those who have a woodshed.
https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/burn-wise-how-build-wood-shed.

The Makah Nation in Washington State partnered with a summer youth program to build affordable
woodsheds for elders in their community. For a diagram and list of supplies, see

https://thhnw.org/makah-tribe-woodshed-proqram/

Partner with an organization, hearth store or fuel provider to provide a fuel subsidy. As an example,
free pellets or other low-moisture, compressed wood products for a year may help incentivize cleaner
burning.

Think about creating an incentive for consumers to attend a mandatory class or training on how to
use their new appliance, the importance of burning dry seasoned wood and how to test wood mois-
ture. You could do this at least one month after installation so that they will be ready to talk about how
it works. Or you can require the retailer (as part of signing up for the program) to spend at least 15
minutes with the purchaser to go over these issues - a checklist could be developed and then the
purchaser signs it saying that cleaner burning and proper operation and maintenance were talked
about. You may want to require the program participant to bring in a piece of 'dry' wood to gauge

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How to Implement a Wood-Burning Appliance Changeout Program

whether or not the consumer is truly burning with seasoned firewood. One idea is to hold back 10% of
the incentive until the class or training has been completed. You could also offer the training online.

Distribute moisture meters and/or stovepipe thermometers. Moisture meters test the moisture
level in firewood and can cost as little as $20. Stovepipe thermometers detect whether or not the tem-
perature in the firebox is at the optimum combustion temperature - is it too hot or not hot enough.

Have retailers or manufacturers include moisture meters and/or chimney thermometers with every
new purchase. If not, include funding for these items in your budget.

Partner with the local community action agency to use Department of Energy and Health and Human
Service funds to weatherize homes before or during the changeout to improve energy efficiency.

Home audits and weatherization can help determine the proper sizing of an appliance and ensure the
home is properly sealed to keep heat in and smoke out.

If hydronic heaters are permitted, only allow property sized units and require appropriate setbacks.
See NESCAUM's model rule- https://www.nescaum.org/documents/nescaum-emission-performance-
standard-eps-model-rule

Consider a bounty program that provides funds to households that remove and destroy an appliance
from their home without replacement. These programs can be cheaper and provide greater emission
reductions. The Washington State Department of Ecology sponsored a "woodstove roundup" near
Winthrop, Washington. Stove owners were offered up to $250 for turning in an old wood stove. In the
Tacoma-Pierce County PM2.5 Nonattainment Area, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency offered a
$200 reward for households wanting the program's contractor to pick up their stove, and a $350 re-
ward if the stove owner delivered the old stove to a designated recycle yard open six days a week.

Additional Resources

EPA Burn Wise Outreach Tools and Health Information: https://www.epa.gov/burnwise

Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood Smoke: https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/strategies-reducing-
residential-wood-smoke

Guidance for Using State Supplemental Environmental Projects to Implement Wood Stove

Changeout Programs: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-
09/docurnents/guidance for using state supplemental 042807 O.pdf

Training module for State, tribal, and local governments to learn more about EPA's residential

wood smoke program (video): https://www.epa.gov/air-qualitv-data-and-tools/air-
pollution-traininq-institute-public-traininq-site

Reducing Residential Wood Smoke: EPA Programs and Tools Available to State, Tribal and Local
Agencies (webinar): https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/webinar62513.pdf

EPA EJView: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

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Residential Indoor PM2.5 in Wood Stove Homes: Follow-up of the Libby Changeout Homes,

Noonan et al., Indoor Air (2012). https://www.ncbi.nlm.riih.aov/pmc/articles/PMC3445774/

Renewable Heat NY, Outdoor/Indoor Replacement Program: https://www.nvserda.nv.gov/Aii-
Programs/Renewable-Heat-NY

Keene, New Hampshire, Woodstove Changeout Campaign, 2009-2010, Final Report:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/keenefinalreport2011 .pdf

Lessons Learned from a Wood Stove Changeout on the Nez Perce Reservation, Ward,

Boulafentis, et al.

https://pdf.zlibcdn.eom/dtoken/683a0b3ebd205bdbc2a7688bf43712b1/i.scitotenv.201
0.11.006.pdf

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Wood Smoke Behavior Change Campaigns:

http://epa.gov/burnwise/workshop2011/PugetSound-WoodSmokeCampaigns-
Warren.pdf

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Wood Smoke Program:

https://www.epa.aov/sites/default/files/2020-01/documents/sacramento aqmd project narrative.pdf

Vermont's Outdoor Wood-fired Boiler Change-out Program: https://dec.vermont.gov/air-
qualitv/compliance/owb/chanqe-out-proqram

National Fireplace Institute: https://www.nficertified.org/

Chimney Safety Institute of America: https://www.csia.org/

Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association: https://www.hpba.org/

Additional training, webinars, and presentations: https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/resources.html

Additional case studies and reports: https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/case-studies-and-reports-related-residential-wood-
heat

To discuss details of your changeout program, contact:

Larry Brockman ¦ EPA Wood Smoke Reduction Program

brockman larry@epa.gov ¦ (919) 541-5398

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