Wood Moisture-Meter Library Loan Program

Description: The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) developed an
innovative wood moisture-meter loan program by partnering with the state library system to
make meters and wood-burning outreach materials available for loan throughout the state.

Title

Wood Moisture-Meter Library Loan Program

Location

(City, Counties, Region)

Vermont, state-wide

Population/Number of
homes covered by project

•	Population: 623,989 (2019)

•	Housing Units: 339,439 (2019)

Objectives
(NAAQS

attainment/maintenance,
indoor air, visibility, air toxics,
public education)

•	Reduce fine particles (PM2.5) from wintertime woodsmoke.

•	Remain in attainment with PM2.5 air-quality standards.

•	Educate the public on proper wood-burning practices to prevent indoor and
outdoor air pollution to protect public health. See Strategies For Reducing
Residential Wood Smoke at:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/strategies.pdf.

Milestones

(Project time frame, number of
changeouts, air quality goals,
number of low-income homes
targeted if applicable)

•	Phase 1: 2019-2020: Valley ID tool and census data used to identify 50
communities of interest. Acquire and distribute moisture meters to public
libraries in communities of interest along with information from EPA's Burn
Wise program regarding best practices for wood burning.

•	Phase 2: 2020-2021: Continue moisture-meter loan program and evaluate its
effectiveness by collecting counts of meter check-outs and time-in-circulation
from libraries.

Budget

(Projected/actual cost)

•	Initially $3,000 for 50 meters in Phase 1

•	Department of Libraries funded additional 20 meters (estimated $50/meter)

Funding Sources
(Government funds, grants,
Supplemental Environmental
Project, fees, etc.)

•	Vermont DEC's Air Quality and Climate Division

•	Vermont Department of Libraries

Partners

(Government/private
organizations involved)

•	Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
https://dec.vermont.gov/

•	Vermont Department of Libraries

•	EPA Region 1

Incentives Offered (Rebates,
discounts, vouchers, incentives
for low-income homes, etc.)

•	VT residents can borrow moisture meters cost-free from local libraries.

•	EPA Burn Wise information is distributed with the meters to inform the public
about cleaner burning practices. See Burn Wise Tip Sheet:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/burnwisetips.pdf.

Also see Test your Wood with a Moisture Meter:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-
02/documents/moisture meter vl 01-04-2017final.pdf.

Ordinances/Regulations
(Mandates for cleaner-burning
hearth devices)

•	Uncertified OWBs were required to be retired by December 31, 2012. See 10
V.S.A. section 584(g):

https://law.iustia.com/codes/vermont/2012/titlel0/chapter23/section584

•	Any EPA-certified wood-fired central heater, woodstove or wood-pellet stove
can be sold in Vermont.


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Title

Wood Moisture-Meter Library Loan Program



• Set-back and stack-height regulations apply to hydronic heaters, including a
100-foot setback from the nearest residence, school or health care facility not
served by the hydronic heater.

Project Yardstick
(Number of woodsheds
constructed, number of stoves
replaced with new stoves or
other technology, etc.)

•	Moisture meters are available at 63 public libraries.

•	Evaluation of effectiveness by count collection of meter check-outs and
time-in-circulation. Varied demand for meters at libraries: some had little
initial interest while others had waiting lists. 17 libraries reported 120
checkouts for the first year of the program, potentially representing 30 check-
outs per month statewide.

•	Circulation of meters was reduced due to COVID-19 however, program is still
ongoing.

Outreach/Marketing
(Radio/TV public service
announcements, workshops,
woodstoves expo, flyers,
mailouts, social media)

•	Press release and social media posts in Sept 2020 gave details to the public
for obtaining the moisture meters from the libraries.

•	Used VT Department of Library network to reach out to selected libraries.
Word spread among library network and other libraries asked to participate
in program.

•	Front Porch Forum (social media website) was a popular and effective
promotion platform.

•	Local TV station, newspaper, online news announcements. See:
https://www.wcax.com/2020/09/15/moisture-meters-can-be-rented-out-for-

free-at-vermont-libraries/; https://vermontiournal.com/news/firewood-
moisture-meter-loan-program-at-rockingham-library/;
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/storv/news/2020/09/15/vou-
firewood-readv-burn-vermont-libraries-can-help-vou-find-out/5802100002/;
https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/wood-moisture-meters-available-at-
select-libraries/article 593efc79-7052-5325-9448-649564dfa404.html.

• Posted advertisements and meters on display at the check-out desk in
libraries where meters are available. These were effective at raising
awareness. See library announcements:

https://www.stowelibrarv.org/blog/moisture-meter-now-available-for-
loan.php; https://richmondfreelibrarvvt.org/2020/12/02/moisture-meter-for-

testing-firewood-available/.

Air Quality Data/Other
Results

(Air-quality status of project
area. Is improving indoor air
quality part of project?)

•	PM2.5 is a major contributor to air pollution on moderate AQI days in
Vermont.

•	Average annual number of "good" AQI days has been continually increasing
statewide.

•	Moisture-meter loan program was developed as part of EPA's PM Advance
Program.

•	Indirect improvement of air quality (both indoor and outdoor) due to better
burn practices from the moisture-meter program is difficult to quantify.
However, the program has been effective at raising awareness regarding the
importance of fuel quality/moisture content when heating with firewood.

Lessons Learned

•	Contacting state head of libraries is critical for buy-in and support. They
network out to all libraries quickly and inter-library loan processes ensure
quick delivery of meters.

•	Educational outreach on proper wood-burning practices is essential.


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Title

Wood Moisture-Meter Library Loan Program

(What worked? What didn't?
Tips? How can project be
improved?)

•	Week-long loan periods appear to work best.

•	Moisture meters are reliable. Only three instances of battery failure or loss of
electrode pins were reported, and easily replaced from spare stock.

Project Contact
(Name, organization, phone
number, email address, web
link to project)

•	Ellen Parr-Doering, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
(ellen.parrdoeringPvermont.gov)

•	https://dec.vermont.gov/wood-burning


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