Hey Mr. Green,
My house has a 1950s fireplace that has not been upgraded in any way to make it more environmentally friendly. I hope that since I make wood fires only when it's raining, I'm not doing much damage to air quality, since the air always seems perfectly clean after a rainstorm. Am I sufficiently environmentally correct in this matter to avoid the wrath of the environment police?
--George in Berkeley, California
It’s true that rain reduces the outdoor pollution from fireplaces. But if predictions for a rainier-than-normal winter in your area are correct, you might want to curtail burning anyhow, not to avoid the environmental police but to protect your own health.
An outmoded fireplace or wood stove not only pollutes the outdoors, but the indoors as well. Old fireplaces and stoves can emit eight times as much dangerous microparticulate matter (i.e., "smoke") per hour as new ones that meet the EPA's standards. Old fireplaces and old stoves can emit 60 times as much pollution as super-clean models that exceed EPA standards. For a list of EPA-approved models, click here.
In your region, on some days wood-burning accounts for as much as 30 percent of the particulate pollution in the winter, and in some parts of the country, accounts for as much as 80 percent. Since millions of dangerous old stoves and fireplaces are still in operation, the EPA operates a change-out program in some regions; some households are eligible for financial help to replace an outmoded polluter with a new and approved model.
Regarding health hazards, sometimes “officialese” might be the scariest. The EPA says, "Particle pollution--especially fine particles--contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems including: increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways; coughing, or difficulty breathing; decreased lung function; aggravated asthma; development of chronic bronchitis; irregular heartbeat; nonfatal heart attacks; and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. . . . However, even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particle pollution.”
Finally, speaking of the environmental police, in your area and growing numbers of others, it is actually illegal to burn wood on days when the air is dirty enough to trigger a ban. So you risk getting busted if you burn on the wrong occasion.
My house has a 1950s fireplace that has not been upgraded in any way to make it more environmentally friendly. I hope that since I make wood fires only when it's raining, I'm not doing much damage to air quality, since the air always seems perfectly clean after a rainstorm. Am I sufficiently environmentally correct in this matter to avoid the wrath of the environment police?
--George in Berkeley, California
It’s true that rain reduces the outdoor pollution from fireplaces. But if predictions for a rainier-than-normal winter in your area are correct, you might want to curtail burning anyhow, not to avoid the environmental police but to protect your own health.
An outmoded fireplace or wood stove not only pollutes the outdoors, but the indoors as well. Old fireplaces and stoves can emit eight times as much dangerous microparticulate matter (i.e., "smoke") per hour as new ones that meet the EPA's standards. Old fireplaces and old stoves can emit 60 times as much pollution as super-clean models that exceed EPA standards. For a list of EPA-approved models, click here.
In your region, on some days wood-burning accounts for as much as 30 percent of the particulate pollution in the winter, and in some parts of the country, accounts for as much as 80 percent. Since millions of dangerous old stoves and fireplaces are still in operation, the EPA operates a change-out program in some regions; some households are eligible for financial help to replace an outmoded polluter with a new and approved model.
Regarding health hazards, sometimes “officialese” might be the scariest. The EPA says, "Particle pollution--especially fine particles--contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems including: increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways; coughing, or difficulty breathing; decreased lung function; aggravated asthma; development of chronic bronchitis; irregular heartbeat; nonfatal heart attacks; and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. . . . However, even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particle pollution.”
Finally, speaking of the environmental police, in your area and growing numbers of others, it is actually illegal to burn wood on days when the air is dirty enough to trigger a ban. So you risk getting busted if you burn on the wrong occasion.
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Posted by: Juicy Couture Handbags | November 12, 2010 at 11:58 PM
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Posted by: Bryan Vest | November 15, 2010 at 11:10 AM
sing the song... a b c d e f .g.. can u do it.
Posted by: Air Jordan Shoes | December 05, 2010 at 05:26 PM
i say not to use it anymore. it still serves as a good decor anyway
Posted by: P90X Review | April 17, 2011 at 11:51 PM
It looks like the burning of wood is the best choice all around. I like some heater, filament for this.
Posted by: גוף חימום | July 17, 2011 at 11:02 PM
I advise you to use flueless gas fires for your house to make its environment more friendly. You can use wall hanging sets or hearth mounted insets for homes.
Posted by: flueless gas fires | September 13, 2011 at 04:13 AM
I advise you to use Home Gas fires Flueless gas fires because flueless gas fire do not need to rely on chimney.they enhance the saftey in rooms as compare to other ordinary fires.
Posted by: milton keynes | September 13, 2011 at 04:16 AM
Burning wood produces soot, tars and volatile gases some of which will condense inside the relatively cool flue of your chimney. In time, this will seep through the brickwork, staining the plaster and any surface finished. You should investigate having a special flue lining for woodburning installed before the stove. A cap will be fitted to the flue lining to prevent birds from gaining access.Thanks for shearing.
http://www.pgfireplaces.co.uk/
Posted by: wood burning stoves | September 22, 2011 at 04:03 AM
Holy crap. Asthma, heart attacks and death. It's like a respiratory issue extravaganza
Posted by: Nebuliser88 | July 19, 2012 at 12:51 PM
I would say keep this, I have heard really great things about these old style gas fireplace. My dad collects these. He will buy a good one when he finds it until he finds a better one then switch it out. Its really funny what he does. Hes really funny like that. But this was great, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jess Toons | December 12, 2012 at 04:24 PM