When we think of modern, clean alternative energy sources, wood heat isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind. Sure, it saves money, keeps us toasty, and provides a certain measure of independence-- but modern and clean? The image that often comes to mind is of a chimney belching thick clouds of smoke, blanketing the neighborhood with an unmistakable pungent aroma.

That image was an accurate one fifteen years ago, but the modern woodstove has little in common with the dirty slow burners of the '70s and early '80s. These older stoves (many of which refuse to die a natural death and are still with us) had the ability to be turned way down, smoldering wood and distilling the byproducts of incomplete combustion into our chimneys and into our atmosphere. They emitted as many as 50 to 60 grams of particulate matter per hour, which included some pretty nasty stuff.

In the late '80s, however, the Federal Government got involved in the woodstove emissions area, and it's the best thing that ever happened to the woodstove! Faced with the challenge of lowering smoke output, manufacturers began to employ the latest combustion techniques from a number of areas, resulting in the cleanest, most efficient woodburners ever produced.

The process was a model of how environmental problems should be solved. Government and industry worked well together toward what became a winning situation for everyone. The regulations were phased in slowly, giving the industry time to develop new technologies needed. Emissions were drastically cut (to an average of about 4 grams per hour!), and the consumer ended up with a safer, more efficient product which performed better and used considerably less wood. Older inefficient stoves, while they could no longer be sold, were "grandfathered", and those in place were allowed to stay. Many consumers saw the benefit of the newer product, however, and were more than happy to trade in their old clunkers for a high efficiency model. Many states encouraged this with incentives and "changeout" programs.

One of two strategies was employed to get the emissions to acceptable levels. The first, and most effective, was the catalytic combustor. Operating much like the converter on your car, these units enable smoke to burn at about half the normal temperature. This allows the stove to be turned down very low for a long burn time, yet still operate at a high efficiency level. The second strategy (often referred to as "Hi Tech") relies on maintaining a high enough temperature in the stove to reburn gasses with simply the introduction of additional air at strategic points. This method is almost as clean as the catalytic combustion, but typically has a shorter burn time due to the higher operating temperature needed.

Regardless of which type, these new stoves do take a little maintenance to insure that they continue to perform as designed. Regular cleanings of the stove and chimney are still needed, and maintenance of door gaskets and interior components are even more important than in older stoves. For those units that employ a catalytic combustor, the catalytic unit should be cleaned regularly and replaced when it is no longer operable. This maintenance is well rewarded by the continued savings of fuel, improved performance of the stove, and with much cleaner (and safer) chimneys.

Wood heating is one of the most environmentally responsible heating choices a homeowner can make. The fuel is renewable and, unlike fossil fuels, does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. While carbon dioxide is released in the burning of wood, trees reabsorb this as a future wood crop is grown, producing no net gain. And wood, by the very nature of the fuel, is a local phenomenon, supporting local economies. It isn't spilled in oceans, transported across the globe or processed in polluting refineries. We haven't had a cordwood war in years. Perhaps more importantly, burning wood connects the user to the heat in a fundamental way, leading to a deeper understanding of the true meaning and cost of energy.

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