Oregon’s Woodstove Certification Program

Abstract

The first program in the US to restrict the sale of woodstoves to only the cleaner burning models was enacted by the 1983 Oregon Legislature. Specific rules to implement the program were adopted in June 1984. An extensive woodstove emissions and efficiency data base was developed to assist in formulating the rules. A two-stage emission standard was adopted, which requires new stoves marketed in Oregon to achieve a 50% reduction in particulate emissions by July 1986 and a 75% reduction by July 1988. The certification program is designed to bring all areas of the state into compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter by the year 2000. The program is expected to save owners of certified woodstoves up to one-third on firewood consumption because of the inherently higher heating efficiency of lower polluting stoves, as well as provide increased fire safety because of reduced creosote formation and increased health benefits because of reduced polycyclic organic matter emissions. 1 figure.