Across North America, government officials and community leaders have begun to discover a cost-effective new clean air solution that reduces excess smoke from old wood stoves and has a real impact on the lives of citizens by improving neighborhood air quality.  

The issue is simple. Pre-1992 wood stoves have limited controls on smoke emissions.  In contrast, today’s modern stoves cut emissions by over 70 percent.  In areas where there is a concentration of these older stoves and where conditions are right, smoke from these dirty stoves can cause an air quality problem.   

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) – in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local governments and industry partners – supports the Wood Stove Changeout Program.  This innovative program helps communities reduce emissions by providing consumers with incentives to remove old, dirty-burning wood stoves or wood heating appliances, and replace them with clean, efficient new heating appliances.   

There is strong evidence that changeout programs significantly improve air quality in communities where use of wood stoves is widespread.  New certified stoves emit over 70 percent less particulate matter than older, conventional wood stoves.  EPA data shows that replacing twenty old, conventional stoves with twenty EPA-certified stoves will prevent the emission of one ton of particulate matter into the environment each year – an example of the dramatic clean air improvements possible from wood stove changeouts.