Wood Burning in New Jersey
DEP Commissioner Urges Residents to be Fire-Wise
DEP Commissioner Urges Residents in Wooded Areas to Bolster Defensible Zones
NJDEP Compliance and Enforcement Advisory: Smoke from Outdoor Wood Boilers Prohibited
Even though wood is a renewable energy source, burning wood impacts public health and the environment. One such environmental impact is the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Wood smoke also emits fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which pose a significant health risk, and is the largest source of PM2.5 in the State's area source emission inventory. This site is intended to provide you with the facts of wood burning and what the State is doing to control wood smoke in New Jersey.
As the price of oil and gas in the Northeast continues to rise, more people are turning to wood burning as a primary or supplemental heat source for their homes (1). This trend was also demonstrated in the 1980’s (2). Another growing trend in homeownership is to burn wood in yards for ornamental reasons (1). Firepits and chimeneas have become increasingly popular. Another new source of wood smoke comes from outdoor wood boilers used to heat hot water that in turn heats the home, swimming pools, greenhouses, etc. As the usage of these units has grown, a growing number of citizens have turned to local, county, and state government for assistance in addressing the wood burning activities of their neighbors. The NJDEP Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) program is aware of this growth and other numerous complaints of the smoke and odors of outdoor wood boilers and other wood burning equipment. Issues with outdoor wood boilers are being investigated under the authority of N.J.A.C. 7:27 Subchapter 3. Local actions are necessary to reduce and prevent the amount of residential wood burning occurring in New Jersey. Some local ordinances have already been passed in the State.
GET THE FACTS
HEALTH IMPACTS OF WOOD BURNING
CHECK THE AIR QUALITY BEFORE YOU BURN
PROPER WOOD BURNING PRACTICES
ALTERNATIVES TO WOOD BURNING
STUDIES
FUNDING AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
WHO'S WHO IN NEW JERSEY ON WOOD BURNING ISSUES
Source: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/images/outdoor_BOILER.gif
GET THE FACTS:
HEALTH IMPACTS OF WOOD BURNING
CHECK THE AIR QUALITY BEFORE YOU BURN
PROPER WOOD BURNING PRACTICES
Other safety precautions should be taken prior to burning wood outside. Never burn outside when the wind is high, during a drought or high fire danger, or when the woods and vegetation are extremely dry. Check the New Jersey Fire Service webpage for burning restrictions.
ALTERNATIVES TO WOOD BURNING
STUDIES
University of Montana Receives Funds to Study Indoor Air Quality and Wood Smoke
The University of Montana has recently been awarded grant funds from the National Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences to research the impacts of wood stove use on air quality and the associated health effects. Specifically, the study will focus on indoor air quality and clinically relevant changes in health effects among asthmatics living in homes whose primary heating sources are non USEPA-certified woodstoves. This is a follow up to a previous study in Libby, MT that showed a 72% reduction in fine particle pollution (53 mg/m3 – 15 mg/m3) when a homeowner went from a non-USEPA certified stove to a properly installed USEPA-certified wood stove. In addition, the Nez Perce Tribe is currently conducting a before and after wood stove changeout indoor air quality study.
FUNDING AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
None available at this time.
Sources:
1. A Collaborative Report Presenting Recommended Air Quality Strategies for Further Consideration by the State of New Jersey (2005). The Homes and Restaurants Workgroup. Submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed March 14, 2006.
2. Scientific Information Statement, Appendix B: Proposal for a Particulate Matter Emission Standard and Related Provisions for New Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers (2005). Field Services Section, Air Pollution Control Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Accessed September 7, 2005. |
