Resolution 12-3

Approved August 28, 2012 

Colorado Springs, Colorado 

As certified by 

R. Steven Brown 

Executive Director

REGARDING NEW SOURCE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL WOOD 

BURNING DEVICES 

WHEREAS, wood is an important renewable domestic energy resource for home heating; and

WHEREAS, inadequately designed and/or poorly controlled residential wood burning devices can emit 

high levels of fine particulate and air toxic pollutants that may impact public health, affecting sensitive 

populations such as children, the elderly, and those with existing medical conditions; and 

WHEREAS, inadequately designed and/or poorly controlled residential wood burning devices can cause 

or contribute to violations of federal air quality health standards for fine particulate causing a significant 

public health and economic burden on urban and rural nonattainment communities across the country; and

WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 

to establish New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) based on best demonstrated emission control 

technology and to review and, if appropriate, update such standards every 8 years; and 

WHEREAS, advances in technology have occurred since the NSPS for Residential Wood Burning 

Heaters was initially created in 1988, and these cleaner burning designs are available in global markets 

such as the United States and European markets today; and

WHEREAS, as demonstrated by the 1988 NSPS and more recently in Europe, the introduction of cleaner, 

more fuel-efficient designs of residential wood burning devices has stimulated sales of new wood burning 

devices and the use of wood as an energy resource; and

WHEREAS, advanced residential wood burning devices are highly efficient and can reduce energy costs 

for consumers; and

WHEREAS, stricter emission and design standards for residential wood burning devices would benefit 

urban and rural communities that may be struggling with the adverse public health and economic 

consequences of nonattainment. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF THE 

STATES (ECOS):

Recommends that U.S. EPA act immediately to update the NSPS establishing health protective emission 

limits for all Residential Wood and Biomass Burning Devices, including fireplaces, woodstoves, outdoor 

wood-fired boilers (also known as outdoor hydronic heaters), and both indoor and outdoor furnaces that 

reflect today’s Best Demonstrated Technology taking into account the cost of achieving such reduction;
Recommends that U.S. EPA revise test methods as appropriate and necessary so that the emissions 

performance of cleaner residential wood and biomass-burning devices can be accurately quantified;

Supports closing loopholes and eliminating exemptions for pellet stoves and single-burn rate appliances;

Supports promoting efficiency improvements that will save consumers money on fuel; and

Supports working with U.S. EPA and the appliance and wood fuel manufacturers to maximize the 

opportunities to expand the use of wood and biomass as important domestic energy sources in a way that 

protects public health and saves consumers money.