Emission standards for wood heaters in the US

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued updated air pollutant emission standards for woodstoves and set the first-ever federal standards for hydronic heaters, wood-fired forced air furnaces and pellet stoves. The rule applies only to new appliances and will be phased in over a five-year period, giving manufacturers time to adapt their product lines to develop the best next-generation models to meet these new standards.

Emissions from new models will be reduced by roughly two-thirds, improving air quality and providing US$ 3.4–7.6 billion in public health benefits. This means that every dollar spent to bring cleaner heaters to market, will bring US$ 74–165 in health benefits. Consumers purchasing new models will also benefit from efficiency improvements, which means they will use less wood to heat their homes.

Source: US EPA press release, 4 February 2015

In this issue

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Editorial: 1.5°C to stay alive

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Flexibilities threaten emission cuts from MCPs

Member states want to water down proposed new emission standards for medium-sized combustion plants, and there is now a risk that the European Parliament will push for even more exemptions.

Falling costs for renewable energy

A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights the plummeting costs for renewable energy – making renewable energy more competitive then ever.

EU industrial air pollution cost up to €189 billion per year

The cost of damage caused by pollutant emissions into the air from the largest 14,000 industrial facilities in 2012 has been estimated as at least €59-189 billion, and half of the total cost was caused by just one per cent of the industrial plants.

German experts: Nitrogen cuts urgently needed

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Norwegian CCS ambitions might move to the EU

Norway wants an agreement with the EU on collective delivery of a common climate target. This could make it easier to finance a full-scale CCS plant in one of the EU member states.

Modest growth of renewables in EU area

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Enforcement of ship sulphur standards

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Launch of Energy Union – mixed messages

The Commission proposes a range of policy and legislative packages to realise the Energy Union in the next five years. Environmental organisations are critical of mixed messages, inconsistencies and continued reliance on fossil fuels.

Bad air quality prevails

More than nine out of ten urban citizens in the EU are exposed to harmful levels of the air pollutants PM_2.5 and ozone.

Carbon storage a dead-end

CCS could make sense for industrial emissions. Or, then again, maybe not.

East German lignite at a crossroads

Lignite power in eastern Germany is disastrous for the climate and displaces more people than any other industry in Europe. Despite a target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2050, phase-out plans are conspicuous by their absence.

Achieving NEC targets will cost less

Achieving the Commission’s health protection target for 2030 will be a third cheaper than previously estimated, according to new data.

Sweden: High health costs of bad air quality

Every year over 5,000 people in Sweden die prematurely due to air pollution, and the annual cost to society of health damage due to nitrogen oxides and particulate matter is estimated at SEK 42 billion.

Main menu

Emission standards for wood heaters in the US

In this issue

Bridge to nowhere

Editorial: 1.5°C to stay alive

Flexibilities threaten emission cuts from MCPs

Falling costs for renewable energy

EU industrial air pollution cost up to €189 billion per year

German experts: Nitrogen cuts urgently needed

Norwegian CCS ambitions might move to the EU

Modest growth of renewables in EU area

Enforcement of ship sulphur standards

Launch of Energy Union – mixed messages

Bad air quality prevails

Carbon storage a dead-end

East German lignite at a crossroads

Achieving NEC targets will cost less

Sweden: High health costs of bad air quality

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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