While many people have looked to more progressive forms of energy such as wind and solar power as an alternative to high-cost fuel, some have turned to a much older heat source of wood burning in the form of outdoor wood furnace boilers which are especially attractive to people with an easy or cheap access to firewood of scrap.

Outdoor wood furnace boilers resemble a backyard tool shed with a chimney. Surrounding the fire box is a water reservoir which is heated and then pumped underground into nearby buildings for heat or hot water.

While the cost of this heat might be cheaper than fuel, outdoor furnace boilers have been the cause of friction between neighbors due to the thick amounts of smoke is caused by the process. This smoke can cover entire streets and one neighbor has described it as sometimes ?EUR??,,????'??green?EUR??,,????'?? and ?EUR??,,????'??like plastic.?EUR??,,????'??

Environmental toxicologist Uni Blake describes wood smoke as containing carbon monoxide, toxic gases, and carcinogens.

The new standards will contain regulations on setbacks and chimney heights. Additionally, many wood furnace manufacturers are taking this time to restructure the units to be more efficient and up to 70% cleaner even before the new regulation comes out.

Some ways to use wood furnaces more safely is to limit use to wintertime when people are most likely indoors, to use dried wood, and to install taller chimneys to blow smoke further away from people.

Source: NPR.org, Evanston Sentinal