Wisconsin Wood Stove Exchange Program

[lampmfg]

Wisconsin residents of the following counties: Brown, Calumet, Clark Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Taylor, Waupaca or Wood. Now is the time to upgrade your wood heater!! Hurry before the incentive is gone...

(broken link removed to http://www.lung.org/associations/states/wisconsin/indoor--outdoor-air/wood-stove.html)

(broken link removed to http://www.lung.org/associations/states/wisconsin/indoor--outdoor-air/wood-stove-exchange-program/additional-appliances.pdf)

 

[BoiledOver]

Holy cripes!

Get someones junk stove from their yard for $50, free or whatever, and save $4000 on a new energy efficient wood heater. Way to go Wisconsin.

 

[Karl_northwind]

Not quite so simple. gotta prove it was installed before, and show the new one is really installed.

We made sure that the Kuuma furnace, Effecta, GARN, and Windhager boilers made it on the list, even they're not on the EPA phase 2 list. We'll be on the provider list shortly. At all y'all's service.

I've been on a personal crusade to eliminate the worst of the nasty OWB's for several years, and I'm glad to have some help in getting these appliances out there.

karl

 

[BoiledOver]

Good job Karl. Still sounds like a good program. My only beef would be that do-it-yourselfers need not apply.

 

[Karl_northwind]

Yeah. I've been on both sides of those sorts of programs, and see both sides of the issue. but the end result is that the dirty burners get gone, and the good ones get some encouragement. Helps people make the right decision, and makes sure the equipment is installed correctly.

 

[pma1123]

This reminds me of cash for clunkers! (spend money to theoretically achieve cleaner air)
Only difference is that they don't have a nice DMV database to understand the age and quantity of old stoves this would possibly affect.

Unfortunately, the monetary benefit they offer would largely be offset by the required service installer to do their work. (No offense to Karl)

They offer a potential $10,000 incentive to somebody who qualifies for energy assistance but has a non compliant outdoor wood boiler.
You can call me a hater for asking this; is a new outdoor wood boiler really something that low income people are buying?

 

[BoiledOver]

When I saw the $10,000 figure, my thought was great for someone to get a free gasser upgrade.

 

[Karl_northwind]

They might with a big chunk of help. We have a pretty good idea that the old OWB's are pretty bad, and anything on the EPA list has to be quite a bit better.
you can call me a softie for asking this: Who should we help more to better their situation for a critical service (heating in WI)? I submit that it's people who have the most trouble meeting that critical need.

 

[Karl_northwind]

BTW, before someone goes there: this program is funded by a utility as part of a settlement for running a coal plant outside of emissions for years. (if someone wants to fill in details, by all means do so). it is not taxpayer money, and is not a government program at all. and it is restricted to the counties in Wi that have been blessed with the emissions from said plant. (sorry Michigan)....

 

[pma1123]

Interesting to learn where the funding is coming from. I was going to mention that Wisconsin already does have a heating assistance program in conjunction with income assistance to help those meet their critical needs.

 

[Karl_northwind]

I don't think it will buy them firewood though..... although that might be even better, keep the $ local. to a neighbor or someone nearby.

 

[goosegunner]

I don't think it will buy them firewood though..... although that might be even better, keep the $ local. to a neighbor or someone nearby.

Been over to the other firewood site? Really complaining about the EPA regs over there. Also griping about us here at Hearth.

gg

 

[ihookem]

We will pay for it through out electric bill . Just stop selling old design boilers.

 

[Karl_northwind]

Been over to the other firewood site? Really complaining about the EPA regs over there. Also griping about us here at Hearth.

gg

There's another wood burning site? why would I bother?

 

[goosegunner]

There's another wood burning site? why would I bother?

Well, maybe green wood, tires, trash and anything you can fit in the door....

gg

 

[kooslf]

What are the ramifications of phase two? Did this just come out? Also: Is there a known political agenda in this?

 

[Karl_northwind]

What are the ramifications of phase two? Did this just come out? Also: Is there a known political agenda in this?

Google "EPA method 28", or search Here on hearth for "EPA phase 2" you'll find plenty to read. the short of it is that it seems to be going away in favor of NSPS standards which will be some combination of the ASTM E2618 and EN 303-5 tests for wood burners with storage.
also: http://www.garn.com/epa-action-alert/

the original method was a test that had some fundamental flaws in it, and I liken the test to looking at the 35 MPG highway tag on a new car and thinking "OK, it'll get me 35 MPG" which it will get on the highway. But then when you get the car in the real world, you'll be using that car as a police car, and it'll spend half or 2/3 of it's time idling in the median, or sitting in a speed trap. not getting 35 MPG. Think about the gasifiers as the hybrid. Engine runs just enough to do the job, no idling, top efficiency.

By all means, others here can elaborate, but I have to analogize these things for people all the time, and so don't get into the deep nitty gritty, because, lets be honest, most people don't care that much.

Karl