OUTDOOR FURNACES EQUAL AIR POLLUTION

11.08.07

They have started appearing around our area: The outdoor wood fired furnace. I "smelled" its presence the other evening as I drove along a side road in Sharon.

It looks like a small shack-type structure with a smoke chimney sitting in a front, side, or back yard. The "exhaust" is less than completely burned, resulting in a "smokey" plume floating up, or horizontally, out of the chimney into the surrounding atmosphere.

These units are slowly making their way into New England homes as an alternative to the in-house systems, or wood stoves, with appropriate "plumbing" installed underground between the unit and the house.

Technically interesting (to me), and perhaps quite cost efficient at that, the one (and big) drawback is the smoke emitted from the unit. Depending on temperature, humidity, and other factors such as the combustion efficiency, the air in the surrounding area can get quite "smokey". Should these units proliferate in our area significant pollution may occur, and respiratory issues could arise.

I know of at least 3 units between my Massachusetts and Connecticut travels, and as more appear the atmosphere "issue" may well get the attention of Town"s zoning ordinances. A battle about these units may be on the horizon. Will it be reactive, or pro-active?

© 2007 R Leech features