Credit image: Karl Masadam, Oregon State University
Wood burning stoves are still common throughout the United States, especially in rural areas. It is cheap for operating and easy to maintain. However, they also release well Political pollution It can be dangerous inside and outside the home. I may have found a group at Oregon State University a solution.
“Our goal is to make wooden heating more safe for families and the best environment,” said Nordica McCarti, the main researcher and an engineering professor in OSU. Techxplore. “The stove does not need to pollute this much to be effective.”
Its team discovered that most of the pollution occurs during two main moment: when the fire starts and when more fuel is added. These are short bursts responsible for about 70 % of the total particle emissions. Microscopic molecules – PM2.5 – deeply travel to your lungs and even reach the bloodstream.
“The health effects are well known,” said McCartie. “Long -term exposure to PM2.5 was linked To heart disease, asthma and even early death.
The United States has approximately 10 million wood burning stoves. About two -thirds of them fail to meet the standards of the current Environmental Protection Agency. According to Makarti, “Many old stoves are basically just metal boxes with chimneys. They were never built taking into account emissions.”
“The wood is local, renewable and low -carbon fuel, it should be an important part of the American energy mix, but it must be burned cleanly to protect health effectively,” said McCartie.
To reduce this pollution, the team has developed a device that automatically pumping air at the appropriate times. It is not a candidate or fan, but a smart system adjusts the air flow based on how the fire is disposed of. Laboratory and field tests showed that it can reduce emissions by up to 95 %.
“We have known for years how to make combustion cleaner in a laboratory environment,” she said. “What is new is to get these results in homes, during real use.”
The initial model also helps reduce the accumulation of cracols, which is a flammable secondary product that sticks to the walls of the chimney and causes home fires. By improving the efficiency of fire burning, the system also reduces this risk.
Instead of relying on controlled laboratory tests, the OSU team installed its initial houses throughout Oregon. Putting sensors in stoves and chimneys, and collecting data over time.
Burning stoves are not good for individual families; It improves air quality for the entire neighborhoods. McCartie also pointed out, “If some houses are on one street use old stoves, they can influence everyone around them.”
For homeowners looking to reduce heating costs, solar energy is a strong option with possible tax credits. One platform, EnergysageIt helps people compare quotes from local stabilizers. Many users end in providing thousands.
Cleaning heat, safer houses, lower bills. Reforms are present – you just have to know where to look.
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