Out with the old, in with the new

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

KELLOGG — Cleaner burning, cleaner living.

At least, that’s the message that Dan Smith, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s West Silver Valley Airshed Project Coordinator, has been spreading to residents of the Silver Valley.

After being awarded an Environmental Protection Agency airshed grant last year, Smith and IDEQ have been using funds from it to launch the West Silver Valley Wood Stove Change-out Program.

Since the program began earlier this year, 24 Silver Valley residents have received brand new wood stoves to replace their older/non-compliant ones.

The purpose of this change out is to cut down on the No. 1 air pollutant in the Silver Valley — wood stove smoke.

Smith explained that “because of the high levels of particulate matter in the air, the WSV has been on the borderline of Non-Attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM2.5 for many years.”

It was because of the non-attainment rating that IDEQ was able to get the grant to fund the project.

These elevated levels of particulate matter can effect the overall health of area residents — particularly children, those with chronic health conditions and the elderly population.

The issue with the non-compliant wood stoves is that they put particulates into the air that are then trapped by a cold air inversion.

With nowhere to go, the particulates linger the area and are inhaled by residents.

The new, cleaner burning, wood stoves the grant provides only release 3.5 grams per hour (gph) of particulate, compared to the older/outdated ones that release around 35 gph.

Through May and June of this year, Smith received 68 applications from residents looking to get a new stove through the program.

Of those submissions, 42 were approved.

“After going through the home inspections and estimate approval process, four participating vendors have installed, or are in the process of installing, over 40 new wood and gas stoves into homes in the West Silver Valley,” Smith said.

“These new stoves are replacing old wood stoves that don’t meet EPA certification for emission standards. The goal of this program is to replace 188 old wood stoves by August 2020.”

The vendors who are installing the stoves are paid with the money from the airshed grant.

In addition to being greener, Smith also points out these newer stoves will save people money every time they use it.

“New technology squeezes the most energy out of each log creating more heat with less fuel,” he explained.

“You will burn about half the wood you’ve been burning for the same amount of heat. You burn less wood, create fewer pollutants, save money, live healthier!”

As the contractors slowly install the remaining 20 stoves (things have slowed down a bit since they have hit their busy season) for the approved applicants, Smith is also addressing another problem he has noticed during his inspections.

“The biggest issue we are seeing is that of all the stoves we have installed — one chimney has been worth a damn,” he said.

“If the stove is the hart of the system, the chimney is the lungs- they don’t work without each other.”

Installing a brand new — more efficient — stove that pumps out more heat than its predecessor could present a fire hazard when combined with an obsolete/damaged chimney.

Because of this, Smith said that for every stove replacement they have done so far, they have also done repair work or a complete replacement on the chimney that it is being hooked up to.

Forty-one of the 42 approved applicants for new stoves need some sort of work on their chimney to make it compliant.

Funds for this chimney work also come from the airshed grant.

Although it was not anticipated initially, Smith is happy to help with these problems as well.

“By doing this, we are really helping out.”

The IDEQ will be accepting more wood stove change out applications for the 2018 spring and summer instillation period on Dec. 1.

Applications must be received by Jan. 31, 2018.

Anyone residing in the West Silver Valley Non-Attainment Area who is currently burning a non-EPA certified wood stove in their residence may apply.

Low income households are also eligible for a higher amount of funding and for additional programs within the EPA Targeted Airshed grant.

The West Silver Valley NAA basically runs from Cataldo to Big Creek and north and south from there, but the boundary is irregular.

The area encompasses the cities of Pinehurst, Smelterville, Kingston, Kellogg and part of Cataldo.

It does not include Osburn, Silverton or Wallace.

Wood stoves in outbuildings, shops or garages are not included in this wood stove change out.

Many of the 2017 replacements have been completely paid for through the wood stove program, with others’ having over 75 percent of the cost paid for through the program.

To apply for next year, contact Dan Smith at 208-783-5781 or go online to http://bit.ly/2zmPwCc.

The IDEQ office in the Silver Valley is located at 1005 McKinley Ave., Kellogg.

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The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality contributed to this article.