The Great Stove Change-Out Case Study

Northern California

Based on the successes achieved in 1990 in the Seattle area and in the early 1990s in Denver and Oregon, the Hearth Products Association, in conjunction with a number of local air districts in northern California, initiated a program in 1998 whereby the owners of wood stoves could trade them in for EPA-approved clean-burning wood stoves, pellet stoves or gas units, with a substantial rebate on the purchase price. Upon surrender of an old stove or fireplace insert, the consumer would be granted a discount of between 5 percent and 25 percent on the purchase of a new, approved unit. The exact amount of the discount depends on the model and brand purchased and on the extent of dealer participation.

Purchases are tracked and audited, and the old stove and the unit for which it was exchanged are part of the database. The program, which opened officially for the acceptance of trade-ins in January, will run for six weeks. Based upon demand, it may be operated again next year. In the past, programs such as these have had a two-three year life span.

Publicity and press relations play a major role in the success of these programs. The Hearth Products Association held three press conferences - one in the San Francisco Bay area, one in Sacramento, and one in Fresno - with local junkyards as a backdrop, to dramatize the recycling of the old stoves. In addition to cleaning the air, one of the major goals of this program is to educate the public concerning individual contributions to air pollution and ways in which the public can contribute to air quality improvements.

The local public utility was also an important player in the Great Stove Change-Out. Information on the program, along with an 800 number for consumers to call, was placed in monthly utility bills.

One question that the program seeks to answer is the impact or influence of the amount of the rebate offered on the publics willingness to participate. In the past, rebate programs have offered a range, from $50 up to $200, for the trade-in of higher-emitting products. In this program, the basic incentive comes from the dealers, with additional cash incentives offered by the air districts in some cases.

Model Rule

Because this is a voluntary program, no rule was necessary. An agreement between the local air districts and the Hearth Products Association was negotiated.

Quantification

Quantification of the reduced emissions of particulates and carbon monoxide is accomplished using emission factors developed during field research in western Oregon. Since most Western stoves burn soft woods such as spruce, fir, or cedar, the EPA AP-42 emission factors for wood stoves generally dont apply. (These factors were developed in the east, where the primary woods burned are oak and maple.) AP-42 emission factors will be used for the new pellet stoves and gas units.

Further Information

For further information, contact John Crouch, Hearth Products Association, at 916 536-2390.

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