This past week we were in Vermont for the EPA’s announcement of the Phase II Hydronic Heater Program. After you get past the name (which is a general term that refers to pellet, corn and wood boilers) you might ask  yourself what is so significant about this program?

First, as a consumer it means that there will be able to identify cleaner wood and biomass products from other dirtier products. The cleaner products carry a White Tag rather than the Orange Tag (from the Phase I program). These new units are 90% cleaner than traditional wood boilers rather than 70% cleaner than those that complied with the Phase I standards. Some products (like the Greenwood Aspen Series) qualified for both Phase I and Phase II. 

The second distinction is that it places all residential biomass heating appliances in the same category. This is similar to a fuel mileage rating system for automobiles where SUVs and hybrids gas mileage can be compared. In the case of wood boilers, the rating provides you an understanding of what type of output you get based on your fuel preference or installation location. Indoor and outdoor products as well as pellet, corn and log wood fuels are all on the same scale. As a consumer you have more information in which to make your decision.

Expect to hear a lot more about the White Tag or for more information head to the EPA site.