Policy Considerations
Some incentive programs, such as the Arizona state program, provide incentives to replace open fireplaces with wood stoves or fireplace inserts. This serves the dual purpose of helping the homeowner obtain an appliance that actually produces heat and burns cleanly, as well as inhibiting that homeowner from using the fireplace in its traditional manner. Depending on funds, Fort Collins, Colorado periodically has a zero loan program that allows homeowners to upgrade from a fireplace or wood stove to a certified wood stove/insert or pellet stove 3. Upgrading from a traditional fireplace to an insert not only will result in air quality improvements, but will actually increase overall home energy efficiency by acting to better seal the building envelope.

Many changeout programs focus only on replacing uncertified wood stoves without accounting for the effects that fireplaces have on air sheds. While it is difficult to calculate these effects due to periodic and unpredictable fireplace usage, these devices often emit very high levels of particulates per hour. One EPA report estimates the average (non-EPA qualified) fireplace can emit 85.4 g/hr4 while the EPA Burnwise program reports uncertified wood stoves at between 15-30 g/hr.5 Replacing uncertified wood stoves will generally have the greatest effect on air quality since they are typically used more often, but because of the potential of some fireplaces to emit large levels of particulates, they should not be overlooked when considering air quality improvement programs.