Wood stove swaps will clean air

A wood stove swap program in Lake,
Porter, Jasper and Newton counties can net participants a voucher of
$1,000 toward purchase of a new EPA-certified wood stove and up to
$4,000 to replace an outdoor wood boiler (hydronic heater).

The
American Lung Association’s Wood Stove Changeout Program is already
underway in those counties, where residents are going to
program-approved dealers to buy the new stoves and arrange for
installation. During installation the old stove or boiler can be taken
away or made inoperable.

Older wood stoves and hydronic
systems relying on wood boilers contribute significantly to air
pollution. Newer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified stoves
and boilers burn cleaner and protect the environment.

“Replacing
older, high polluting stoves with new ones is one of the quickest ways
for communities to reduce particle pollution,” said Kathy Drea, vice
president of advocacy for the American Lung Association of the Upper
Midwest.

For more details on the program and how to
participate, wood stove and boiler owners can call the American Lung
Association help line at (800) 548-8252 or go to the American Lung
Association in Indiana Web site at www.LungIN.org and click on the “2014 Wood Stove Changeout Program” link on the right side of the home page.