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Cut into Wood’s
Secondary Heating Market Share
By: Jacob Peterson
ationally, 2.3 million households still use course, give off oxygen. But they also act as nat-
wood as their primary space heating ural carbon sinks and absorb CO2 directly from
fuel. While the propane industry has the air. The environmental and public health
Nhistorically focused on engaging house- benefits of transitioning wood-burning dwellings
holds that burn wood as their primary heating to propane fireplaces for secondary heating pur-
source, too often we’ve failed to engage home- poses are immense.
owners who rely on wood for secondary and sup- Fast Facts:
plemental heating purposes – wood stoves and
fireplaces. In fact, 8.8 million homes burn wood • 1.8 million households use wood for second-
for secondary heating. Each year, 153.2 trillion ary heating purposes in the Northeast
Btus of wood are burned for non-primary resi- • 3.2 million households use wood for second-
dential heating purposes, which is the equivalent ary heating purposes in the South
of 16.7 million gallons of propane. • 1.7 million households use wood for second-
Wood smoke contains high levels of ary heating purposes in the Midwest
particulate matter that can negatively affect our • 2.1 million households use wood for second-
respiratory and cardiovascular systems and de- ary heating purposes in the West
grades local air quality. Burning propane instead
of wood prevents deforestation and a reduction For more information, contact NPGA’s Se-
in woody habitat for flora and fauna. And trees, of nior Director of State Advocacy & Affairs, Jacob
Peterson.■
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