Glossary · Heating, cooling & ventilation
Certified wood stove (EPA or CSA B415.1)
Also called: EPA-certified wood stove · EPA-certified stove · CSA B415.1 · EPA/CSA-certified
A wood stove or insert tested to meet smoke emission limits under the US EPA standard or Canada's CSA B415.1; it burns cleaner and more efficiently.
What it means
Since 2020, new wood heaters sold in the US must emit no more than 2.0 grams of particles an hour when tested with crib wood, or 2.5 grams with cord wood. CSA B415.1 is the Canadian test of heat output, efficiency and emissions, and some rebates require one standard or the other. CMHC's wood-heating guide says certified, clean-burning appliances cut smoke by as much as 90% compared with conventional ones.
Why it matters in an audit
Certification is the first thing to check on a wood stove: older uncertified models smoke more and burn more wood for the same heat.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your energy advisor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US EPA limit for new wood heaters (2020) | 2.0 g/h with crib wood or 2.5 g/h with cord wood, down from 4.5 g/h under the 2015 limits | epa.gov ↗ |
| Effect (CMHC wood-heating guide) | Certified appliances cut smoke by as much as 90%; advanced stoves are about one-third more efficient on average | publications.gc.ca ↗ |