Haefner's company produces high efficiency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified wood burning stoves under the brand names MagnuM and Country Flame.
The silver lining is that switching to newer, "greener" stoves comes with rebates of up to $3,000 plus possible federal tax credits up to $1,500.
Alternately known as The Clean heat Exchange Program or The Great American Stove Changeout Program, Apache/Navajo County low income residents who opt for the change-out are now eligible for rebates between $1,000-$3,000 when changing out old non-efficient stoves for the new cleaner burning appliances.
The new units are EPA certified wood stoves and fireplace inserts emitting "almost no visible smoke" while also generating minimal ash, according to Haefner. The pellet/multi fuel flex stoves/inserts are capable of efficiently burning renewable fuels like ground dried wood, dry corn kernels, cherry pits, wheat, switch grass pellets along with many other renewable green burning higher efficiency fuels.
Officially kicking off on June 12, all qualifying residents in the two counties can now apply to have one of the new units installed in their home by an National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certified professional which must be done by Dec. 31 of this year.
According to a press release from Haefner's office about the program additional retailer rebates of around 30 percent (up to $1,500) may also apply.
According to the EPA, benefits of replacing inefficient wood stoves include reduction of fine particles and toxic air pollution by 70 percent, and indoor reduction of PM2.5 emissions by 55 percent - 70 percent according to the University of Montana, improvement of energy efficiency by 50 percent and significant climate benefits coming from reductions in methane, black carbon and CO2 put out by older less efficient units.
The EPA says changing out 25 inefficient wood stoves would result in reducing 1 ton of fine particles per-year. To date, over 13,000 wood stoves and fireplaces changed out in more than 45 communities has resulted in an estimated $84 million per-year savings of health benefits in the United States.
Replacing all nine million old, dirty stoves in the nation would save $35 billion in health benefits each year, say EPA experts.
For more information about the program visit www.epa.gov or contact American Energy Systems at (800) 495-3196 or visit their Web site at www.americanenergysystems.com.
*Reach the reporter at mleiby@wmicentral.com