The American Lung Association in New Hampshire Announces Woodstove Changeout Project

Non-profit organization partners with G&K and retailers to better New Hampshire’s air quality

Manchester, NH (December 6, 2011)—

The American Lung Association in New Hampshire announced the launch of an $187,000 woodstove changeout project to improve outdoor and indoor air quality in Merrimack, Hillsborough and Rockingham counties.  Residents of these three counties can receive a cash voucher to be redeemed at participating retailers upon trade-in of non- EPA certified woodstove (built pre-1990) for a new woodstove, pellet or gas stove at a participating retailer.

Vouchers are valued at $1,000 towards a new woodstove, $1,500 towards a new pellet or gas stove and $3,000 for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the Medicaid program or the Low Income Heating Assistance Program.  The vouchers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and the program ends upon depletion of funds. Some funding is also available for replacing or retrofitting older outdoor wood boilers and for replacing woodstove catalysts.

American Lung Association in New Hampshire Board Chair Paula Daley DePlanche unveiled the project at a press event held at Armstrong Hearth and Home in Manchester. “This is a project where everyone is a winner.  We can improve indoor and outdoor air quality, help people replace inefficient stoves with new, cleaner burning ones and support local businesses in these three counties.” 

In April, the American Lung Association released their most recent “State of the Air” report. The report highlights the air quality in each state, separated by county. New Hampshire received passing grades for particle pollution, but many counties received grades of “F” for ozone pollution.

The non-profit organization recently managed a similar woodstove changeout program.  “We are completing a large project like this one in Western Massachusetts where over 150 families received vouchers for cleaner burning stoves. The community response to that program was overwhelming,“ DePlanche continued.  “We expect the same kind of enthusiastic response here in southern New Hampshire.”

At this time the following retailers have signed up to participate:

The project was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action, United States v. Alltex Uniform Rental Services Inc. (G&K Services) taken on behalf for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act.

“G&K Services is pleased to be working with the American Lung Association of New England to improve the air quality in Manchester and surrounding communities,” said Richard J. Stutz, G&K Services’ Senior Vice President of Operations. “G&K Services remains steadfast in its commitment to the environment and the health and well-being of its employees, customers and the communities it serves.”

For more information about the project call (800) 548-8252 or visit www.lungne.org/woodstove.

The American Lung Association of New England is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. ALANE serves CT, MA, ME, NH, RI and VT.

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