An American Dream Goes Up in Smoke-article

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Illinois Sierra Club Newsletter

An American Dream Goes Up in Smoke

by Barbara Vrchota

Joel Laws has a problem. "My wife and I are a recently newly married couple and moved into our first home together in December of 2005. If you can, for a second, try to remember when you and your significant other first started out in the adult world. Imagine starting a chapter in your life of starting a family, moving into a new home and looking forward toward your future together."

"Now imagine having all that taken from you. This was our case, as we have had our clean air and enjoyment of our property taken from us without a choice. Additionally, we have been told by our community leaders and our state and federal public administrators that we don’t have a legitimate complaint for our clean air. This is what has happened to us by our neighbors’ actions by installing an Outdoor Wood Boiler."

What is an Outdoor Wood Boiler (OWB). According to Central Boiler and Outdoor Boilers of Michigan’s web page, it is an efficient way to provide your home with all your heating needs. A homeowner can eliminate problems indoors caused by the standard indoor wood stove. There is no more tending to the stove, or fire hazards. Outdoorwoodfurnace.com claims in its ad that it can lower utility bills, and heat water heaters, spas, pools, and garages.

Here’s another burning question. Is it an eyesore? Does it take up a lot of yard space? Surfing sites such as www.centralboilers.com, you’ll find photos of these heat sources, which resemble small aluminum or wood sheds.

It doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Well, shortly after Joel and Melissa moved into their home in Albers, IL, a neighbor installed an outdoor wood boiler. Soon came the smoke and soot. Joel says it killed the bushes around the house and turned their white-sided home yellow. Next, constant sore throats, coughing and headaches started. The only way to relieve the symptoms was to leave the house. They were sick of being sick, says Joel.

Sounds nightmarish, but it only gets worse. When Joel contacted his local municipality, he was told he has no complaint. He can’t do a thing to protect the air he and Melissa breathe in or around their house. Joel says, "I have become passionate about my freedom for clean air. I had this circumstance brought upon my wife and I without choice. I am looking for support in any way possible."

After the holidays, Joel and Melissa decided to move from their home. Their American dream has, unfortunately, gone up in smoke.

There is some good news in of all this. Joel and Melissa have created a web page on myspace to educate the public and hopefully make a change. "I want the state to at minimum require people to fall under what the U.S. EPA standards are for these things. Not within 100 feet of someone’s home, not be used as a primary heat source, and burn dry seasoned wood. If my neighbor did any of the above items, we may still be able to live in our home." Joel says.

Joel Laws is now the Central States Regions Director for the Clean Air Revival Now, a non-profit group in California. Learn more about OWBs at www.burningissues.com or myspace.com80/freedomofair.

This article was featured in the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club’s newsletter, Lake and Prairie, cited below:

Vrchota, Barbara. (2008). An American dream goes up in smoke. Lake and Prairie, 49(2), 34.

Note: The author accidentally cited the websites incorrectly in the final paragraph. They should read http://burningissues.org and www.myspace.com/freedomofair