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CHARACTERIZATION OF POPULATION AND USAGE OF UNVENTED KEROSENE SPACE HEATERS
Citation:
Barnes, J., P. Holland, AND P. Mihlmester. CHARACTERIZATION OF POPULATION AND USAGE OF UNVENTED KEROSENE SPACE HEATERS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-90/004 (NTIS PB90-155573), 1990.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of a study of the market penetration of unvented kerosene space heaters (UKSHs) in the residential sector, The study was aimed at gathering baseline information to help assess the magnitude and potential severity of a problem involving emissions from unvented appliances, one of a number of synergistic factors affecting indoor air quality. UKSHs can be a significant source of such emissions. UKSH usage patterns were also investigated. Annual sales of UKSHs are estimated at 825,000 units. Leading brands include convective units marketed by Toyotomi USA (Hero-Sun) and Corona USA. Some units contain built-in catalytic filters for odor control. Add-on catalytic filters are available from at least one manufacturer. It is believed that 15-17 million portable UKSHs have been sold in the U. 5. since the early l970s. However, it is estimated that, in the 1986-87 heating season, there were only about 7 million units in use. About half of these units are in the South. Depending on whether UHSHs are used as primary or secondary heating sources, they may be used anywhere from 2 to 17 hours a day. Eighty percent of UHSHs are used in multi-family dwellings and mobile homes. While the number of UHSHs is fairly evenly distributed across income classes, most kerosene consumption is by lower income groups.