Wood Stove Exchange Program

November 6, 2009

Residents in participating BC communities with old wood stoves now have a financial incentive to buy a new wood stove that causes less air pollution. Eligible residents can get a $250 rebate when they trade in an old wood stove for a new lower emission stove.

The program is comparable to existing “cash for clunkers” programs in B.C. and other jurisdictions that reduce tailpipe emissions by offering rebates to drivers who scrap their old vehicles and buy new, low-emission vehicles. “We’re not trying to encourage residents to go out and buy new wood stoves if they are already heating their homes with natural gas or electric baseboard heaters,” said Joe Trasolini, the Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Environment and Energy Committee. “The program is aimed at people who already own an old stove – usually a stove that’s 15 years or older – and are burning wood in their homes during the cooler months of the year,” said Trasolini, who is also the Mayor of Port Moody. “They can make the air cleaner and healthier for their families, neighbours and communities by replacing it with a newer cleaner-burning wood stove.”

Although people have been burning wood since the beginning of time, we now understand that wood smoke contains a mix of chemicals and microscopic particles that can cause or aggravate respiratory and other health problems. To reduce people’s exposure to wood smoke, the B.C. government is funding the wood stove exchange program in communities throughout the province.

Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional District, the B.C. Lung Association and several home heating retailers are working together on wood stove exchange programs to protect air quality in this region.

To find out which wood stoves and heating appliances can be traded in and which can be purchased as replacements, and to confirm whether or not you reside within the program area check the links below for the “Wood Stove Exchange Program.” in your area.

www.metrovancouver.org

www.fvrd.bc.ca

www.bcairquality.ca