The provincial wood stove exchange program is run on a community level, meaning local governments, non-profit organizations and airshed/air quality management organizations in B.C. can apply for funding to implement an exchange program. By concentrating exchanges in communities that demonstrate a real need to improve air quality related to wood burning, the programs have an opportunity to demonstrate noticeable and measurable improvements.
If you are thinking about exchanging your old wood stove, check to see if you live in an area running a community-based exchange program and contact your local government office for more information. The participating communities for 2010-2011 are:
Each area may run their program slightly differently but in general they may require a photo or some proof that the old stove has been in use, proof that the new stove has been installed (in compliance with current building codes), and proof that the old stove has been destroyed. Community coordinators can help you through this process.
Once these steps are complete, a rebate will be issued to you in the amount of $250 or greater*. In addition to the rebates, the programs also offer education and training on using your new appliance to maximize efficiency and reduce the amount of smoke produced. Contact the community coordinator in your area for workshop schedules and other opportunities. See Getting the Most Out of Your New Wood Stove for tips to increase your stove’s efficiency.
* Some communities provide a top off to the provincial rebates. These range from $50 to $500.
In addition to the Provincial rebates offered in certain communities, the Hearth Patio and BBQ Association of Western Canada contributes by offering a discount of $150 or greater during the months of March and April at participating dealers. Dealers in areas running the provincial program are most likely to participate in the industry program. As in the community exchange program, the old stove must be removed and destroyed.
Further rebates are available through the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program, including $500 for a new pellet stove/insert. This provincial program helps you improve your home’s energy efficiency. A certified Energy Advisor conducts an energy audit of your home and makes recommendations for improvements. Once you carry out these improvements, a second audit is conducted of your home to assess the results. You may qualify for a variety of incentives. See the LiveSmart BC Program for more details.
In British Columbia, all new wood stoves and inserts sold must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA) emission standards. All stoves come with a label that specifies the emissions output in grams per hour.
Choose a stove that will meet your heating needs and help maximize efficiency. Qualifying replacement products include EPA-certified wood stoves, inserts, and select certified wood furnaces, as well as any appliance that burns pellet fuel. Pellet stoves are some of the cleanest-burning heating appliances available today and deliver high overall efficiency.
To learn more about choosing a new stove, see:
Even though your new stove meets emission standards, maximizing the efficiency of its operation is up to you. Here are some general tips that will help you burn smart:
For more information on burning smart, see:
A Guide to Residential Wood Heating (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
The goal of the Provincial Wood Stove Exchange program is to reduce the amount of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) contained in wood smoke produced around homes and communities.
Each stove replaced can reduce smoke and PM2.5 by up to 90%. For this reason, old stoves must not be used again; they must be destroyed. Whether you or an installer are removing the old stove, take these steps to render it non-useable: remove the doors, bash in the flue collar, remove the firebrick from the appliance and deliver the body to the designated public works yards and/or transfer station where it can be picked up by a recycler.
Top