Ironic not to have woodstove help
Dear editor:
I’d like to thank tom Isherwood for beating me to the punch on the British Columbia Wood Stove Rebate Program, or in the case of the RDOS, the lack thereof (Herald, Letters, Jan. 11).
Last year my family spent $10,000 on replacing two 40-year-old wood stoves with one pellet burner that is technically eligible for a $400 rebate and the other being a catalytic wood burning that qualifies for a $250 rebate.
But because I live in Penticton I don't get to apply for either. One more reason Kelowna is looking more attractive. Heck, even Peachland residents qualify for the rebate program.
Ready for the absurd irony on this issue? A North American top-tier wood stove manufacturer as per the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency's schedule of high efficiency wood burning stoves is located and has operations right here in Penticton. That being Valley Comfort Systems or if you prefer Blaze King. I just got off the phone with them. The Penticton facility currently employs 70 souls. Let the spin begin. Daniel Pontes
Penticton packaging or they would change their suppliers. In 10 weeks, 2,000 products were repackaged and they reported that the solutions were economically feasible.
Rather than wait for our government to pass legislation banning single-use plastics, we the consumer have the power right now to demand safer environmental packaging. There is plant-based cellulose and wood pulp and beeswax products as well as the old fashioned butchers wrap paper.
The last time I bought meat, I bypassed the meat in plastic trays and asked the butcher to cut me the meat and wrap it in butcher paper.
He graciously complied after I explained that I was not wanting to take home all those useless plastic trays.
There are many products in cardboard boxes and you can carry a reusable metal water bottle for starters and I take a container with me to restaurants to take home leftovers. Store managers need to directly hear from the customer.
Penticton is blessed with three excellent butcher shops that don’t wrap their meat in layers of plastic and I notice the bigger stores are starting to eliminate at least one layer of the plastic tray.
Good start, but they can do better.
Get out and vote with your right to choice and your pocket book. Mother Nature may yet be able to bless and thank us with a safe environment to live in. Patricia Kristie Penticton