Province funds Metro Vancouver wood-stove exchange program

The B.C. government, in partnership with the B.C. Lung Association, is providing more than $165,000 in funding to replace old wood-burning stoves and improve air quality across the province in the coming year.

The provincial wood-stove exchange program provides a $250 rebate to homeowners who replace their older-model wood stove with a new wood-burning, pellet or natural gas stove, according to a Ministry of Environment news release.

“British Columbians are firing up their old wood stoves as the cold, still nights of winter begin,” the ministry said. “Unfortunately, this leads to increased air pollution and air quality advisories as the smoke may be trapped near the ground in this type of weather. This results in certain areas of the province seeing more air quality advisories in colder months.”

The ministry said newer emissions-certified wood stoves burn one-third less wood and reduce smoke. Last year, nearly 600 stoves were exchanged throughout B.C. and since 2008, communities have received almost $2.7 million in funding to replace more than 7000 wood-burning stoves and inserts with newer models.

This has led to a reduction of close to 500 tonnes of particulate matter emissions entering the air each year, according to the ministry.

Funding for the 2017 Wood Stove Exchange Program:

n Regional District of Central Okanagan — $7,100

n Regional District of Central Kootenay — $15,500

n Regional District of Kootenay Boundary — $6,500

n Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable — $13,600

n Bulkley Valley and Lakes District Airshed Management Society — $8,700

n District of Coldstream — $14,000

n Metro Vancouver — $15,500

n Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society — $9,500

n Regional District of Nanaimo — $19,750

n Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District — $15,600

n Strathcona Regional District — $13,400

n Comox Valley Regional District — $17,100

n Golden and District Air Quality Committee — $11,000

n Cowichan Valley Regional District — $22,750