Here’s how you can save some money now and reduce harmful air pollution!
Thousands of dollars in rebates are now available for replacing your old wood stove. Huge savings are available through Federal, provincial and regional rebate programs for completing energy efficient upgrades, plus you can save money every year from lower heating and cooling costs.
The Great Okanagan and Similkameen Woodstove Exchange Program is one rebate available for residents living in municipal and rural areas of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.
Residents are eligible for $250 rebates for recycling their non-EPA certified woodstove and replacing it with a new cleaner technology electric, pellet, gas or wood stove or insert. Hurry in to your participating retailer and learn about further discounts, but don’t delay as rebates are limited. Since 2001, the exchange program has helped clean up our air by assisting more than 1,500 people in replacing their old smoky wood stove for a cleaner technology product.
The federal ecoEnergy rebate program also offers rebates for woodstove exchanges and has been extended until March 31, 2012. Registered participants can qualify for a $375 rebate for replacing a wood burning appliance with an EPA certified wood burning appliance, pellet stove or masonry heater. Program participants are also encouraged to complete other energy efficiency upgrades, and can qualify for up to $5,000 in rebates.
The provincial efficiency incentive program, LiveSmart BC, has also been extended until March 31, 2013.
Registered participants can qualify for a $500 rebate for replacing an existing wood stove or gas fireplace with a pellet stove that meets or exceeds Washington State emission standards. The LiveSmart program also offers thousands of dollars in incentives for completing energy efficient upgrades.
Residents that live in FortisBC service areas may also qualify for a $300 rebate on the purchase and installation of an EnerChoice fireplace until May 31, 2012. For more information on this and other FortisBC incentives and programs for energy efficiency, visit:
www.fortisbc.com.
To qualify for the federal or provincial rebate, you must have an energy audit completed by a certified energy advisor before starting any upgrades and again after completion. There is a fee for the initial and final audit. The energy advisor will assist you through the process to ensure that you meet all requirements for federal and provincial rebates. A list of certified energy advisors can be found at www.livesmartbc.ca or by calling 1-866-430-8765.
For more information on the above programs and for a list of participating hearth retailers visit the RODS website, www.rdos.bc.ca and click on the heading “Departments”, then click on “Public Works” - “Air Quality” - “Wood Heating” or pick up the information sheets at the RODS office @ 101 Martin St.