If you use an old wood burning stove or wood fireplace insert, here’s a chance for you to upgrade to a cleaner burning unit and save some money while improving local air quality!
From March through April 30, municipal and regional area residents of the RODS region can receive a $250 rebate when they replace and render unusable their old wood stove or wood insert with a new EPA/CSA emission-approved wood, gas, pellet or electric appliance. But don’t delay as this offer is good only to the first 60 exchanges.
Participating retailers are also offering upfront a discount of $150 or more. They have all the information needed as well as documentation that shows the emission ratings of all the new stoves.
In many valley communities in B.C., smoke from wood burning units is the greatest source of particulate matter next to open burning. Particulate matter is one of the main pollutants that leads to poor air quality and can have serious health impacts. Upgrading is important, but equally important is the operation of a wood stove, the firewood used, and the chimney. New EPA wood stoves when operated correctly will reduce smoke pollution by 90 per cent and use 1/3 less wood. Chimney smoke is a sign of an inefficient burn, producing unnecessary air pollution, and wasting wood.
To learn more about achieving an efficient burn with a wood stove or wood insert, attend the Wood Heating Workshop on March 151, at the Community Skills Center, 206
Vermilion Avenue in Princeton. Workshop starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. Come early (anytime between 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.) and see the outdoor burn display where an old inefficient wood stove is compared to the technology of a new wood stove. Witness the difference. There will be prizes courtesy of Mr. Fireplace and North West Stoves. There will be nothing dry about this workshop except the wood.
For more information on the Great Okanagan Similkameen Wood Stove Exchange
Program visit one of the participating retailers: Princeton Builders Mart, Bob’s Stove
Repair, Accent Living, Okanagan Home Centre, Penticton Home Hardware, and OK Falls Red Barn. You can also obtain information on the RDOS website: www.rdos.bc.ca
(click on Departments - Air Quality - Wood Heating).