The Sunshine Coast Regional District is one of 13 communities/regional districts that are benefiting from $190,000 in funding from the province to encourage residents to replace their old wood stoves with cleaner burning models.
The money comes from the Ministry of Environment through the wood stove exchange program.
The goal is to have close to 630 stoves exchanged across the province this coming year.
Since 2008, the B.C. government has partnered with the BC Lung Association to run the wood stove exchange program. The program provides a $250 rebate on the purchase of a new wood-burning, pellet or natural gas stove. To-date, the province has put over $2.3 million towards the program, resulting in the purchase of more than 6,000 cleaner burning models.
There are approximately 70,000 older model wood stoves still in use throughout the province. Older higher-polluting wood stoves can affect the health of homeowners, neighbours and overall air shed health.
“Many families throughout B.C. heat their homes with a wood stove or fireplace. Our wood stove exchange program is helping to cut the number of old, inefficient wood stoves in B.C., replacing them with new cost-efficient, environmentally friendly models,” said Minister of Environment Mary Polak. “Families can continue to enjoy a cozy, warm fire while cutting emissions and burning up to a third less wood.”
