For the first time, residents of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) will be eligible to receive a $250 rebate when they change out their old wood stoves with newer, low-emission appliances as part of a new regional wood stove exchange program.
The regional district is offering 26 exchange program rebates available on a first-come, first-serve basis to people who live in Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos and the four electoral areas. At this time, the program is not extended to residents in the City of Campbell River, where a successful wood stove exchange program has been in place for several years.
“The regional district is excited to take part in this initiative,” says John MacDonald, chair of the regional district board. “Other communities across the province have benefited from this program since it was first rolled out in 2008, including the City of Campbell River. I’m thrilled that we can now offer it to all residents in our rural and remote communities. The smoke generated from older wood stoves can be detrimental to the air quality in all our communities. Implementing this program supports our goal and overall mission to provide our citizens with a healthy environment.”
The exchange program encourages residents currently using an older, smoky wood stove to exchange it for a low-emission appliance including new CSA-/EPA-certified wood stove, pellet stove, or gas stove/fireplace. The process includes providing evidence that the old stove has been decommissioned and the new stove has been installed in compliance with building codes.
“The regional district is hoping to exchange 26 woodstoves this year as it rolls out this program for the first time,” says Victoria Smith, program lead for the regional district’s wood stove exchange program. “Our goal is to provide people with an incentive to burn more efficiently and contribute to improving the air quality in our communities.”
Launching the exchange program in the Strathcona region is made possible through funding from B.C.’s wood stove exchange program.
The province, in partnership with the BC Lung Association, first introduced the initiative as part of the BC Air Action Plan with a goal to improve air quality by reducing air pollution caused wood stoves. Since 2008 it has provided more than $2.2 million in funding to communities across province, and has seen the decommission of over 6,000 uncertified wood stoves and an estimated reduction of 1,590 tonnes of fine particulate matter emissions. To participate in the exchange program, contact the SRD at 250-830-6700 or by email at rebates@strathconard.ca
Information on the program is available at, strathconard.ca