Central Okanagan residents can clear the air in their homes and neighbourhoods through a regional district (RDCO) rebate program.
The Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) helps residents replace old, polluting wood-burning appliances with cleaner, more efficient technology.
Old wood-burning appliances are inefficient and a significant source of air pollution, releasing harmful particulate emissions that can negatively impact health, an RDCO media release states. "Upgrading to new EPA-certified appliances helps reduce air pollutants and improves the quality of life for people with asthma or other respiratory issues."
Incentives:
- Emission-certified wood replacements (EPA 2020 or CAN/CSA B415.1): $600;
- Westbank First Nation Members: $1,200;
- New pellet stoves/inserts: $1,000;
- Westbank First Nation Members: $2,000;
- Electric heat pumps: $1,500;
- Westbank First Nation Members: $3,000;
- Bounty (recycle wood-burning appliance with no exchange): $300;
- Electric inserts: $400 rebate.
鈥淏y upgrading, you鈥檙e not only choosing cleaner air for the whole community, but you鈥檙e also directly benefiting your own family's health," explained Nancy Mora Castro, regional air quality program coordinator. "Scientific and medical research proves that wood smoke contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health, and EPA certified products are proven to reduce toxic chemicals in wood smoke."
Residents can visit participating wood stove exchange program stores, Fireplace Den & Deck, White's Barbecue and Fireplace Centre or FireCraft for assistance with recycling old wood-burning appliances and k. There is a limit of one rebate per household.
For more details about the program requirements visit the .
