Financial incentive offered to those interested in replacing their wood-burning stove

The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has partnered with the BC Lung Association to help reduce the amount of carbon and other pollutants within the province.

This year, $300,00 will be distributed to fifteen communities within the province through the British Columbia Lung Association.

Vanderhoof will be accepting $8,000, while Prince George will receive $3,000.

$250 will be available to those who choose to update to a cleaner-burning wood stove, while $400 will be offered to those willing to upgrade to electric heat pumps, as well as gas, propane, or pellet-fuelled stoves.

“Over the past twelve years that we’ve been running this program… we have removed over 400 tons of particulate from our air shed,” according to Manager of the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable, Kim Menounos.

The Ministry of Environment also encourages those who use wood-burning stoves to consider seasoning firewood for six months before burning, as well as burning smaller, hotter fires to save money and reduce smoke.

Those interested in learning more about the Wood Stove Exchange Program should visit the provincial government’s website.