Communities throughout the province, including Prince George, will benefit from cleaner air as a result of $270,000 from the 2020-21 Wood Stove Exchange Program.
Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable has received $7,000 to help support the program.
The program provides incentives to people to replace old, smoky wood stoves with cleaner options.
A total of 19 communities have applied for funding to continue their exchange program, or have sufficient funding from previous years to continue offering rebates.
Burning wood creates significant air pollution by increasing particulate matter in the air.
Also known as PM 2.5, this fine particulate matter can cause health problems.
The Wood Stove Exchange Program reduces local air pollution by helping people trade out old wood stoves for cleaner sources of heat, such as electric heat pumps, gas or pellet stoves, or new emission-certified wood stoves.
Eligible British Columbians can apply for:
* $250 for changing to a cleaner-burning wood stove;
* $400 for changing to a qualifying electric heat pump, gas or propane stove, or pellet-fuelled stove; and
* $500 for those who live in “Red Zone” communities. These are areas where fine particulate matter exceeds the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards. Residents can use the money to change to a heat pump, gas or propane stove, or pellet-fuelled stove.
The annual program has helped replace around 9,000 old stoves with cleaner options.
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