Woodstove Changeout
There is a vast difference in performance between old model wood stoves and modern, certified wood-burning appliances.
*Modern wood stoves emit up to 95% less emissions than out-of-date models and use 35-50% less wood.
*Reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions means cleaner air for communities and will help provincial and federal governments reach carbon targets.
*New certified clean burning wood stoves require >30-50 less wood than older stoves to generate the same amount of heat. This means less wood needs to be cut, split, stored and carried to review the same benefits.
Wood stove changeout programs (sometimes called exchange programs) have been active in North America for more than ten years. In many cases, local users have benefitted from financial incentives and educational programming, leading to reduced emissions for the community.
British Columbia - British Columbia has the most robust, longest-running program in Canada.
More than 45 municipal partners have been involved, as well as 20 regional districts.
Since 2008, more than 7000 stoves have been exchanged. That’s an annual reduction of approximately 400 tonnes of particulate matter.
Many communities have embraced the program and contributed additional funds of their own. This has led to increased effectiveness.
Ontario – Implementing a wood stove exchange program was part of the 2016 Ontario Climate Change Action Plan. Progress is occurring and we expect more news on the Modern Wood Heating Pilot Program soon.
Quebec – More than 4500 old wood stoves were exchanged in Quebec from 2012-2013. Goals of the program included a reduction in the number of winter smog days and a reduction in health care costs related to poor air quality.
New Brunswick – In 2016, the province of New Brunswick ran a changeout program, offering $250 to eligible users. The program was a partnership with the Lung Association.
Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia currently offers rebates and financing so that residents can switch from electric heat to wood heat.
State of Vermont recently released a five year plan with the goal of achieving ‘35% of the state’s’ heating needs through wood heat. They estimate annual savings of $120 million and a 40 million gallon reduction in fossil fuel use. There is already an established logging industry in the state and companies producing wood pellets. Wood heat also keeps money in the state – 78 cents from every dollar spent on imported fossil fuels leaves the state. The installation of more wood heating systems across the state could lower fuel costs for households, businesses and public services, as well as create jobs in rural communities.
Ontario is helping people in northern, rural and Indigenous communities save on energy costs, fight climate change and improve air quality by reducing the use of greenhouse gas-intensive fuel sources and old, inefficient wood stoves.
May 2, 2018
The Massachusetts government has announced $450,000 in funding for the 2018 Commonwealth Woodstove Change-out Program, which provides rebates to homeowners two replace older, inefficient woodstoves with cleaner, EPA-certified wood and pellet stoves that use less fuel and reduce energy costs.
March 28, 2018
The Vermillion Hutterite Colony southwest of Winnipeg is no longer relying on coal to heat its buildings, because they are now relying on renewable bio-heat.
March 27, 2018
SEEKONK — Wood stoves are a way for home and business owners to assert their energy independence by using wood pellets or logs as an alternative
heating fuel.
But many of those stoves were early models designed in the 1970s and ‘80s and lack the energy efficiency and cleaner burning capabilities
of later models.
March 26, 2018
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is committing $500,000 to help fund an American Lung Association program targeting high-emitting wood stoves in North Carolina – replacing them with cleaner, more efficient models.
March 15, 2018
BAY AREA, CA – Bay Area residents in areas highly affected by wood smoke and air pollution now can get funds to replace their wood-burning fireplaces or stoves with cleaner heating options, air quality officials said.
January 12, 2018
COURTENAY, B.C. – The City of Courtenay will be taking a look at the use of wood stoves for home heating in the city. During Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Larry Jangula brought a motion aimed at offering residents an incentive to improve their wood stoves, due to their impact on air in the city.
December 20, 2017
Waterbury Center, VT – On Thursday, November 2nd, a coalition of nonprofits, local businesses, and state agencies facilitated by Renewable Energy Vermont unveiled a plan of policy, workforce development, and outreach recommendations to help lower energy costs, boost Vermont’s economy, sustain forestlands, and reduce net carbon emissions.
November 2017
RENO, Nev (KOLO) Wood, pellet, and gas burning stoves are inviting AND pretty to look at, and they generate plenty of heat. They also put fewer particulates into the air than other stoves.
November 8, 2017
Ontario's action plan on climate change is expected to include a program that would help rural residents swap out older wood stoves and replace them with a more efficient model.
June 8, 2016
Electrical engineers Mike Elmergreen and his wife Sue Dorscheid are warm and cozy in their big new home in the Town of Belgium, using an old-fashioned fuel in a state-of-the-art hot water heating system
April 18, 2018
Gov. Phil Scott’s administration is proposing a budget cut that would stymie a program dedicated to developing Vermont’s renewable energy economy.
April 12, 2018
Vermont Business Magazine The sap is flowing all over Vermont this month and sugarmakers are firing up their evaporators to create that liquid gold, maple syrup.
March 26, 2018
Commonly associated with rocketing skyscrapers and the Manhattan Skyline, bustling city life, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and many other tourist attractions and landmarks, there is much more to New York than its metropolitan area.
March 6, 2018
Even before it's up and running, the City of Yellowknife has won a sustainability award for its plan to reduce the city's emissions with new wood pellet boilers.
February 7, 2018
In an era where many people have switched to using heat pumps and places like Montreal have placed restrictions on the use of wood stoves and fireplaces that emit above a certain limit of particulate, Friesen said that wood burning remains a popular form of heat in Nova Scotia.
January 4, 2018
The main thrust of Montreal’s wood-burning bylaw is set to kick in later this year, and the question is: will it work to reduce air pollution or was it just a public relations exercise?
January 4, 2018
The power has suddenly gone out. Are you ready for an emergency?
December 19, 2017
ECO Strategy has thirty years of media relations experience with programs relevant to remote and rural areas of Canada. We are experienced with many energy efficiency and conservation incentive province-wide programs - including Save ON Energy and Refrigerator Roundup.
For more information, please visit www.ecostrategy.ca
For more information on wood stove changeout programs, please visit HPBAC, Canada’s Heath, Patio and Barbeque trade association.