Wood heating is no longer the most efficient way to heat your home, thanks to high-efficiency home-heating systems. If you still heat your home with wood, be sure to follow Wood Burning Best Practices to help you use less wood, save money and prevent excessive smoke. This also ensures everyone in a community has better health outcomes. Avoid using indoor indoor, open-hearth fireplaces and grandfathered uncertified wood appliances when air quality conditions are poor.
Community wood smoke reduction program
Since 2001, the RDCO has offered a Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) in partnership with the BC Ministry of the Environment and BC Lung Foundation. This program encourages community members to reduce their contribution to air pollution by exchanging their old wood stove for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified product.
This effort has seen more than 1,900 Central Okanagan residents exchange their old, non-EPA certified wood stoves for new appliances. Based on BC Ministry of Environment estimates, these efforts have prevented 175 tonnes of particulate matter from polluting the air in our region each year.
CWSRP incentives for 2024
| Exchange type from uncertified wood to: |
Central Okanagan communities | Westbank First Nation members | Bounty- no exchange needed |
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New electric insert |
$400 |
$400 |
$300 |
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EPA1 wood stove |
$600 |
$1,200 |
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Pellet stove |
$1,000 |
$2,000 |
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Heat pump2 |
$1,500 |
$3,000 |
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OWB to EPA1 OWB |
$600 |
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OWB to Pellet Boiler |
$1,000 |
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OWB to Heat Pump |
$1,500 |
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1- To be eligible for a rebate, the new wood stoves and Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWB) should be emission certified and must meet the following emission limits and legislated setbacks:
- Wood stoves - the emission limit is 2.0 g/h (crib wood) or 2.5g/h (cord wood)
- OWB - the emission limits for EPA 2020 Residential Hydronic Heaters is, 0.10 lb/mmbtu heat output for each individual burn rate (crib wood) or 0.15 lb/mmBtu heat output for each individual burn rate (cord wood) and meet the legislated setbacks:
- OWB must meet legislated setbacks to provincial regulations the OWB should be installed not less than 40 m from each parcel’s boundaries. If the boiler uses pelletized fuel then must be installed not less than 10 m from each of the parcel’s boundaries.
2- For uncertified wood stove to heat pump exchanges, an additional $300 incentive may be offered if the wood stove is removed and demolished.
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Please note: effective January 1, 2023 exchanges from wood stoves to natural gas or propane-fired appliances will no longer be supported. This change aligns the program with the climate targets in the Clean BC Roadmap to 2030. Check for available rebates at Fortis BC or BC Hydro. Options for exchanges under the CWSRP include:
CWSRP incentives for 2024Incentives are available to residents living in the Central Okanagan.
The CWSRP incentive can be provided with other incentives, providing all exchange program requirements are met. Be sure to check:
Participating wood stove exchange program stores:
Why exchange your wood stove?
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Information and resources on wood smoke
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Myths and facts about wood smoke |
Myth - Wood smoke is not harmfulFactThe negative health effects of wood smoke have been extensively documented in hundreds of scientific studies. Pollution generated by wood burning is associated with an array of health problems – from a runny nose and coughing, to bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, contributing to premature death. Myth - “I can shut my windows and I'll be fine”FactSmoke contains tiny particles that are carcinogenic. The fine particle pollutants from wood burning are so small that they infiltrate even the most well-insulated and weather-stripped homes. Studies show that particle pollution levels inside homes reach up to 70% of the outdoor pollution levels. Myth – Pollution from wood burning is not significant enough to affect overall air qualityFactIn the Central Okanagan, 30% of air pollution comes from residential wood burning appliances and another 8% from open burning - 38% is a significant amount of air pollution that we can reduce. Myth – Wood is more cost effective than other fuelsFactDepending on your house's characteristics, there are other inexpensive options like natural gas. Fireplaces are inefficient; residents would have to burn more wood to heat their homes using a fireplace than using a wood appliance. If you must choose wood burning as your source of heating for your home, EPA-certified wood burning appliances heat more efficiently, using about 1/3 less wood and creating 90% less smoke. Myth – Wood burning fireplaces are a safe way to heat homesFactWood burning appliances are safe only when used properly. |
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Wood heating best practices and troubleshooting |
Wood heating best practices:Highly visible smoke from your chimney is a sign that you may be burning incorrectly. Learn more about:
Why the moisture content of wood is importantBurning wet wood is a waste of energy. When a live tree is cut, the moisture content can be greater than 50% (half of the weight is water). It is best practice to let freshly cut wood sit for at least 6 months to dry before burning it. Burning seasoned wood helps reduce air pollution, saves time and money. In the Central Okanagan, the moisture content of the wood is required to be under 20%, preferably around 15%. Check with local hardware retailers for the availability of wood moisture metre measuring devices.
Wood heating troubleshooting: |
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Wood smoke, air quality, and your health |
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The BC Lung Foundation and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy outline health impacts in their brochure Wood Smoke and Your Health.
In the Central Okanagan, 30% of air pollution comes from residential wood burning. Wood smoke contains small particles (PM2.5) and chemicals that can be harmful to your health and the local air quality in your community. If you use wood for heating your home or other purposes, it is your responsibility to burn wisely. Poor air quality conditions happen when:
Scientific and medical research proves that wood smoke contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health:
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Video resources |
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