By Ashley Legassic

City of Kamloops launches wood stove and fireplace rebate program

Jan 17, 2019 | 9:24 AM

KAMLOOPS — Residents in Kamloops could receive up to $1,100 in rebates for upgrading their old, uncertified wood-burning appliance for a new, certified, low-emission heating option.

The City of Kamloops has launched the program in partnership with the BC Lung Association and the provincial government for its second year.

In a news release, the City says its Airshed Management Plan aims to minimize harmful contaminant emissions from wood-burning appliances. Using dry, seasoned wood in an EPA-certified stove produces up to 70 per cent fewer particulate emissions compared to an uncertified wood stove, Sustainability Program Coordinater Josephine Howitt says.

“We ran it for the first time in 2018 and had 29 wood burning appliances exchanged,” Howitt says. “So building on that success we’re launching the program again this year.”

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She adds that the City has been able to match the funding by the province and BC Lung Association.

“We’ve really tried to stack those rebates toward incentivizing really the cleaner burning options,” Howitt says. “So we know that burning wood and EPA certified wood stoves and fireplaces produces up to 70 per cent fewer particulate emissions, but on the other hand, wood pellet, natural gas and electric options also emit far fewer particulates than even those EPA certified stoves.”

If you have an eligible, uncertified wood-burning appliance, you can visit one of the following retailers to arrange the purchase of a new, eligible appliance and obtain a rebate application form:

• The Fireplace Centre – 1200 Battle St.
• The Fireplace Gallery – 111 McGill Rd.
• Johnson Walsh – 921 Laval Cr.

Howitt says these retailers can guide residents through the rebate process. Including an electric fireplace insert, the following is a list of rebate eligibility amounts:

• Wood Stove
• Wood Fireplace Insert
• Wood or Pellet Furnace $500
• EPA-certified Pellet Stove or Insert
• EnerChoice® Propane-fueled Stove or Insert
• Electric Heat Pump $800
• EnerChoice® Designated:
• Gas-fueled Stove
• Gas Fireplace Insert $1,100

The City says a maximum of 35 rebates will be issued this year, and they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. One rebate per household will be issued. Learn more here.