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BC Lung and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy collaborate provincially to oversee the Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) in British Columbia. The program is designed to provided incentives to change out older, smoky wood stoves for cleaner heating options including heat pumps, pellet stoves and new, EPA or CSA certified, cleaner-burning wood stoves. The program is designed also to raise awareness about good burning practices and educate the public about wood smoke and its effects on human health.
PGRAIR administers the program for Prince George and the rural areas of the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. We offer discount on permits and rebates to promote exchanges, as well as education to support residents to operate wood burning appliances safely and efficiently.
The CWSRP has run for over 12 years in the Prince George airshed, exchanging over 445 old stoves, and removing an estimated 40 tonnes of particulate matter (PM) emissions from the airshed each year!
2023 - 2024 Program Overview
The program operates year round, however, exchanges are tracked within the calendar year (January to December) as rebate incentives may be updated in January of each year. Eligible residents of Prince George or the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (unincorporated areas only) who exchange their old smoky wood stove can receive a:
- $750 rebate for a new, emission-certified wood stove
- $1000 rebate for a qualifying pellet appliance
- $1250 rebate for an electric heat pump (that meets the criteria for BC’s Home Renovation Rebate and Efficiency BC Program) https://app.bchydro.com/hero/HeatPumpLookup
Please note that residents from Mackenzie, McBride, and Valemount are not eligible. See the Village of Valemount's own Wood Stove Exchange program here. Mackenzie and McBride do not have any such programs.
Please also note that in keeping with the Clean BC Roadmap to 2030 fossil fuel-fired appliances are no longer supported by the program.
Did you know? Those eligible for the Clean BC Indigenous Community Heat Pump Incentive are also welcome to apply for the Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program. If all application requirements are met, folks will be able to claim both incentives!
Under the CWSRP, Indigenous communities can exchange an old smoky wood stove to:
- An EPA or CSA-certified wood stove for a rebate of $1000
- A pellet stove for a rebate of $1,500
- A heat pump for a rebate of $2,000
Don't have a wood stove or appliance to exchange?
Check out these other rebate programs designed to make your home more efficient:
HOW TO APPLY & Online Application Form
Step 1: Read the 2023 Terms & Conditions to determine if you are eligible for the program. Make sure you have all the required documentation as per the checklist (at the bottom of the terms and conditions form).
Step 2: Contact us (info@pgairquality.com) and provide your physical address to secure your application tracking number and expiry date.
Step 3: Complete the 2023 Online Application Form and Survey
The survey is a mandatory requirement for each Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) applicant. Responses are used to track and report out on the program provincially. Your responses will be summarized and anonymized. No personal or identifying information will be retained.
Step 5: Receive your rebate in the mail! (If all requirements are met, of course).
Permits
Participants of the 2023 Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program need to show proof that they have obtained any applicable permits for the installation of their new appliance. Speak to your installer, City of Prince George, or Regional District office for information on solid fuel permits. For electric appliance permits, contact your installer or the BC Safety Authority. You should also contact your home insurance provider prior to installing a new wood-burning appliance, to ask if they have any additional requirements (such as a WETT inspection) and if you can save on home insurance (by qualifying as a secondary heat source).
To locate a WETT inspector in your area, search here: Find a WETT Professional near you
Qualifying Original Appliances
The following original appliances qualify for exchange under this Program
- A free-standing non-EPA certified “stove” or a “homemade” or “barrel” stove.
- A so-called “airtight” non-EPA certified fireplace insert or tube type heat exchanger with a face plate and door (like the “Free Heat Machine” or Welenco or Heatalator that is currently installed in an open-hearth fireplace.
- A non-EPA certified “wood furnace” (ducted, forced air, home heating appliance) – may be replaced by an EPA certified wood furnace or pellet furnace.
- A wood-burning cook stove.
- An outdoor wood boiler/hydronic heaters (new for 2021/2022).
- As of January 2023 under the CleanBC initiative and emissions reductions goals for BC, natural gas and propane appliances no longer qualify for rebates under the CWSRP.
Qualifying Replacement Appliances
The following NEW appliances qualify to replace the non-EPA Appliances:
- A high-efficiency pellet stove, an electric stove, or an EPA certified clean burning wood stove.
- A high-efficiency pellet insert, an electric insert, or an EPA certified clean burning wood insert.
- An EPA certified factory-built fireplace – may ONLY be accepted if it is replacing a non-EPA certified wood stove or insert (NOT an existing factory-built fireplace).
- An electric heat pump that meets the criteria for BC’s Home Renovation Rebate and Efficiency BC Program https://app.bchydro.com/hero/HeatPumpLookup
The following original appliances do NOT qualify for exchange under this Program (program funding will NOT be provided to install these appliances):
- A new insert to an existing open-hearth fireplace that does NOT currently have an insert installed in it. An exchange of an existing wood appliance must take place.
- Factory built (“zero clearance”) fireplaces.
- Wood cook stoves (These are EPA exempt therefore are not covered by this program. They may be replaced by an EPA certified stove or other “non- cooking” product within the qualification list above).
- Tin heaters/tent stoves (something NOT used in a residential application)
- Natural gas or propane insert of appliance.
Destroying your old appliance: why and how.
The program is intended to reduce air emissions, therefore the appliance for which you are receiving a rebate must be rendered useless and not be allowed to continue to put emissions into the air. You or your contractor are responsible for ensuring that the old appliance can no longer be used or sold again. You must show proof that the appliance has been rendered unusable or crushed at a scrap metal facility (photo or signed declaration from facility attendant).
Download and print a template Recycling Declaration Form for scrap metal facilities to use.
A receipt from the scrap metal facility will not be accepted as proof that the stove has been destroyed. You can make the stove unusable yourself, by removing the doors, breaking the glass, damaging the hinges with a hammer, and bashing in the flue collar (take photo).
Wood Smoke Education Online Course: The Wood Smoke Education Online Course is an interactive learning tool designed to teach the owners and operators of wood stoves how to burn cleanly and efficiently and explain the benefits of doing so. The course is made up of 5 modules and should take participants from 40 minutes to an hour to complete. When you have completed all 5 modules, click the 'Next' button on the lower right-hand side after listening to the "When not to burn" slide and follow the procedures to get your certificate. TAKE THE COURSE HERE!
Do you have questions? Please feel free to contact us at anytime or read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet
List of Local Retailers
Visit any licensed BC retail store to purchase your new appliance.
- Fraser Plumbing and Heating: 250-562-6777 / 430 3rd Avenue
- Tropical Pool and Spa: 250-564-5690 / 1701 West Central Street
- Dale's Wood & Gas Heat: 250-562-8366 / 1701B West Central Street
- Mainline Plumbing and Heating: 250-564-9808 / 3658 Opie Crescent
- Decked Out Home & Patio: 250-960-4220 / 4004 Cowart Road
- Rona: 250-562-1125 / 4150 Cowart Road
- Northern Outdoor: 250-560-5771
- Robson Valley Home Hardware (McBride): 250-569-2284 / 256 Main Street McBride
- HVAC Strong Mechanical Ltd: (778) 999-5815 / 4780 Wood Place - Also a Certified Heat Pump Installer
*Some retailers may be missing from this list. PGAIR cannot guarantee retailers offer all appliance types. Retailers may request to be added to this list by contacting PGAIR.
2022 PGAIR Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program Supported By:
