WHEREAS the cost of fossil fuels continues to rise and, with many homeowners looking for economic alternative heating sources, the use of solid fuel burning appliances is increasing; AND WHEREAS in many communities, poor air quality causes health problems for many residents due to smoke with particulates that are extremely detrimental to their health: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities appeal to the senior levels of government to immediately establish a province-wide rebate program to assist homeowners to replace non-compliant Environmental Protection Agency EPA-rated solid fuel burning appliances with EPA-rated ones with controlled emissions.
Ministry of Environment The Province of British Columbia Province has worked on a number of initiatives to reduce emissions associated with residential fuel wood heating. In 1994, the Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance regulation came into effect to require that all new wood burning appliances meet stringent United States EPA or equivalent Canadian emissions standards. While the regulation has had a positive effect, there are a significant number of old woodstoves remaining in use that emit much more smoke compared to newer units. Woodstoves have been known to last well over 30 years. Survey results indicate that there are approximately 84,000 old woodstoves in the Province outside the Lower Fraser Valley LFV. When the LFV is included, this figure jumps to 120,000. To address the issue of old woodstoves, rebate programs have been delivered throughout the Province. These have relied on partnerships between provincial and local government, and the hearth products industry, with the incentives provided by industry. To date, the rebate programs have had limited success: fifteen separate programs between 1995 and 2004 have resulted in the removal of 1,200 old woodstoves. A community based social marketing CBSM approach is being tested within the Bulkley Valley Lakes District and Terrace area of the Province to determine how woodstove rebate programs can be improved. The Ministry of Environment is now in the process of evaluating public questionnaire and focus group information to set up a 2007 pilot program. The results of the pilot program will likely shape the future of woodstove exchange programs throughout the Province and for areas where excessive smoke can be attributed to old woodstoves.