The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) is offering rebates to help residents replace old, polluting wood-burning appliances with cleaner, more efficient technology.
Since 2001, the CWSRP in partnership with the BC Ministry of the Environment and BC Lung Foundation, has encouraged community members to reduce air pollution by exchanging old wood stoves for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified products. Old wood-burning appliances are inefficient and a significant source of air pollution, releasing harmful particulate emissions that can negatively impact health. Upgrading to new EPA-certified appliances helps reduce air pollutants and improves the quality of life for people with asthma or other respiratory issues.
“By upgrading, you’re not only choosing cleaner air for the whole community, but you’re also directly benefiting your own family’s health. Scientific and medical research proves that wood smoke contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health, and EPA certified products are proven to reduce toxic chemicals in wood smoke,” says Nancy Mora Castro, Regional Air Quality program coordinator.
2025 incentives:
- Emission-certified wood replacements (EPA 2020 or CAN/CSA B415.1): $600
- Westbank First Nation Members: $1,200
- New pellet stoves/inserts: $1,000
- Westbank First Nation Members: $2,000
- Electric heat pumps: $1,500
- Westbank First Nation Members: $3,000
- Bounty (recycle wood-burning appliance with no exchange): $300
- Electric inserts: $400 rebate
In alignment with the Clean BC Roadmap, rebates are no longer available for exchanging wood-burning appliances for natural gas or propane appliances.
Steps to participate in the program:
- Verify eligibility
- Review emission certification criteria and legislated setbacks
- Get a building permit to install new appliance
- Old wood-burning appliance must be properly demolished, disabled, or recycled
- Gather required documents
- Complete the participant survey
- Fill out the online application form
Residents can visit participating wood stove exchange program stores, Fireplace Den & Deck, White’s Barbecue and Fireplace Centre or FireCraft for assistance with recycling old wood burning appliances and completing the rebate paperwork. There is a limit of one rebate per household. For more details about the program requirements, visit: rdco.com/woodheating.
The RDCO Air Quality Program helps protect and improve the region’s air through education, awareness and pollution prevention programs. Find helpful information and the Wood Burning Best Practices tool at rdco.com/airquality.
