Provincial Wood Stove Exchange Program


Addendum — Report Data Recap

Wood Stove Change-over Focus Groups and Survey — Draft Report, NRG Research, July 25, 2006

  • A community-based social marketing approach is being used in the Bulkley Valley Lakes District and Terrace to determine how to improve exchange programs throughout the region.
  • First step in doing this was to form six discussion groups which were conducted by NRG (a research group) in Burns Lake, Terrace and Smithers. A public questionnaire was implemented by B.C. Conservation Corps and Ministry within Smithers.
  • The purpose of this report is to consider the results of these studies.

Wood Burning Focus Groups, GPC Research, March 5, 2001

  • Report presented to the Wood Burning Steering Committee.
  • Focus groups enlisted to help government, industry and not-for-profit representatives understand how people felt about wood, how wood is currently used as fuel, what would motivate people to fuel differently or cut / purchase wood differently, and what would motivate a switch-out.

Skeena — Blvd Wood Stove Exchange Program, Footprint Environmental Strategies, December 14, 2004

  • Report presented to the BC Lung Association was funded by the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (now Ministry of Environment).
  • Report aimed to gauge success of recent wood stove exchange program conducted in the Skeena Region of B.C.
  • Report also offered suggestions on ways to improve the cost-effectiveness of future programs.

Residential Wood Burning in British Columbia — Public Behaviour and Opinion, May 2006

  • Prepared by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Division, Water, Air and Climate Change Branch and the Air Protection Section.
  • In B.C. outside the Canadian Lower Fraser Valley, residential wood heating accounts for 16% of overall PM2.5 emissions.
  • This report further analyzes a telephone survey from 2003 which studied public opinion and emission estimation from older, non-EPA approved technologies.
  • This report was conducted to gain more knowledge on household energy consumption patterns, future consumption and anticipated switches, burning practices, attitudes and opinions, knowledge and awareness of air quality, and actions to reduce emissions.

The Eastern Ontario Burn it Smart Workshop Survey, Final Report, The Wood Heat Organization Inc., May 2004

  • Eleven workshops were produced in conjunction with a campaign called Burn it Smart! which aimed to reduce emissions from wood heat. This project, along with this report, was produced by the Wood Heat Organization Inc., located in eastern Ontario.
  • Surveys were conducted at these workshops, and this report looks at the responses, as well as some over-arching themes found throughout the workshops.

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Stegmeir, Paul. "Mission Almost Accomplished", Hearth and Home. December 2006, pp. 9-12

  • Looked at the effects of wood smoke on the region, and thus the reason for the changeout.
  • Article focused on the Libby, Montana changeout, and that most people are "scurrying" to meet the changeout deadline.

Wood Stove Changeout Implementation Plan for the Sunshine Coast, Jane Hofweber, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (now Ministry of Environment), October 2004

  • Produced by the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (now Ministry of Environment) in B.C.
  • This report was compiled to determine what a wood stove changeout program would look like for the area.
  • Begins by identifying goals, strategies of the program, then lists five key elements of a program, finally outlines the roles and contributions of participating interest groups.
  • Report also includes a model work plan for a March 2005 changeout.

District of Houston Bylaw No. 947, Council of the District of Houston, June 20, 2006

  • This bylaw sets requirements for:
    • No use of wood burning appliance when an air quality advisory is in effect (except when sole source of heat).
    • No wood burning appliance operation if could cause injury to health, plant or animal life, or enjoyment of life or property.
    • No replacement of wood burning appliance unless meets Canadian or US standard.
    • Fuel restrictions — only wood to be burned.
    • Authorization to establish a removal program.
    • Any appliance removed is to be rendered inoperable.
    • All non-certified appliances to be removed or made permanently inoperable by December 31, 2010.
    • Prior to sale or transfer of property on or after December 31, 2010 all existing non-certified wood appliances to be removed.
  • The above points are a summary only; a copy of the actual bylaw is available here.

Town of Smithers Wood Burning Appliance Smoke Control Bylaw No. 1520, The Town Council of Smithers, July 11, 2006

  • Similar to Houston bylaw except:
    • For new construction the building shall contain an alternate form of heating (other than wood).
    • Central wood heating systems (outdoor boilers) are exempt if very low emissions are demonstrated (<20% of the standard).
    • December 31, 2010 is a target removal date.
    • Prior to sale or transfer date is January 1, 2007.
  • The above points are a summary only; a copy of the actual bylaw is available here.

Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Wood Burning Appliances, Environment Canada, 2006

  • Created by Environment Canada in collaboration with representatives from the industry, municipalities and provincial / territorial governments, under the intergovernmental working group on residential wood combustion.
  • Report is intended to serve as a tool for municipalities where air quality problems from wood smoke are present, and who wish to enact a law to regulate wood burning appliances.
  • Also presents strategies and options for control of smoke that may be adopted.
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