Funding To Help Replace Your Old Wood Stove - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency Press Release:

The Wood Stove Change-out Program has scrapped 115 old wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts with cleaner burning devices, resulting in a savings of approximately 4.5 tons of fine particle pollution from being emitted into Spokane's air each heating season, announced the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (Spokane Clean Air) who is administering the state grant-funded program.

The program offers discounts to wood burners on the purchase and installation of cleaner, more efficient devices in exchange for their old wood burning device. Of the 115 completed change-outs, 67 recipients chose to switch to cleaner gas devices, 47 upgraded to new wood or pellet devices and one chose a mini-split ductless heat pump. Remaining funds are expected to cover another 50-60 replacement incentives.

"Smoke from wood heating is the chief source of particle pollution in Spokane during winter. Getting the older devices out of the airshed will help reduce the impact of wood heating. Newer devices are much cleaner and more efficient," said Lisa Woodard, grant coordinator. "Smoke particles contain various chemical substances which are harmful to everyone's health, particularly children, elderly and those with heart and lung conditions."

"If you've been thinking about upgrading your old wood stove, now is the time to do it. Upgrading has many benefits, including healthier air outdoors and indoors," added Woodard.

Spokane-area residents can apply to Spokane Clean Air to upgrade their old wood stoves. Information and application forms are online at www.SpokaneCleanAir.org or click here. To qualify, the home or business must be located within the boundaries of the Spokane County Smoke Control Zone and have a currently installed and operational pre-1995 wood stove (freestanding or insert) that is being used a main source of heat.

Applicants approved by Spokane Clean Air will receive a "Discount Voucher" and a list of participating businesses that will accept the voucher toward purchase and installation costs of a new device. Voucher values are $500 to upgrade to a new wood device, $700 to upgrade to pellet heat, and $1,000 to upgrade to either natural gas device or mini-split system ductless heat pumps. The greater the air quality benefit, the greater the discount. In addition to the discount voucher, some participating businesses are offering additional in-house and manufacturers' discounts for program participants.

In addition to the Wood Stove Change-out Program, another program is available for Spokane-area households with limited incomes. For program criteria and other information, call Spokane Clean Air at 477-4727.

Both programs are made possible by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, which has funded similar programs across the state.