Wood Burning News

Wood Burning in the News...

Council Douses Regulating Fireplaces, Wood Stoves

The Hamilton Spectator, August 10, 2006

A councillor's idea to explore regulation of fireplaces and wood stoves went down in flames yesterday. Councillor Terry Whitehead wanted city staff to explore the health effects of indoor burning in the urban area and regulations in other cities.

The idea was quickly shot down by Councillor Tom Jackson, who said he didn't even want to start down a road that could see the city restrict fireplaces.

"This opens up a Pandora's Box potentially," he said. "I didn't even realize we had a problem. This is just a potential nightmare."

Whitehead said he was only acting on the request of a constituent who is having a dispute with their neighbour about smoke.

Whitehead's motion was defeated by council.

Wood stove exchange back for another year

From the Golden Star, February 15, 2006   
By Lorene Keitch

Green might already be the official colour of March, what with St. Patrick's Day and all, but Golden is aiming to make it even greener with the return of the wood stove exchange program.

This March, the Town of Golden, in conjunction with the Air Quality Committee will again offer residents a rebate of up to $500 for trading in an old and inefficient woodstove for a more environmentally-friendly woodstove.

What many citizens might not know is that this offer also applies to the purchase of a cleaner, non-wood-burning appliance, such as a propane or electrical unit.

Parky's Heating & Ventilation is also back on board, offering a 15 per cent discount on the purchase of a new woodstove this March.

Old stoves pump out nearly 20 to 30 times more smoke than newer ones, says owner Doug Parkinson. They also burn up far more wood than new efficient woodstoves.

By exchanging woodstoves, homeowners can help decrease Golden's creeping air pollution and, by eliminating creosote, ensure the safety of their own homes. Creosote, which is formed when smoke and cold air mix, causes chimney fires. New woodstoves use a reburn technology, which all but eliminates smoke from even entering the chimney in the first place.

The exchange program, started in 2004, runs all year. So far, 50 people have signed up for the rebate since the program's inception, according to Town building inspector Adam Bux.

The program also includes a 'Nominate Your Neighbor' initiative, allowing residents to notify the Town when they think a neighbor is in need of a woodstove exchange. The Town then issues a gentle letter to the household informing them of the rebate offer

Houston, BC Bylaw requires replacement of non-EPA certified wood stoves by 2010

The Houston, BC town council recently passed a bylaw that calls for the establishment of a Removal Program to replace non-certified wood burning appliances in the community. All non-certified appliances must be removed or rendered inoperable by December 31, 2010. The bylaw also prohibits the burning of anything other than wood fuel in a wood burning appliance.

Read the Houston Air Quality Bylaw

Government Relations Update