Ottawa Wood Burning Changeout Program
Please note that the Ottawa Wood Burning Changeout Program has ended. Thank you to all those who participated.
Brought to you by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada, the Program was designed to encourage Ottawa residents to improve ambient and indoor air quality, heat their homes more efficiently and safely, and reduce fuel costs by replacing their old, uncertified wood stoves and fireplaces with cleaner burning, EPA or CSA-certified models.
HPBAC recognizes the financial support of the City of Ottawa.
What is the impact of inefficient wood burning appliances?
Over 3 million Canadian households burn wood to heat their homes and to enjoy a warm, cozy atmosphere. But did you know the smoke from an inefficient wood burning appliance can affect your family’s health, your neighbours and the environment?
Trends show that residents of rural communities are twice as likely to heat their homes with wood than their urban counterparts. Pollution from wood smoke is generally worse in neighbourhoods where a high concentration of households heat with inefficient wood burning appliances, resulting in smoke accumulation in valleys where smoke can settle.
What’s the solution? Changeout your old, antiquated and inefficient wood burning appliance for a new, efficient model.
What are the benefits of changing to an EPA/CSA-certified wood burning appliance?
Woodstoves manufactured before 1992 have limited controls on woodsmoke emissions.
With today’s advanced technology, certified appliances:
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Are 50% more energy efficient
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Burn 30%-50% less fuel to produce the same heat.
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Reduce fine particles and toxic air pollution by at least 70%
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Produce 60% less greenhouse gas emissions
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Cut creosote build-up, reducing the risk of chimney fires
Produce cleaner air.
Reducing wood smoke helps communities improve the air quality for those who burn, as well as for their neighbours.
Improve your health.
Reducing wood smoke helps avoid heart and lung disease, as well as illnesses such as respiratory infections, chronic and acute bronchitis, and asthma attacks.
Keep your house warmer.
Replacing older wood burning appliances promotes better combustion through cleaner, more efficient home heating devices.
Save money.
A cleaner burning EPA/CSA-certified model is more efficient as it burns 30%-50% less fuel each season. This can save you both time and money.
Not able to replace your wood burning appliance now?
You can still benefit from this program by learning more about Better Burn Practices, including tips on the right fuel, proper storage and seasoning of firewood, chimney and appliance maintenance, how to build and maintain a fire and much more.
The US EPA’s Burn Wise program has developed a series of videos that demonstrate the importance of burning the right wood, the right way, in the right appliance. You can view these videos at www.epa.gov/burnwise/burn-wise-best-practices-videos.
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