CLEAN AIR COALITION EXTENDS REBATE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL WOOD STOVE CHANGEOUTS THROUGH MARCH
February 28, 2011
Lisa MacKinnon, Dane County Clean Air Coalition Project Coordinator, (608) 266-9063 or (608) 335-5193 (cell)
County Executive
Funds Are Still Available to Offer Residents Cash Rebates and Other Incentives to Replace Old Wood Stoves with Efficient, Cleaner Burning Technologies
Today, the Dane County Clean Air Coalition announced that it would extend the Dane County Wood Stove Changeout Rebate Program, a voluntary pollution prevention program designed to help residents reduce harmful fine particle pollution and airborne toxics while also saving money and fuel. The County is offering a $750.00 cash rebate to eligible residents to voluntarily replace their old, inefficient wood stoves or fireplace inserts with healthier, more efficient and cleaner burning EPA-certified devices.
This clean air initiative is funded by a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5. Additional support has been provided by the Dane County Clean Air Coalition and the North Central Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.
“The Dane County Clean Air Coalition is happy to be able to extend this financial incentive to Dane County residents who use wood stoves or fireplaces for heat,“ said Lisa MacKinnon, Project Coordinator for the Dane County Clean Air Coalition. “Because we still have rebate funds left over from the February program, we are continuing the program through March and all of our participating retail partners have agreed to continue offering various additional discounts through this extended period, as well.”
Old wood stoves and fireplace inserts produce excessive wood smoke, which is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particle pollution that isn’t healthy to breathe indoors or out – especially for children, older adults and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung diseases. While fine particle pollution can occur year-round from vehicular, electric and industrial sources, activities such as wood burning that occur in the winter months significantly increase fine particle levels and other pollutants in our air. EPA-certified stoves and inserts emit 70% less particle pollution and are approximately 50% more energy efficient than wood stoves manufactured before 1990.
“Old wood stoves and inserts are a significant source of wintertime fine particle pollution in Dane County. For each old, dirty wood stove that is replaced with a new, cleaner burning stove or insert, it will be like taking five diesel buses off the road in terms of fine particle emission reductions,” said MacKinnon.
Wood Stove Changeout Rebate Program Details
Dane County residents interested in replacing their old, inefficient wood stoves or inserts may be eligible to receive a $750.00 rebate from Dane County, as well as various manufacturer and retailer discounts and a federal tax credit on the purchase price of qualifying cleaner burning EPA-certified wood stoves and inserts, natural gas stoves and inserts, or pellet stoves and inserts. Applications for rebate vouchers are being accepted now via email to the Dane County Clean Air Coalition Coordinator, Lisa MacKinnon, at: MacKinnon@countyofdane.comor via fax: 608-266-2643. Rebate funds are limited and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible customers. Discounts and the federal tax credit will be available for qualifying devices until the end of the program regardless of rebate eligibility.
To learn more about this program, including how to determine whether you are eligible to
receive a rebate and to see a list of participating retailers, go to www.healthyairdane.orgor call Lisa MacKinnon, Program Coordinator, at 608/ 266-9063 or email MacKinnon@countyofdane.com.
In addition to replacing your old, inefficient wood stove with a cleaner burning EPA-certified device, there are other steps you can take if you’re burning wood this winter to have a cheaper, safer and healthier fire:
· Burn only dry, seasoned wood. It’s better for the air and your wallet. Dry seasoned wood is more efficient at heating your home and can add up to significant savings over the winter. Look for wood that is darker, has cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when hit against another piece of wood or consider using a wood moisture meter.
· Never burn painted or treated wood or trash as these can release a variety of toxic air emissions.
· Maintain your wood stove or fireplace and have a certified technician inspect it yearly. A certified technician can clean dangerous soot from your chimney and keep your wood stove or fireplace working properly, which reduces your risk of a home fire.
· If you have another source of heat, do not use your fireplace or wood stove on winter days that are forecast to be Clean Air Action Days for fine particle pollution.
· Go to the U.S. EPA’s Burn Wise website for more information: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
For more air pollution reduction ideas for Dane County residents and employers, visit www.healthyairdane.org.
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