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Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program

Last updated on September 19, 2024

Formerly the provincial Wood Stove Exchange Program (WSEP), the goals of the renamed program remain the same, but with an added focus on increasing public awareness of the health effects of wood smoke.

The program's goals:

  • Encourage the public to change out old, smoky wood stoves for cleaner heating options, including:
    • Heat pumps
    • Pellet stoves
    • Cleaner burning wood stoves
  • Raise awareness about good burning practices
  • Educate the public about wood smoke and its health effects

To meet climate targets set out in the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 (PDF, 9MB), exchanges from wood stoves to natural gas or propane-fired appliances will no longer be supported under the program after January 1, 2023.

The program is offered in participating communities around the province.

The program provides:

  • Incentives to replace old wood stoves with cleaner heating options
  • Support for educational initiatives on wood smoke impacts and clean burning practices
  • Funding for local administration and promotion of the program

To learn more, review:

Each year, the province and the BC Lung Foundation solicit proposals from communities who want to participate in the program.

Results in British Columbia

More than 11,000 wood-burning stoves have been replaced by cleaner heating appliances since the program began in 2008.

This is a reduction of approximately 300 tonnes annually of particulate matter released into the air.

There are currently 22 programs being offered in the province involving several regional districts and municipal partners.

Chart showing the annual and cumulative stove exchanges between 2008 to 2024

Community funding

The annual request for proposals is open until September 15, 2024. First Nations can apply any time during the year.

Communities or groups interested in participating can email the program for more information.