Rebates available to replace wood stoves
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and partner jurisdictions are offering rebates to people who replace older, heavily polluting wood burning stoves and fireplaces.
According to the TRPA, inefficient wood stoves and open fireplaces are a substantial source of air pollution in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Their incomplete combustion of fuels results in elevated emissions of particulate matter, greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and other pollutants.
Cleaner burning models of gas, pellet, and wood stoves and fireplace inserts certified by the Environmental Protection Agency can burn one-third less fuel and cut emissions of pollutants by up to 50 percent.
The rebate program is anticipated to replace about 200 home heating appliances and reduce particulate matter emissions by an estimated 5 tons. Rebates range from $400 to $1,400. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Homeowners interested in the rebate programs are encouraged to contact their local office of air quality to find out if they are eligible prior to the purchase or installation of any new wood stove. El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe residents may contact Adam Baughman at 530.621.7571, adam.baughman@edcgov.us. Placer County residents may go online and the click on the link for the “New Wood Stove Replacement Program – Lake Tahoe”. Nevada residents in the Lake Tahoe Basin should contact John Handzo at 775.834.3674, jhandzo@unr.edu.
Pellets are for rabbits. Those stoves are worthless if the power goes out. Then you need to run a generator for it to work. Not too efficient.
If you read some scientific articles and look at the EPA fact sheet on the dangers of wood smoke inhalation, you will know why this program is so important. Wood smoke particles are so small they they enter the lungs and stay there causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. There are many Tahoe residents who stuff the fireplace with wood, close the damper and walk away or go to bed. The thing smoulders away sending out thick plumes of toxic particles. This smoke is toxic to neighbors and children in the neighborhood. One side of a friend’s house is covered by black soot due to a neighbor’s wood burning.
The literature says that if you can smell it, you’re inhaling it. If you are constantly breathing smoke from a nearby fireplace, consider telling your neighbor about this program. It may enable them to upgrade their heat at a reduced cost. Also consider contacting the El Dorado County Air Quality as they can be helpful too.
There’s a reason this program exists–public health and trying to keep Lake Tahoe air clean and fresh–the kind of air our visitors come here to breathe.
Clean and fresh air for visitors. How do the tens of thousands of vehicles driving in the basin work into this fresh air thing?
You’re right Smith–all the cars definitely degrade the air for residents and visitors alike. Reducing wood smoke and driving cleaner cars benefits us all.