Woodstove Changeout Funding

Woodstove Changeout Program in Klamath and Lake Counties
South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD)

Background

This project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded through the State Energy Program (SEP)

DEQ partnered with the South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD) to administer the program in Klamath and Lake Counties. Subsequently, SCOEDD has developed a network of businesses and installers in Klamath Falls and Lakeview to meet the requirements in the grant.

In Klamath Falls and Lakeview wintertime residential wood burning is a significant source of air pollution, including fine particulate and air toxics. At times, heavy smoke from residential wood burning in these communities exceeds federal air quality health standards for particulate matter. Particulate matter in woodstove smoke can be inhaled and reach the deepest part of our lungs. It is known to cause or contribute to respiratory disease, asthma attacks, heart problems, and premature death. Wood smoke also contains toxic organic compounds known to cause cancer.

The woodstove replacement program is intended to increase the efficiency and safety of heating a home. A certified stove can burn up to 1/3 less wood than a certified stove, providing a cost savings to the homeowner because they will not need to purchase as much wood or fuel to heat his home.

There are still old, high polluting wood burning devices in Klamath Falls and Lakeview that contribute to unhealthy air. To help restore and preserve healthy air quality in these communities, these older stoves must be replaced with cleaner home heating systems including gas, wood-pellet stoves, and certified wood stoves.

Woodstove Changeout Program

SCOEDD established a changeout project in Klamath Falls and Lakeview funded by federal stimulus money or the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project is a two-pronged approach:

1. providing partial rebates to homeowners as an incentive to replace old, non-certified wood heating device, and
2. providing full rebates for a heating system replacement for low-income households that have an uncertified wood burning heating device.

The new heating system can be fueled by electricity, gas, diesel, or kerosene or a certified woodstove or a pellet stove with specific emission rates. DEQ developed a brochure for SCOEDD to distribute explaining the program in Klamath and Lake Counties.

For an application to participate in the project contact SCOEDD at 541-884-5593. For more information visit their website.

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