THE GREAT WOOD STOVE CHANGEOUT — GEORGIAN BAY WATERSHED — FEBRUARY 26 TO APRIL 30, 2001

Media release issued by Environment Canada

    TORONTO, Feb. 19 /CNW/ - The Great Woodstove Changeout and Education
Program In the Georgian Bay Watershed is set to launch in Sault Ste. Marie on
February 26th, 2001. Designed to promote cleaner, safer, and more efficient
woodburning, the Changeout Program features trade-in rebates on purchases of
advanced technology, cleaner burning stoves and fireplaces, as well as
information workshops for people who want to learn more about the new
technologies and how to burn wood without creating smoke and harmful
pollution.
    The Changeout Program is a project of the Hearth Products Association of
Canada (HPAC), working in partnership with Environment Canada, the Ontario
Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Canada, Wood Energy Technology
Transfer Inc. (WETT), the Wood Heat Organization (WHO), the Lung Association
(Ontario), and woodstove manufacturers and retailers.
    The upgrade incentive is provided by wood heating retailers and
manufacturers through discounts to householders trading in their old wood
burners for advanced certified technology stoves and fireplaces. Once the old
unit is removed from service (never to smoke again), the rebate will be
awarded - that's what "changeout" means. Eligible products include wood
stoves, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves that are certified as
clean burning by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Canadian
Standards Association (CSA).
    The series of public Woodstove Workshops is sure to be a popular feature
of the program. Hosted by local fire departments and wood heat retailers, and
featuring some of Canada's most experienced wood heat specialists, these
workshops provide the chance for novice wood burners and seasoned veterans to
find out how to make their woodburning system - whether brand new or decades
old - more efficient and environmentally friendly. Two real wood stoves, one
older conventional unit and one clean-burning advanced certified technology
model, will be operating on site in the Changeout Burn Trailer next to the
Woodstove Workshops. People are encouraged to bring along a sample of their
firewood for a free moisture measurement and there will be time to get their
burning questions answered by recognized specialists. The Woodstove Workshops
are a great way to spread the word about responsible woodburning.
    The theme message for the Changeout Program is: "Don't let your wood go
up in smoke!" This clear call to action reminds everyone that time, money and
effort can be saved by improving burning practices and by upgrading to
advanced wood burning technologies. An important by-product of these household
savings is the saving of our shared environment from polluting wood smoke.
It's a message everyone can buy into.

    Here is the workshop schedule for the Changeout campaign:

    First week, starting February 26
    February 26th - Sault Ste. Marie (following program launch)
    February 27th - Sudbury
    February 28th - Timmins (includes a French Pilot Workshop)
    March 1st - North Bay

    Second week, starting March 5
    March 5th - Parry Sound
    March 6th - Huntsville
    March 7th - Bracebridge
    March 8th - Penetang

    Third week, starting March 12
    March 12th - Barrie
    March 13th - Schomberg
    March 14th - Shelburne
    March 15th - Owen Sound

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For further information: Laura Litchfield, Administrator, Hearth 
Products Association of Canada, Tel: (705) 788-2221, Email: 
hpac@on.aibn.com; Tex McLeod, HPAC Manager, Hearth Products Association of 
Canada, Tel: (416) 921-5501, Email: tex@idirect.com

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