New rules for wood stoves

QUEBEC CITY - With an increasing number of smog alerts plaguing areas of the province, and increasingly in wintertime, Quebec's Environment Minister is announcing new regulations for wood-burning stoves.

Line Beauchamp has announced a regulatory change, expected to go into effect by the fall that would ban the manufacturing, or sale of stoves without environmental certification from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Beauchamp says wood heating is responsible for more than 40 per cent of the fine particles in the air that help cause smog alerts.

"We have to do something to improve the situation," she says, adding the new stoves burn more efficiently and can also create savings for homeowners.

She says awareness campaigns will also be launched to encourage homeowners to replace their old stoves.

Beauchamp says 4 in 5 stoves sold in the province are already certified, and 11 manufacturers in Quebec produce certified stoves.

"This announcement was a long time coming," says Andre Belisle, head of the Association for the Fight Against Atmospheric pollution. "It will make a big difference."

Belisle says the stoves release 80 to 90 per cent fewer particles.

But, he adds homeowners must also learn to use their stoves responsibly.

"Some people will burn anything in those stoves, and it is a real problem."

He says only dry wood should be used.