The Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out program, a partnership between MassCEC and the Department of Energy Resources, offers rebates to assist Massachusetts residents in replacing non-EPA-certified wood stoves with cleaner, more efficient EPA-certified wood stoves or pellet stoves.
Homeowners are eligible for the standard rebate if:
- Their old woodstove is currently operational, non-EPA certified, and located in a residential building.
The stove they plan to purchase is EPA-certified and meets Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program emissions requirements for new stoves.
Homeowners are not eligible for the program if:
- They are not replacing an existing operational woodstove or fireplace insert.
- Their existing woodstove or fireplace insert is EPA-certified. Only non-EPA certified stoves are eligible for replacement under the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program.
- They wish to replace an existing pellet stove. Existing pellet stoves are not eligible for replacement under the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program.
Homeowners who are not eligible to participate in the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program may be eligible for rebates for other clean heating and cooling technologies.
How Do I Apply?
Step 1: Contact a Participating Stove Professional
Each homeowner should first select a participating stove professional, who will submit the rebate application on his or her behalf. MassCEC maintains a list of stove professionals and tips for finding an installer participating in the 2017 Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program.
When contacting a wood stove shop, a homeowner should be prepared to provide:
- The year the stove was manufactured.
- Pictures of the front and back of the stove, if possible. All EPA-certified stoves have a metal tag on the back of the stove indicating EPA certification. Homeowners can also learn more about woodstoves, including information on stove pricing and the differences between non-catalytic, catalytic, pellet stoves, and fully automotive woodstoves.
Step 2: Stove Professional Completes Change-Out and Applies for Rebate
Once a homeowner has determined the old stove’s eligibility, selected a stove professional and signed a contract with stove professional to complete the change-out, he or she can move forward with the project.
The stove professional should:
1. Ensure that the change-out can be completed by the August 21, 2017 application deadline.
2. Ensure that the project meets program eligibility requirements, and that program procedures are followed, as described in the program manual.
3. Complete the change-out. This includes:
- Removing the old stove and having it rendered inoperable by a stove recycler.
- Installing the new stove.
- Discussing best practices for operating and maintaining the stove, including best practices for wood burning and chimney cleaning. Additional information on how to burn wood more cleanly and efficiency can be found on the EPA’s Burn Wise website and on the Department of Energy’s wood and pellet heating website.
4. Apply for the rebate on behalf of the homeowner. The rebate amount should be treated as an instant discount to the homeowner on the total cost of the project and listed as such on the project invoice. The homeowner will need to provide the stove professional with:
- A signed participant's agreement
- An electric bill from the past six months
- Pictures of the old stove (before removal) and new stove (after installation)
For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.
masscec.com
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