The Mesa County Health Department, in partnership with Housing Resources of Western Colorado, has received funding from the State of Colorado to provide grants to homeowners in Mesa County so that they can exchange their old smoky wood stoves and fireplaces for clean-burning EPA certified low-emission wood fire appliances, as defined in EPA’s 2009-2010 Wood Stove List,, and the Colorado Approved Pellet and Masonary Heater List.   The EPA List includes specific woodstoves, pellet stoves, masonry heaters, and fireplace inserts that are tested to verify that they meet EPA criteria for minimized emissions of fine particulate and other pollutants.  In addition, the program allows replacement of old wood stoves or fireplaces with natural gas or propane fired free-standing heaters and fireplace inserts.

Implementation by Housing Resources of Western Colorado

All woodstove exchange grants will be issued though an application and screening program by the Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWC).  All applications, qualification home visits, financial tests, and grant approvals will be done by HRWC.

Housing Resources of Western Colorado can be contacted at:

524 30 Rd, Suite #3
Grand Junction, CO 81504
Phone: (970)241-2871
Fax: (970) 245-4853
Operational hours M-F 8:00-5:00

http://www.housingresourceswc.org  

Criteria for Participation:

• The exchange program is only applicable to residences located in Mesa County. 
• The program does not apply to any new construction; must be replacement of an existing woodstove or fireplace.
• The existing woodstove must be an older, non-certified solid wood burning stove. 
• Existing fireplaces are also included in the program, including replacement of a non-certified insert.
• Grant recipients must be the owner of the home that is used as a primary residence; no secondary/vacation cottages or shop/garages are included in this program.
• Rental property owners can use the program for multiple locations, given that they meet the above criteria, to a maximum grant of $3000.
• Maximum homeowner grants are limited to $3000, including replacement of multiple appliances at a single residence.  For example, a mid-income homeowner could receive $1500 per woodstove replacement for a total grant of $3000 if replacing two wood stoves in a single home.
• County and City Building Permits and Inspection requirements must be followed as required for woodstove and insert installations.
• All woodstove and insert installations must be done by a licensed contractor and be on the HRWC approved vendor/installer list.  These contractors must have liability insurance coverage pre-arranged with HRWC before beginning work.
• The old woodstove or insert must be destroyed and a certificate of disposal obtained from Vangundy’s-Ampco Ltd. metal recycling, 645 4th Ave., Grand Junction, phone 970.242.9500.

Grant Amounts:

• Low Income Homeowners can qualify for up to a $3000 grant.
• Middle Income homeowners can qualify for up to a $1500 grant per stove/insert.
• High income homeowners can qualify for a $750 grant per stove/insert.

Income limits for each grant category are specified in the Mesa County Woodstove Program Income Limit Table.

Application Process:

• Homeowners can apply at any Mesa County vendor selling EPA certified, low-emission wood appliances and gas-fired free-standing heaters or fireplace inserts.
• The homeowner must complete a Mesa County Woodstove Exchange Application Form and submit to the Housing Resources of Western Colorado.
• The homeowner must allow a pre-inspection of their existing woodstove or fireplace by HRWC to determine applicability to the program.
• Once approved, the homeowner can use the vendor of their choice and proceed with installation by a HRWC approved vendor/installer.
• The homeowner must follow all the criteria outlined above before the grant money will be released by HRWC, including proof of final destruction of the old woodstove and complete final building inspection.