A change of standards that will cost them dearly

Photo Matthieu Payen
Michel Pelletier would have to replace the wood fireplace in her condo or to stop use before the 1st October next.

Matthew Payen

Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 01:00

UPDATE
Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 01:00

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Montrealers fear people will soon be able to use their wood burning stove because of a new standard that will lower the allowable threshold for emissions of particulate matter in Montréal.

By his own admission, Michel Pelletier uses very little of its wood-burning fireplace. The pensioner who lives in his condo in Rosemont since 1984 only using it as supplemental heat or to relax.

But it is not normal to have to move or replace it before the 1st of October, without any help from the City, to comply with the new standards. About 50, 000 Montrealers are in this case and a dozen of them have contacted The Newspaper to display their disagreement.

Toxic

“It is unfair because the cities around Montreal do not have all the same rules. However, there is no wall to stop the smoke of others, ” says Mr. Pelletier.

“I will not have the choice to change to do not that my condo is losing its value,” he adds.

The City of Montreal has decided, in 2015, lower from October 2018, the limit for the emission of fine particles of 4.5 to 2.5 grams per hour for wood heat. Thanks to this standard, nearly 98 % of the toxic elements will be removed from the smoke of the chimneys.

The fine particulate matter, responsible for most of the episodes of smog, are emitted in particular by the exhaust gas and wood heating.

Not given

Photo Agence QMI, Sarah Daoust-Braun

Jean-François Parenteau, member executive committee of the City

“The goal is not to harm people, but it is a matter of public health “, says the elected official responsible for Services to citizens in the City, Jean-François Parenteau, who has a wood-burning fireplace in his home.

It recognizes that the municipalities do not have all of the standards are as demanding (see box), but “you’ve got to start somewhere,” he says.

However, to Chantal Charette, co-owner of the company of chimney sweeping J. P. Charette, the extent of the City is rushed.

“We have nothing against environmental measures, but there was not even a system that is in compliance with the new standards to sell up to last year,” she says. Every day I receive calls from clients worried about the idea of having to spend their stove because the cost to replace it are very high. “

According to her, the purchase of a new home and installation can cost up to 8000 $.

An expense that refuses Dina Desbiens, Rivière-des-Prairies. “I changed mine it did just four years to bring it to previous standards,” clamp-t-it.

Mr. Desbiens said that she uses it all day in the winter to save electricity.

“We love it, it is a good heat, that dries my clothes. And then, in case of failure of Hydro, it is not wrong, ” she continued.

In the Face of these concerns, Mr. Parenteau remains firm, the measure will be applied starting in October. The elected contends that it is the responsibility of each user to evaluate his or her need :

“It is sure that if it is used little, it is necessary to ask whether it is worth investing. “

For his part, Mr. Parenteau has decided to replace his home very much appreciated by his family.

“But I’m going to wait a little for change because the price will drop in the spring,” he says.

Different standards for wood heating

Several cities of the Montreal region is limited to the threshold of 4.5 g/h of particulate matter allowed in Quebec

• Baie-d’urfé

• Côte-Saint-Luc

• Dollard-des-Ormeaux

• Hudson

• Kirkland

• Laval

• Longueuil

• Pointe-Claire

• Saint-Lambert

• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

• Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville

• Westmount

Others have lowered the threshold to 2.5 g/h

• Montreal (October 1st)

• Dorval (December 1)

• Hampstead

• Mont-Royal

• Montreal-Is (existing facilities that exceed 2.5 g/h, are still allowed)

In Beaconsfield, the wood-fired heating systems existing are allowed, but a ban on installing new