Ministry of the Environment Opens 2026 Heater Replacement Program Applications

Communities battling heavy winter smog are seeing fresh relief as the Ministry of the Environment opens new processes for the 2026 Heater Replacement Program. Designed to slash particulate matter emissions caused by residential wood combustion, the latest round targets 21 communes across the Valparaíso, O’Higgins, and Aysén regions. While specific equipment, copayments, and deadlines vary significantly by geography, every participant must surrender their old wood-burning equipment for official destruction.

The Ministry of the Environment opened new application processes for the 2026 Heater Replacement Program, an initiative that allows for the replacement of old wood-burning appliances with more efficient and less polluting heating systems. The calls announced during August cover 21 communes in the regions of Valparaíso, O’Higgins, and Aysén, although the characteristics of the benefit, available equipment, copayments, and closing dates vary by area. The objective of the program is to reduce particulate matter emissions associated with residential wood combustion, especially in cities and areas that present atmospheric pollution problems. To access the benefit, selected individuals must hand over the heater or wood stove being replaced for its subsequent destruction.

Valle Central and O’Higgins Region Air Conditioning Rollout

The widest geographic call launched in August covers 17 communes throughout the central valley of the O’Higgins Region. The program will distribute 836 Split Inverter air conditioning units of 18.000 BTU to residents living within the designated saturated zone for particulate matter. Eligible areas include Graneros, Rancagua, Doñihue, Olivar, Coltauco, Coínco, Quinta de Tilcoco, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, Placilla, Mostazal, Codegua, Machalí, Malloa, Rengo, Requínoa, San Fernando, and Chimbarongo.

The broadest call corresponds to the central valley of the O’Higgins Region and includes the communes of: Graneros, Rancagua, Doñihue, Olivar, Coltauco, Coínco, Quinta de Tilcoco, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, Placilla, Mostazal, Codegua, Machalí, Malloa, Rengo, Requínoa, San Fernando, and Chimbarongo. In this region, 836 Split Inverter air conditioning units of 18,000 BTU will be delivered. The program is co-financed by the Regional Government of O’Higgins and is intended for homes located within the particulate matter saturated zone of the central valley. Applications began on August 17 and will remain open until September 15, 2026. They can be submitted online through the Heater Replacement Program platform or in person at the O’Higgins Seremi of the Environment office, located at Estado 177, Rancagua. Requirements include being over 18 years old, living in one of the 17 benefited communes, being the owner of the wood heater intended for replacement, keeping it installed in the home, and submitting only one application per household. Additionally, from this process onward, applications in O’Higgins are carried out using ClaveÚnica.

Valparaíso Industrial Zone Phase and Copayment Rules

In the Valparaíso Region, the current rollout targets residents in Concón, Quintero, and Puchuncaví under the area’s Atmospheric Prevention and Decontamination Plan. In the Valparaíso Region, the new call is aimed at inhabitants of Concón, Quintero, and Puchuncaví, three communes included in the area’s Atmospheric Prevention and Decontamination Plan. In this case, the Ministry of the Environment platform reports that the replacement corresponds to the air conditioning line and that the application period began on August 17. Additional deadlines exist across other regions and communes. This Tuesday, April 14, is the deadline to apply for the Heater Replacement program for those living in the communes of Chillán and Chillán Viejo. To date, two other calls remain open that expire this week: one aimed at inhabitants of Osorno, which ends Thursday 16, and another for residents of Coyhaique, which ends Friday, April 17. In the call aimed at Osorno, it is established that selected applicants must pay $130,000 for the pellet equipment or $100,000 for the air conditioning. Those living in Chillán or Chillán Viejo can apply through the site calefactores.mma.gob.cl/llamado/253, where they will have to create an account to complete the process, or opt for the in-person route at the Seremi of the Environment of Ñuble, located at Vega de Saldías #645, commune of Chillán, from 09:00 to 13:00 hours. In the case of Osorno, the process must be done through calefactores.mma.gob.cl/llamado/241. For their part, the inhabitants of Coyhaique have the availability to complete it at the Seremi of the Environment, located in that city at the address Errázuriz #514, as well as through calefactores.mma.gob.cl/llamado/255. The Ministry of the Environment (MMA) program allows the family or applicant the possibility of changing their wood heater for a pellet stove or an air conditioner. Cross-cutting requirements include indicating the heater for which they are applying, being the owner of the device, keeping it installed in the home, respecting the application bases without accepting heaters installed in apartments except for exceptions, and delivering the old equipment to the ministry for its destruction.

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Rental Subsidy 2026

Parallelly, the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (Minvu) keeps open the application process for the 2026 Rental Subsidy, a benefit intended for families who can cover part of the rental value but require state support to access housing. Applications will be available until Thursday, August 7, both online and in person. The benefit contemplates a total subsidy of 170 UF (nearly $6.9 million), delivered in monthly payments with a cap of 4.2 UF (approximately $171 thousand) for homes whose rent does not exceed 11 UF. In the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Metropolitana, Aysén, and Magallanes, the monthly contribution can reach 4.9 UF, while the maximum allowed rent value increases to 13 UF.

Among the main conditions established by Minvu and ChileAtiende are being 18 years or older, having a valid identity card (with a valid foreigner’s card in the case of foreign persons), being registered in the Social Registry of Households (RSH) up to 70% of the socioeconomic qualification, applying together with a member of the family nucleus (spouse, partner, or child), allowing people aged 60 or older to apply alone. Likewise, a minimum saving of 4 UF in a housing savings account must be accredited and a monthly family income between 7 and 25 UF must be held, a limit that increases if the family group exceeds three members. Applications can be made entirely online with Clave Única or in person at Serviu offices across the country.