It’s 2025. Targets vary, but overall we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half by 2030 — now only five years away.
Home heating is one way that many of us participate daily in the direct burning of fossil fuels — either natural gas, oil, or propane. When the time comes for a heating system replacement, it’s a prime opportunity to drastically cut emissions in a lasting way, since most heating equipment will last 15 to 20 years.
GreenUP is participating in a pilot project with Green Communities Canada to offer an exclusive service to Peterborough-region homeowners looking to get the best heat pump installed in their home.
Air source heat pumps are the primary way that homeowners are opting to “fuel switch” their heating systems away from polluting fossil fuels.
Cold climate heat pumps work exceedingly well, down to very cold temperatures, and can reduce a home’s greenhouse gas emissions significantly. They are also highly efficient, and can reduce heating costs, especially when switching from electric, oil, or propane heating, or when combined with improvements to the building envelope.
Several different incentive programs have been available over the past few years to promote heat pump adoption, with a new incentive just launched at the end of January. The Home Renovation Savings™ program is currently available to natural gas and electrically heated homes, and provides rebates for heat pumps, solar panels, as well as insulation and other building envelope upgrades.
Switching to a heat pump is possible in most homes, though it’s not as straightforward as replacing an old gas furnace with a new one. Unlike with a furnace, a heat pump is not usually sized to cover the entire heating load of a home — instead, a backup heating system is used in very cold temperatures.
Ideally, the system should be designed to use the heat pump as much as possible, since it is 200 to 300 per cent efficient, meaning with one unit of electricity it can create two to three units of heat.
This is far higher than any backup. For example, a gas furnace would only be 96 per cent efficient, meaning only 96 per cent of the gas energy is converted to heat.
Kai Millyard, senior energy consultant at Green Communities Canada, has analyzed the details of 750 heat pumps installed under the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program in Ontario, which was available from 2021 to early 2024. The results were surprising.
“Almost half of the heat pumps installed were half or less of the size of the heating requirement in the house,” says Millyard. “This means the more inefficient backup systems are taking on over half of the heating load.”
Millyard and his team conceived of a training program to allow energy advisors across Canada to offer a service that should result in better heat pump sizing and selection for their clients. GreenUP energy advisors participated in the training in late 2024.
GreenUP’s Heat Pump Advisory Service starts with an EnerGuide evaluation, which gives the homeowner a comprehensive look at how their home is using energy now, and where they could benefit the most from upgrades. The energy advisor is also available during the assessment to discuss the different types of heat pumps and options available.
Next, the energy advisor performs some additional tests to determine the building’s heating and cooling needs, the capacity of the ductwork, and the estimated capacity of the electrical panel.
“The data collected by the energy advisor during this service is very valuable to HVAC contractors, so they can ensure the heat pump and backup are appropriately sized, that the system will run quietly, and that unnecessary electrical panel upgrades are avoided,” explains Millyard.
Following the assessment, the energy advisor is available to review and discuss any quotes received with the homeowner.
A heat pump is a significant investment, designed to last for many years, and so getting it right is important. With the right equipment, a heat pump can make your home more comfortable, safer, less polluting, and cheaper to operate.
Join GreenUP energy advisors Bryn Magee and Clara Blakelock in a free interactive webinar, “Ask an Energy Advisor: All about heat pumps!” on Thursday, February 13 from noon to 1 p.m. Bryn and Clara will discuss the basics of heat pumps and what you should consider if you’re thinking about installing one in your home.
Visit greenup.on.ca/home-energy/ to learn more and to register, or call 705-536-9943. You can also register directly on Zoom at bit.ly/greenupwebinar.
This story was published in partnership with GreenUP.
