It’s solely in the previous few years that customers have begun to familiarize themselves with warmth pumps as an choice for his or her houses, regardless of the very fact this know-how has been round since 1856. And myths surrounding warmth pumps stay, together with the idea that they don’t work in chilly climate. In a single latest survey, 35% of respondents believed that “warmth pumps will depart you frozen out whenever you want (heating) probably the most.”
Nevertheless, the fact may be very completely different. Warmth pumps are 300% extra environment friendly than baseboard heaters and furnaces, and 50% extra environment friendly than AC models. And, not like most furnaces, they run on electrical energy, not fuel (except it’s a hybrid warmth pump). Talking of fuel, a latest research discovered that warmth pumps are extra environment friendly than fuel heating, even in chilly climate. And right here’s one other consideration that would persuade you to transition to a warmth pump sooner moderately than later: some components of Canada have banned fossil-fuel heating methods in new houses.
Regardless of the rising physique of excellent news surrounding warmth pumps as a product class “set to blow up,” Canadians have nonetheless been gradual to embrace them as an HVAC (heating, venting and air con) answer, in comparison with the remainder of the world. In 2023, solely 7% of Canadian houses had used warmth pumps previously 12 months. That’s far decrease than in Europe. In Norway, 60% of houses use warmth pumps, adopted by Sweden at 43% and Finland at 41%. In 2022, warmth pump gross sales in Europe grew practically 40% year-over-year (together with each air-heating and water-heating warmth pumps), in comparison with 11% for the remainder of the world, in response to the Worldwide Vitality Company.
So, why aren’t Canadians leaping on board, recognizing the potential vitality financial savings of warmth pump options? “When discussing the variations between Canada and Europe, one of many major drivers that impacts the uptake of dwelling heating electrification is vitality costs,” says Robin Librach, the communications officer for Pure Assets Canada (NRCan). The price of fuel, electrical energy and pure fuel have skyrocketed in lots of components of Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine, so European shoppers are understandably trying to find extra cost-efficient methods to warmth and funky their houses.
As warmth pump demand heats up, authorities help cools
Few Canadian households have a warmth pump, however NRCan numbers recommend that the tide might lastly be turning. For the reason that federal authorities launched the Canada Greener Houses initiative in Could 2021, greater than 47,000 dwelling homeowners have obtained grants for warmth pumps. And warmth pumps are probably the most frequent retrofit undertaken by these collaborating in this system, adopted by home windows and doorways, dwelling insulation, air sealing and photo voltaic panels.
General, the excellent news is that one-third of Canadians dwelling homeowners say they’re prepared to transition to warmth pumps. Sadly, the Canada Greener Houses Grant—which beforehand supplied monetary incentives from $2,500 to $5,000 for dwelling homeowners switching over to a warmth pump—is now closed to new candidates.
The reason given by the federal authorities is that the $2.6-billion program was so common that the funds ran out, main it to tug the plug early. The initiative was initially slated to run via to March 2027. In the event you’re a house proprietor who managed to get in beneath the wire, and your pre-retrofit analysis by an authorized technician recommends putting in a warmth pump, you possibly can nonetheless apply for the grant, supplied you may have at the very least one price estimate.
New for 2024: The Oil to Warmth Pump Affordability Program
Launched by the federal authorities in March of this 12 months, the Oil to Warmth Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) presents one other alternative to get funding for a warmth pump, with grants of as much as $10,000. This system will run for the subsequent 4 years, with a finances of $750 million.
To qualify, your house should at present be heated by oil, and your after-tax family revenue should be equal to or lower than the quantities listed on NRCan’s web sites, which additionally differ from province to province. And you should have bought at the very least 1,000 litres of heating oil within the final 12 months. The provinces of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, in addition to the Northwest Territories and Yukon territory, are all collaborating on this program. You’ll be able to examine your eligibility for the OHPA on-line.
