Heat pumps are all the rage right now, but most are sized incorrectly. Green Communities Canada intends to change that with a new Heat Pump Right-sizing Service.
Heat pumps are transforming homes across Canada
Thousands of homeowners across Canada are installing heat pumps every year. Heat pumps have gone mainstream for many reasons:
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- They heat your home in the winter by extracting heat from the outside air even when temperatures are way below freezing;
- They switch direction during summer, cooling your home more efficiently than an air conditioner;
- They can do all this while using only electricity, thereby reducing your home’s dependency on burning fossil fuels;
- They can also significantly reduce heating costs. A heat pump can save you as much as $2,000-$3,000 per year, especially when switching from electric baseboards, oil, or propane heating or when combined with improvements to the building envelope.
Why is it important to right-size your heat pump?
GCC helped pioneer the EnerGuide home energy rating system 25 years ago. We’ve got a tremendous amount of data at our fingertips thanks to partnerships with our members and the federal government.
According to our analysis of heat pumps installed in Ontario between 2023-24, more than half of all heat pumps are undersized. That means that homeowners must rely on fossil fuels and other more costly alternatives more than they should have to. This results in higher costs and lower efficiency.
Heat pumps are designed to be super efficient. It just makes sense to ensure you get all the benefits of that efficiency by choosing a heat pump that is sized appropriately for your home.
To that end, we’ve created a new Heat Pump Right-sizing service for homeowners and are working with contractors across the country to level up the industry.
Benefits to the homeowner of the Heat Pump Right-sizing Service
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- Getting a heat loss calculation for your home to help size a heat pump that meets the unique heating and cooling needs of your home;
- Improve thermal comfort;
- Maximize your energy savings and reduce your dependency on burning fossil fuels;
- Avoid expensive oversized equipment purchases;
- Ensure quiet operation based on duct testing data;
- Avoid expensive, unnecessary electric panel upgrades;
- Be better informed and able to discuss heat pump solutions for your home with contractors.
You may be eligible for a rebate for a heat pump through the Home Renovation Savings Program or the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program. By working with us, you can combine this rebate with the interest-free Canada Greener Homes Loan.
See below to find a local Green Communities office near you.
Our Members
REAL (Rideau Environmental Action League)
Lanark, Leeds-Grenville, and Frontenac
Green Communities Canada deeply appreciates support from the Peter Gilgan Foundation in developing this service.
