Heat pumps
How Feasible Are They?
I spoke to Clara Blakelock, who is a Registered Energy Adviser and Home Energy Program Manager at Green Up here in Peterborough to learn more about heat pumps and rebates. I have been thinking about installing one for quite some time. Let’s look at how it works. what it means and how to go about it. Home energy assessments are required to access Green Up measure the building, look at windows and the rebates and interest free loans until 2027. They doors, insulation in the attic, walls and basement, will provide you with a report and, after upgrades existing mechanical system and do a blower door are complete, they do a second assessment and test to check for air tightness. The information generates a report for recommended upgrades. Other apply for rebates on your behalf. The rebate for heat pumps is $6,500 for average rebates available are improving insulation, windows customers. If you are not on natural gas, there is a or hot water. Note that if you are applying for a heat pump grant, you don’t have to replace your win$5,000 rebate. dows. You can choose your upgrades. The report is Peterborough also has a rebate program offering simply to provide recommendations but you have to $4,500 for a heat pump. BUT you can only receive pick at least one upgrade to qualify for any grants. one rebate or the other – you can’t take both. Upgrades can be completed with your preferred What savings do you get using a heat pump? Each house is different - it depends on how old and how heating specialist for either program. well insulated your home is plus the outside temperMost heat pumps being installed are air source. ature. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance have a calculaThey draw from the air. It extracts heat from the out- tor on their website to get a better idea. www.cleadoor air and is also an air conditioner. Heat pumps nairalliance.org/calculator/. An estimate is that over that pull from the ground and are more expensive the lifetime of the equipment you will save $10,000. to install. You would need to be in the country with How often will you need to rely on your backup heat more room. system? Not very often (depending on the outside Heat pumps are the most efficient way of heating temperature). Clara told me she has a heat pump in your home. They can be 200 – 300% efficient com- her home and says she only had to use it for 2 or 3 pared to a gas furnace which is at most 97% effi- days last winter. cient. They drastically cuts gas emissions compared The loans. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing to fossil fuel. Corporation (CMHC) are offering an interest free, 10 Clara says the price of the unit depends on the size year loan up to $40,000. You have to get the energy of the house and range from $10,000 to $25,000. It efficient assessment done first to apply for the loan. requires a back up heat source for very cold tem- They will pre-approve you, you get the work done peratures. Heat pumps are good until about -20C and then you get the funds. It’s important to note (some to -30C). The back up heat source can be an that there is a bit of a bridging period, as you don’t electric, gas or propane. If you have a newer furnace get the full funds until after the work is done. CMHC you may choose to keep that as back up. If your fur- will give you 15% up front, but be aware that you will nace is 10-15 years old you would most likely go need alternative financing to bridge the gap. with a new electric back up system. For an ATOTK approved heating and cooling Installation specialist, call Neil Johnston Heating (705) 742-8769 or visit their website at www.neiljohnstonheating.com 31
