Heating your home in Canada is likely the largest part of your monthly energy bill. It is also likely the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Remember “Envelope first, Mechanicals second…”
To reduce the size and cost of your new heat pump, ensure that you have addressed your building envelope first.
- Tighten up your building envelope by sealing up cracks and holes that allow heat to escape
- Upgrade insulation in walls and attic
- Upgrade with energy efficient windows and doors
Once you have an efficient building envelope, then a smaller heat pump that costs less will be required to heat and cool your home.
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) for heating and cooling
During the cooler months, a heat pump uses electricity to extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into your home. The heat pump’s advanced technology enables it, even during Canada’s cold winter days, to extract heat from the outside air to heat your home. Although heat pumps are best known for heating, they also provide cooling by transferring warm indoor air to the outside. In fact, if you have an air conditioner at home, you are already familiar with heat pump technology – they work in the same way.
Heat pumps transfer heat rather than generate heat, making them energy-efficient while they provide comfortable temperatures for your home year-round.
Learn more in this booklet from Natural Resources Canada, Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump.
Calculate how much you could save with a heat pump
This interactive tool helps you to compare the cost of heat pumps to other home heating and cooling options in five cities across Canada. It was developed by experts at the Canadian Climate Institute based on extensive economic analysis. Results reflect average costs over the lifetime of the equipment and do not reflect individual circumstances of each user.
Visit https://heatpumpcalculator.ca to customize the calculation for your region.
Do heat pumps work in cold climates?
Read about the many myths about heat pumps (hint: modern heat pumps work in most parts of Canada)…
Consider a hot water heat pump as well
Heat pump water heater (HPWH) technology does not generate heat directly. It moves heat from one place to another. Heat is taken from the air in the basement or utility room (or sometimes from outside) and transferred to a tank of water.
Learn more in this booklet by Natural Resource Canada, Water Heater Guide.