With all the excitement round ChatGPT proper now, I made a decision to ask it to clarify what a warmth pump is, and it got here again with “a warmth pump is a tool that acts like a magic field, shifting heat or cool air to make your house comfy, like a heater within the winter and an air conditioner in summer time.”
Past the easy AI information, listed below are some compelling details for utilizing a warmth pump. The “magic” lies in the truth that warmth pumps are 300% extra environment friendly than baseboard heaters and furnaces, and 50% extra environment friendly than AC models. And, in contrast to most furnaces, they run on electrical energy, not gasoline (until it’s a hybrid warmth pump). Talking of gasoline, a latest research discovered that warmth pumps are extra environment friendly than gasoline heating, even in chilly climate. And right here’s one other consideration that would persuade you to transition to a warmth pump ahead of later: some components of Canada have banned fossil-fuel heating programs in new properties.
That stated, regardless of their superior effectivity, warmth pumps haven’t been adopted in Canada as readily as in different components of the world. As of 2021, warmth pumps have been the first supply of area heating in solely 6% of Canadian properties. That’s far decrease than in Europe, the place an estimated 16% of residential and business buildings used them as of 2022, says Pure Sources Canada (NRCan). And that hole might widen additional with year-over-year warmth pump gross sales rising by almost 40% in Europe final yr (together with each air-heating and water-heating warmth pumps), in comparison with 11% for the remainder of the world, in line with 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 fundamental drivers that impacts the uptake of house heating electrification is vitality costs,” says Robin Librach, the communications officer for NRCan. The price of gasoline, electrical energy and pure gasoline have skyrocketed in lots of components of Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine, so European shoppers are understandably looking for extra cost-efficient methods to warmth and funky their properties.
Warmth pump demand is heating up
Few Canadian households have a warmth pump, however NRCan numbers recommend that the tide could lastly be turning. Because the Canada Greener Houses initiative was launched in Could 2021, greater than 47,000 Canadian house homeowners have acquired grants for warmth pumps. And warmth pumps are essentially the most frequent retrofit undertaken by these collaborating in this system, adopted by home windows and doorways, house insulation, air sealing and photo voltaic panels.
Presently, the Canada Greener Houses Grant offers three ranges of warmth pump rebates, starting from $2,500 to $5,000 relying on the kind of warmth pump in addition to efficiency specs. In Ontario, the place the Canada Greener Houses Grant has been changed by what’s referred to as the Dwelling Effectivity Rebate Plus program, warmth pump grants go as much as $7,800.
How a lot does a warmth pump price in Canada?
FurnacePrices.ca cites fairly a broad vary of warmth pump costs in Canada, from $3,500 to $15,000, “with a easy ductless mini-split air conditioner system sitting on the decrease finish of the value vary whereas a geothermal or ground-source warmth pump comes with a remarkably larger worth.” (See beneath for extra on completely different warmth pumps.) Elements comparable to the dimensions/sort of house, sort of system, native set up fees and the model of product all issue into the ultimate warmth pump price.
Forms of warmth pumps
NRCan’s web site offers a complete overview of warmth pumps and explains the 2 fundamental sorts of residential warmth pumps: air supply and floor supply. Air-source warmth pumps pull warmth from the surface air throughout colder months and do the reverse, eradicating heat air from inside the home, in the course of the hotter months. The principle distinction with ground-source warmth pumps is the precise supply. The earth, floor water or each warmth your house within the winter and funky it in the summertime.
One other key differentiator: how the air is exchanged. A central ducted warmth pump resolution works in tandem with the prevailing ductwork of your house. For properties with out ductwork, homeowners can go for mini split-system warmth pumps, which include an outside compressor/condenser and a number of indoor dealing with models which might be mounted on the wall—very like a room air-con unit.
