With all the excitement round ChatGPT proper now, I made a decision to ask it to elucidate 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 property comfy, like a heater within the winter and an air conditioner in summer season.”
Past the easy AI data, 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, 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 might persuade you to transition to a warmth pump ahead of later: some components of Canada have banned fossil-fuel heating programs in new properties.
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That mentioned, 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 Assets Canada (NRCan). And that hole might widen additional with year-over-year warmth pump gross sales rising by almost 40% in Europe final 12 months (together with each air-heating and water-heating warmth pumps), in comparison with 11% for the remainder of the world, in keeping 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 important drivers that impacts the uptake of dwelling heating electrification is vitality costs,” says Robin Librach, the communications officer for NRCan. The price of fuel, electrical energy and pure fuel have skyrocketed in lots of components of Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine, so European customers 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 counsel that the tide might lastly be turning. For the reason that Canada Greener Properties initiative was launched in Might 2021, greater than 47,000 Canadian dwelling house owners 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, dwelling insulation, air sealing and photo voltaic panels.
At the moment, the Canada Greener Properties Grant supplies 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 Properties Grant has been changed by what’s generally known as the Dwelling Effectivity Rebate Plus program, warmth pump grants go as much as $7,800.
How a lot does a warmth pump value 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 worth vary whereas a geothermal or ground-source warmth pump comes with a remarkably increased worth.” (See beneath for extra on totally different warmth pumps.) Elements akin to the dimensions/sort of dwelling, sort of system, native set up fees and the model of product all issue into the ultimate warmth pump value.
Picture by Mark Douglas Wessel
Forms of warmth pumps
NRCan’s web site supplies a complete overview of warmth pumps and explains the 2 important varieties 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, through the hotter months. The primary distinction with ground-source warmth pumps is the precise supply. The earth, floor water or each warmth your property 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 property. For properties with out ductwork, house owners can go for mini split-system warmth pumps, which encompass an out of doors compressor/condenser and a number of indoor dealing with models which might be mounted on the wall—very similar to a room air-con unit.