Best practices in heat pump retrofits
This video series showcases best practices in heat pump sizing, selection and installation in case study homes across Canada. Learn how heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors, energy advisors, builders and renovators can apply these principles to design and install heat pump systems that are cost-effective, comfortable and deliver utility and greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for Canadians in a diverse range of homes.
-
Disclaimer
Links to websites not under the control of the Government of Canada (GC) are provided solely for the convenience of users. The GC does not offer any guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the linked content, nor does it endorse the sites and their content. Information offered by non-GC sites to which this website links is not subject to the Privacy Act or the Official Languages Act and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities. Please see our Terms and conditions for more information.
-
Best practices for sizing supplementary heating systems in heat pump retrofits
Heat pumps have the potential to deliver enormous energy, GHG and cost savings during HVAC retrofits. However, over-reliance on backup heat or supplementary heating systems can undermine those savings.
Property managers, HVAC professionals and energy advisors can learn how to limit reliance on backup electric heat and avoid expensive upgrades to electrical panels, which can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000, by starting with smart envelope improvements and right-sizing practices.
Transcript
♪♪
This project upgraded weatherstripping, insulation and heating and cooling systems
with cold climate air source heat pump technology in 11 townhouses.
Most buildings had forced air gas furnaces,
and we were looking for ways to manage overall costs.
As we were evaluating air source heat pumps,
an important consideration was to avoid having to upgrade the electrical panels
to a higher amperage service if possible.
To upgrade from older panel of 65 or 100 Amp service
to 125 Amps can typically cost a few thousand dollars.
Adding new loads like a heat pump with electric backup,
you may find that 100 Amp capacity is not sufficient.
This can trigger that upgrade to a higher capacity panel,
typically installed by an electrician in consultation with your local utility.
Our strategy was to start by upgrading the building envelope.
This reduced the building's heating load and enabled us to retrofit
with a smaller heat pump than what would have otherwise been needed.
Reducing the home's heating load has multiple benefits:
• You can install a smaller heat pump system
• You can reduce the need for back up or supplementary heat
which can reduce project costs
• Finally, you may avoid the need for panel and service upgrades
from your utility company, which again can help reduce your overall project costs.
Our approach was to model the heating load resulting from a better envelope
and the corresponding downsizing of the air source heat pump.
Since we were able to bring the loads down,
we only needed a small 3KW supplementary backup heater.
We anticipate that this system will only operate,
say about 5% of the heating season, which is not very much at all.
With the upgraded insulation and weatherstripping,
this amount of backup heat would be enough to keep the pipes from freezing,
and allow reasonable time for the maintenance crew
to perform emergency air source heat pump servicing.
One of the questions we asked ourselves was
"Should we size at the design load, or size for a little less
and cover the coldest periods with electric backup"?
The cold climate heat pumps we specified should provide
most if not all of the heating - even down to -20 Celsius.
However, as the outdoor temperature drops, a heat pump's output capacity also drops,
and it needs a helping hand.
Fortunately, if the heat pump is properly sized to begin with,
this situation would only occur less than 5 percent of the time.
In this case we reduced the building's heat loss by about 70%
through selective use of building envelope upgrades.
This enabled us to install a much smaller heat pump than would otherwise be necessary.
It also resulted in a smaller supplementary backup heater,
which avoided the cost and trouble of having to upgrade to the electrical service.
♪♪
-
Heat pump controls as part of net-zero strategies for colleges and universities
Heat pump retrofits in colleges and universities present a unique opportunity to progress toward net-zero and sustainability targets. However, retrofits require careful planning and implementation to deliver on savings. In this video, we dive into an innovative heat pump retrofit project at Fanshawe College’s Kestrel Court that is aiming to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
Learn about the advanced control strategies used to maintain thermal and economic balance points, allowing the air source heat pump to operate efficiently throughout the heating season without relying on supplementary natural gas heating.
This case study highlights practical steps and technologies that colleges and universities can adopt to meet ambitious net-zero targets while achieving significant cost and GHG reductions.
Transcript
♪♪
Fanshawe College has made a commitment to decrease
the College's impact on the environment
through updates to both physical spaces and academic curriculum.
Compared to our 2013 baseline year,
Fanshawe aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030, and 80% by 2050.
Built in the mid-1990s, the Kestrel Court complex at Fanshawe College
consists of 66 townhouses and provides accommodation to approximately 400 students.
There was a huge opportunity to reduce energy consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions in the Kestrel Court residences.
We developed a plan to trial solutions the London Home Builders Association
had chosen to focus upon during their Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships Initiative.
With an industry-driven plan focussed on deep energy retrofits,
the resulting proposal received funding support
from Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy R&D.
♪♪
The overall strategy was first to address envelope measures
like air sealing, insulation and windows.
This allowed us to right size the HVAC equipment for the upgraded building shell.
Then to make everything work seamlessly and reliably,
we had to set up the system's controls properly.
We wanted to make sure that the heat pump
ran for as long as possible throughout the heating season,
and limited our reliance on our back up system.
When setting up the thermostat and overall control strategy,
you need to evaluate the switchover temperature where back up heating kicks in.
In the heat pump world, there is what is known as the Thermal Balance Point Temperature.
This is the outdoor temperature where the heat pump's output capacity
matches the building's heating load.
♪♪
Above this outdoor temperature, the heat pump is able
to fully meet the building's heating requirements.
However, below this point there is a need for backup heat to kick in.
In the past few years, there have been advances in controls
that can operate on what's called the Economic Balance Point temperature.
This takes into account utility costs for switch-over,
focussing on low operating cost.
NRCan's Air Source Heat Pump Sizing & Selection Guide
can help you calculate these two set points.
There are three important options:
• First - if your goal is greenhouse gas savings,
you should let the heat pump run as much as possible
through the heating season and down to as low a temperature as possible.
• Second - if lower operating costs are the objective
and the heat pump can't meet the load at low temperatures,
and there's backup heating from gas,
consider the respective fuel costs to determine the economic switchover point.
• Finally, the strategy should be to let the heat pump work
to as low a temperature as possible then supplement with electric,
shutting off the heat pump only when it's necessary.
Leaving the default settings is never a good idea.
It is important that the installer review all the settings
and make proper adjustments to reflect the owner's objectives
and ensure the equipment works as efficiently as possible.
Heat pumps together with appropriate control strategies play a vital role
in reducing operating costs and our carbon footprint.
♪♪
We have had more than 150 students involved
in the scoping and design concepts of this retrofit.
We are proud of our students, and they are the future
and the 'force multipliers' to replicate and improve
on this experience for other institutes across Canada.
♪♪
-
Reducing heating loads to optimize heat pump retrofits
Fanshawe College recently completed an ambitious retrofit of multi-family campus housing, aligning with the college's mandate to cut GHG emissions by 30% by 2030.
Learn about investments into the most cost-effective envelope upgrades to bring down heating loads, as well as best practices in rightsizing mechanical systems to manage overall retrofit costs.
Transcript
♪♪
As part of a modernization project,
we upgraded 11 of Fanshawe College's 66 townhouse units
with the goal of maintaining or improving comfort while reducing GHG emissions.
We used a mix of insulation materials, air tightness,
heat pumps and heat recovery ventilators.
♪♪
Using a 'blower door test' we determined that these buildings
have a leakage rate of 5 air changes an hour.
Consider that best in class buildings have less than 1.5 air changes an hour,
which is about 70 percent less.
First things first. Stop the hemorrhaging. Get the leaks under control.
We knew that the insulation had to be updated.
The question was should we do this from the inside or the outside?
Having the students vacate the buildings for the renovation period was not an option.
We decided to use what is called EFIS, or exterior finish insulation system.
This was one of the solutions that local renovators were interested in
following the LEEP workshops hosted by the London Homebuilders Association.
Fanshawe has a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80% by 2050.
We asked ourselves,
"what energy efficiency improvements do we need to make to hit this target?"
Here we wanted to go net zero.
For new construction and renovations, there's now a trend
towards right-sizing based on proper heat loss and heat gain calculations.
The methodology is laid out in CSA Standard F280-12
and baked into many calculation software packages.
It allows us to more accurately predict the building's heating and cooling requirements.
We used software tools to run various scenarios.
We were especially interested in matching heat loads
for various building envelope scenarios and other efficiency measures to heat pump sizing.
To reduce loads, air sealing by far is the number one measure
having the quickest return on investment.
Number two was attic insulation.
The third measure was upgrading the windows
with high-performance low emissivity, triple glazed units.
Adding basement and wall insulation was the last measure.
But by doing just these four measures,
we addressed all the economically viable options and hit the Net Zero Energy target.
It was then relatively straightforward to remove the aluminum siding,
update the vapour barriers, and apply the exterior insulation,
followed by a layer of foam which made the buildings have a stucco finish.
We replaced the dryer and stove vents with heat recovery ventilator (HRV) units.
These HRV units will remove excess humidity during the summer months,
and this will provide additional ventilation and comfort to the residents.
A right-sized system will cover a greater percentage of the heating load
once envelope upgrades are completed, meaning you rely less on your back up system.
Decide what efficiency upgrades you're going to prioritize and with the end goal in mind.
Then chip away methodically at the envelope upgrades measure by measure
until the building matches the target.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of first doing the envelope upgrades.
This will enable you to install a much smaller heat pump
and backup heating system than would otherwise be needed.
In the long run, this approach will require less capital, have a quicker payback,
and save more energy and GHG emissions over the lifetime of the system.
The hard work paid off.
Fanshawe College was able to achieve a 70 percent
energy and GHG reduction at this student residence.
♪♪
-
Using NRCan’s ASHP Sizing and Selection tool to drive heat pump sales
NRCan’s Air-source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide can be a powerful tool for HVAC professionals as they seek to demonstrate the business case for heat pump retrofits to their customers. The guide is specifically designed for mechanical contractors and renovation experts aiming to optimize ASHP installations in Canadian climates.
In this video, learn about the tool’s capabilities as well as how a leading mechanical contractor and distributor were able to use the tool to present a data-driven quote to retrofit a student residence with heat pumps.
Transcript
♪♪
This University of Waterloo Student Housing co-op complex
has 94 multi-residential units, each having 3 or 4 bedrooms,
and some with basement living space.
All the units had electric baseboard heating and the university was finding
this was an inefficient way of heating and controlling energy in the buildings.
The university was originally considering installing air conditioning
to improve the comfort for residents.
When they approached us, heat pumps were not on their radar as being a potential solution.
Our company has a strong track record in what I would call "conventional" HVAC systems.
This project really showed us the depth behind
NRCan's air source heat pump software tool and how it resulted
in additional value to our customers and a competitive edge to us.
The University of Waterloo student residences contacted us
about upgrading the heating system, and installing air conditioning.
We knew that we could add more value for the customer, and brought Dev's team on board.
About 80% of the work that my team does relates to heat pumps.
For this project, we did the design work
and Brandon's company did the installation and commissioning.
By using NRCan's air source heat pump tool, we took a more detailed approach,
and were able to show the customer that heat pumps were a better choice
than standard air conditioning systems.
NRCan's air source heat pump software is a freely available tool
intended for anyone in the HVAC industry that's involved with
sizing and selecting air source heat pump systems.
The air source heat pump tool enables us to make a very objective comparison
of the different models and select the right size and most efficient ones for the application.
The air source heat pump tool has several high level steps:
• it requires you to define the key air source heat pump requirements -
the air source heat pump configuration, choose mini-split indoor unit types,
define the heating and cooling loads, the geographical location for the project
and determine the air source heat pump target capacity size.
• Next, you can identify candidate equipment to match the requirements and shortlist choices.
• Then you can select the overall system control strategy
to optimize costs, greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings for the systems
• Finally you can also evaluate backup heating requirements.
♪♪
Our quote was for ductless mini-split systems.
With the savings calculations and modelling data from the air source heat pump tool
we were able to demonstrate to the customer that the heat pump technology
was the best choice for their requirement.
We evaluated the thermal balance points, economic balance points
and greenhouse gas emissions for each of the four systems under consideration.
We were also able to demonstrate to WCRI that the heat pump solution
was not only cost effective, but also resulted in a significant reduction
in carbon footprint which was very important to their team.
The tool was straightforward and intuitive to use, which is nice -
it really helped us to convey the recommended solution to the customer
and gave us a leg up over our competitors.
The customer was really impressed that we included a comprehensive list
of greenhouse gas reduction, balance points and economics.
This resulted in a competitive advantage for us,
as well as an overall better solution for the customer.
We like the fact is that the tool has historical cold climate data
for most parts of Canada, and using the tool we loved that
we were able to tell contractors about utility costs
for different scenarios using different air source heat pump systems.
The reality is that we are heading towards achieving a net zero energy target for buildings,
and the old products and solutions will begin to be phased out in the next 10 years.
The fact is, the air source heat pump tool helped us win this project.
It helped us to think about non-traditional solutions for supporting the customer's requirements.
♪♪
-
Net-zero transition: Electrify your home with heat p.umps
Electrifying your home can come with some unexpected challenges and costs – adding additional electric loads in the form of space and water heating and kitchen loads. EV chargers can trigger the need to upgrade electric panels and service, adding thousands of dollars in retrofit costs and significant delays to projects.
Learn how one homeowner in B.C. strategically planned retrofits to electrify his home and transition off gas. You’ll learn about how to avoid electrical panel upgrades for routine heat pump retrofits, as well as about strategies and technology available for more complex electric load management.
Transcript
We've been in this house
for 22 years now.
Our long term goal
was to decarbonize our home
by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions,
manage our loads better
and get to net zero.
Our next big move was to switch
our heating system
from natural gas
to an electric heat pump.
Most contractors said I needed to upgrade
my electrical panel
before adding the heat pump,
But I also heard that my 100 amp panel
was good enough.
I knew an upgrade in my case
would be expensive. And the hassle?
Something I would prefer to avoid.
In Canada,
there's a lot of incentives
to go electric.
But if everyone went electric
all at once,
that would put tremendous pressure
on the grid.
So we have to be smart
about how we do it.
If we don't right size each house project
along the way
and transition efficiently,
power utilities
may not have the distribution capacity
without costly system upgrades.
We should only
upgrade a home's electrical service
if it's absolutely necessary
because upgrading has impacts
on the overall grid.
We already replaced our gas stove
with an induction cooktop.
Many years ago we got an electric
water heater.
And in 2020
we got an EV charger for the car.
The hundred amp panel
was enough for those upgrades,
but adding the heat pump,
I wasn't sure
if that would be pushing it.
A lot of HVAC
contractors and homeowners
are surprised to hear
that heat pump retrofits
don't necessarily require
a service upgrade
because that's contrary to what you hear.
There's typically room
on a 100
amp service for a moderately sized
heat pump system.
Even allowing
the safety factors required
by the Canadian electrical code,
especially if load control options
that are allowed by code are adopted.
But many contractors default
to recommending an upgrade
which can run anywhere
between 3000 to $12000.
Rebates and incentive programs
typically won't cover these costs.
So it can be a major reason
why people don't
go ahead with a retrofit.
So when you're in this situation,
you don't want to be guessing
or paying for what you don't have to.
It's important
to figure out what you need.
You can complete a full analysis
of the home's peak power demand
with help
from an electrical designer
or an engineer.
These days power
utilities have smart
metering capabilities
with easy access to this data.
If you can't access this easily,
you can get an electrician
to monitor your usage
to determine your peak load.
The measured peak
load of Garry's home was about 56 amps
on his 100 amp service
with an 80 amp limit.
We needed to figure out how much load
would be added by his new heat pump.
First,
we needed to
make sure the heat pump
was the right size.
Our energy adviser told us our heat
load was around 30,000 BTUs per hour.
We selected a two and a half ton cold
climate heat pump
that meets the full heating
capacity of our home.
at designed conditions
when the outside temperature’s
at minus eight.
Some contractors default
to putting in electric resistance heaters
that meet the full heating
load of the home.
This adds significant load
to the panel capacity requirements
and is probably overkill.
You may opt for a smaller electric heater
that's adequate
to supplement the heat pump,
but minimizes the load on the panel.
Gary's two and a half tonne heat
pump system has a maximum
rated capacity of 34 amps
and it required a 40 amp breaker.
We felt that was possibly doable
on Gary's hundred AMP Service.
But here's the thing.
We wanted to add
more than just the heat pump.
We were adding a greenhouse at the time
and we wanted to heat it in the future.
Maybe we'll add some solar panels
to the roof
and a battery
for storage to take advantage
of the time of use rates.
With those additional future
requirements,
I recommended that Gary upgrade
to a 200 AMP service.
It was good news and bad news.
The upgrade was going to be expensive,
but we knew that
we were making the right decision
for our long term
vision for our house
and for net zero energy.
While we were at it,
we worked with the electrical designer
to implement a split panel solution.
One panel for essential services
and a mains panel everything else.
This gives us options to manage usage
if we experience power outages
or take advantage of time of use rates.
Whether or not a service
upgrade is necessary,
there are new technologies
and smart panel tools
that will enable
sophisticated load management
and long term resiliency for your home.
My advice to anyone is to collaborate
closely with the HVAC
and electrical contractors.
In my case,
an upgrade to a 200 AMP service
was certainly justifiable.
In many cases
it may not be.
Thougtful equipment selection
while following
the electrical code
can reduce
the need to upgrade the service,
thereby reducing costs to the homeowner
and the utility.
-
Efficient heating upgrade: From electric resistance to heat pumps in manufactured homes
Manufactured homes can be a challenging market for improving energy efficiency. Many traditional envelope upgrades are not feasible for this type of home, and they may be poorly designed for the climate they are ultimately installed in.
Learn how a community in Campbell River, B.C., benefitted from a heat pump retrofit program to improve the safety, comfort and energy performance of their manufactured homes. In addition to saving hundreds of dollars in utility bills, improving the energy efficiency of these home alleviated grid constraints in these regions.
Transcript
Across Canada.
We know we
need to look for ways
to reduce our energy use
and our greenhouse gas emissions.
in rural B.C..
There are a lot of communities
like this, one with manufactured homes
which present a special challenge.
These homes are tough
when it comes to energy efficiency.
Historically,
they weren't regulated by an energy code.
So there's high air leakage
and poor insulation.
Since they're built offsite,
they're not necessarily designed
for the climate they're located in.
So they can be costly to heat,
as much as 3 to $400 a month.
And that's a huge burden for some folks.
Usually with retrofits,
you start with air
sealing and insulation,
but that's not really cost effective
or practical for manufactured homes.
Our biggest opportunity
is to upgrade the heating system.
Most of these homes use
electric baseboard or space heaters.
There's a common misconception
that it's not worth it to upgrade
from electric resistance
heat to an electric heat pump,
because the heat pump still uses
electricity.
Do heat pumps make a difference?
We had to give it a try.
We like heat pump technology
for a lot of reasons.
They're way more energy efficient
than conventional resistance
heat such as baseboards.
Heat pumps
use 2 to 3 times less
electricity to produce the same heat.
We like that
because using less energy
reduces the demand on local
utility grids.
As more customers go electric.
Increased demand
from electric heating systems
can challenge our grid capacity.
In the long term,
This means that the utility
may need to expand and upgrade
when our customers switch
to more efficient forms of electric heat.
This allows B.C.
Hydro to stabilize infrastructure costs
and still meet growing demand.
B.C.
Hydro has a lot
of different types of customers.
And of course, everyone
wants to reduce their power bill.
Manufactured home
communities have very unique challenges
that do not meet
the typical profile for retrofits.
So B.C.
Hydro has an offer
to improve the energy efficiency
and thermal comfort for qualified homes.
Manufactured homes in certain
regions are eligible
for a free heat
pump installation
and other energy efficiency upgrades.
My team worked closely
with BC Hydro
and Ryan's team at Ecolighten
to determine the potential savings
with heat pumps in these homes
where the existing heating systems
were electric baseboards
or space heaters.
Ductless heat
pump systems can be a great alternative
to electric resistance, heat
providing optimal comfort
and cost savings for the residents.
To do this right,
we needed accurate heat load
calculations for each home.
Often
manufactured homes
have been upgraded throughout the years
with add ons and modifications.
This means that rule of thumb heat load
calculations are even less accurate
than usual.
To date,
we've had about 100 manufactured
homes participate
in this pilot program
to install heat pumps,
heat pumps
installed in these types of homes
provided far better comfort and heat
distribution compared
to existing heating solutions.
They also do so more efficiently.
Many customers
found that
utility bills
dropped by 30 to 40%
in the first heating season.
This heat pump offer
has lots of benefits for the residents,
and huge benefits for the power grid.
While there may not be direct
greenhouse gas reductions
from electric to electric conversions
by switching to higher
efficiency systems,
we're able to better manage
grid constraints.
This means that we're able
to make capacity available for customers
who are transitioning of oil
or gas to more efficient electric heat,
which has long term implications
for greenhouse
gas emissions in the province.
But as good as heat pump
technology is, it
definitely relies on proper
installation and operation.
Good data
collection is key to understanding
what kind of equipment is needed
and what kind of heating requirement
each specific home
has, balanced with the right backup
heat source
to make it all work
much better than what
the homeowners currently have.
By installing heat pumps,
we save homeowners money
and increase their comfort,
Reduce demand on the power grid
and make capacity available
for other electricity customers
to shift from oil or gas.
It's a win win win.
-
Ductless heat pump installation: Best practices for manufactured homes
Heat pumps can provide tremendous benefits to the comfort and efficiency of many homes. However, this depends on quality installations that use accurate heating loads, consider airflow requirements, and follow best practices for placing indoor and outdoor units.
Learn about how contractors specializing in ductless system retrofits apply best practices to install heat pump solutions that optimize costs, comfort and energy savings for their customers.
Transcript
The changes in technology
that we've seen in
heating systems
for homes are pretty amazing.
Heat pumps are sort of revolutionizing
the way that we use energy in Canada.
The heat pump we're installing today
doesn't require ductwork.
They're simpler to install.
Costs are going down.
They often qualify
for incentives and rebates.
And they are way more energy efficient
than traditional
electric heating systems.
Easy choice, right?
But it's not a solution
that just comes out of the box.
As part of this
BC Hydro pilot
program,
we've installed
heat pumps
in dozens of these manufactured homes,
every home
with a unique set of problems to solve.
Usually with retrofits,
you start with air
sealing and insulation,
but that's not really cost effective
or practical for manufactured homes.
Our biggest opportunity
is to upgrade the heating system.
There's a lot
that goes into putting the technology
in the right place
and educating the people
to operate it properly
so the heat pump can do its job
and deliver the benefits
that customers expect,
such as efficiency,
comfort and reliability.
From a utility perspective,
good heat pump design
and installation ensures
that everyone gets
maximum benefit from the retrofits
on these manufactured homes.
Customers pay less for heating
and for B.C.
Hydro, There's less strain on the power
grid during the colder months.
It's a win win.
The biggest challenge is that
not all installers
know the ins and outs
of how to make heat pumps work optimally.
There's a lot to consider.
As HVAC designers,
we conduct a thorough
assessment of each home
in order to create a detailed plan
for each of our customers.
There are several key factors
to keep in mind.
Often manufacturing homes
have been upgraded throughout the years
with add ons and modifications.
This means that rule of thumb
calculations are even less accurate
than usual.
A common mistake
is oversizing in the heat pump,
which leads to short cycling
and uneven heating and more cost.
You get the correct equipment size
by doing heat loss
calculations for the home.
Choose a system
with good cold weather performance
and sufficient supplementary
or backup heat.
Airflow is tough in these homes.
We strategically placed
the ductless wall
units in common areas and spaces
where the homeowners spent
most of their time.
These homes are often close
to each other.
So airflow and noise
are factors In placing outdoor units.
You need to ensure
that the electrical panels
and service can handle the loads
for the new heating systems.
In B.C.,
these practices are summarized
and published by the Home
Performance Stakeholder Council,
teca and HRAI,
and it's becoming
standard practice across the country.
For contractors,
good design and planning delivers
benefits for your customers.
But savings are highly
dependent on residents
operating their systems correctly.
If the equipment is not
operated properly,
there's the risk
we trigger the backup heating system
to come on when it's not needed,
and that gets expensive.
So we instruct homeowners
on how to operate the thermostat,
keeping temperature settings steady
and not frequently turning systems
on and off the way
you might with a baseboard.
These control systems
maximize use of the heat pump
and only rely on backup heat
when absolutely necessary.
We've seen some bad system installations
that didn't take into account
these best practices
of installation and education,
and it just leads to poor
use of the heat pump,
not getting the right heat,
higher power bills than necessary, noise,
you name it.
The good news is that
proper heat
pump installation
and operation delivers big benefits.
We've heard from many customers
in this pilot project
that their homes are warmer
and more comfortable.
They're not relying on space heaters
or baseboards when it's cold out.
Our first year of data shows
that in many cases,
customer's bills went down
by as much as $85 to $120 a month.
The heat pump program has been a huge success
for our residents.
They're staying warm
on a cold day like today
and saving some money.
What could be better?
We often tell our customers
and the trades we work with;
don't do good installs by coincidence.
Invest the time in proper
planning and assessment,
and do good installs by intention.
As a contractor,
we've learned to invest
in proper steps
to achieve the heat pump performance
our customer needs.
It just makes sense.
It comes down to improving people's
quality of life
and we know we can make a difference.
That feels awesome.
-
The importance of proactive planning in heat pump retrofits
Retrofitting your heating system with a heat pump can be a major investment in your home. Learn how proactive planning can save you time, money and help you make the best choice for your home.
Transcript
Shawn Carr :
I live in a typical 14 year-old suburban home in the city of Ottawa, and our home is similar to many other homes in Canada.
Shawn Carr :
Our home is 2200 square feet, excluding the basement and our existing heating and cooling system is a high efficiency natural gas forced air furnace with central air conditioning. So, we have been thinking about a heat pump project for a few years now, so we did want to start planning well in advance so that we weren't forced into making a snap decision if there happened to be a failure in either the furnace, or the air conditioner. And by electrifying most of our heating load through the use of a heat pump, we knew that that would have the largest positive impact on our greenhouse gas footprint for the investment that we were prepared to make. So, our second motivator was NRCan's incentive program, which meant we could actually get the system we wanted within a budget that we were actually comfortable with. We actually chose to invest a few thousand more dollars for a high performance system, and elected to go with a cold climate air source heat pump with a staged electric backup heat system.
Shawn Carr :
The NRCan heat pump incentive and the 10 year interest free loan program made it easier for us to choose that option. So, the first step in the process is we did elect to have an energy audit done, and the audit recommended a cold climate air source heat pump, which was the most impactful measure, in terms of reducing the greenhouse gases in our home. I also elected to engage an energy consultant who had experience with heat pumps, who helped me model performance of some different units; helped me explore backup heating options; validate and select equipment sizing. So, some of the things you need to consider, which are so important to the planning processes, what system configuration makes sense for your home? What are the GHG and energy impacts of different system options? How are operating costs going to change over time as energy costs change? What size system will I need? What information will help us with design decisions? So, the home energy assessment we completed was required in order to be eligible for the incentives. And what that audit did is provide a baseline energy score for our home, and a list of measures for us to consider to reduce our energy and GHG footprint. We found a trustworthy contractor and we reviewed the NRCan documentation on heat pumps and eligibility criteria for the grant.
Shawn Carr :
It's really important to select the right contractor because sizing heating pumps is different than sizing traditional heating systems, and you don't want the heating and cooling loads to result in a system that is too big or too small for your home. So, my advice would be to plan for this, and don't be forced to do it when your equipment breaks down. Be proactive about replacing your system, take advantage of available incentive programs, and do an energy audit and invest in right sizing practices.
-
An envelope first approach to heat pump retrofits
Even the most efficient HVAC systems waste energy if installed in a home with poor insulations and air leaks. Optimizing the building envelope first means you can upgrade to a smaller, more efficient system, saving money.
Learn how investments in your home’s envelope can reduce the overall costs of your heat pump retrofit.
Transcript
Paul Shouldice :
If you're planning an HVAC upgrade, we recommend getting a building envelope inspection done first. Optimizing the building envelope means you can upgrade to a more efficient equipment of smaller capacity, and it saves you money. Then look at house construction. What's the state of the insulation, windows, doors? Has there been any major renovations or add-ons? Fix the building insulation and leaks first, it's more cost effective. We assess if the existing ductwork system can sustain the higher airflow requirements of heat pump systems compared to conventional furnaces. Next, we assess the physical dimensions, space, and clearance for the [inside? outside?] unit, room in the furnace room for the air handler. These are key factors to determine if the home is a good candidate. Secondary considerations include, do you need backup heat?
Imran Ebrahim :
We've seen many jobs where the heat pump is grossly oversized for the home's heating requirements. The legacy furnace in this home was 72,000 BTUs per hour, or six heating tonnes, but you can't look at the existing unit and say, well, it's a six tonne furnace, therefore it should be replaced with a six tonne heat pump. First of all, you need to assess the actual heating and cooling loads of the home. We recommend that homeowners complete an EnerGuide energy efficiency home evaluation. The data collected includes: the level of the home's air tightness, using a blower door test; the number, type, and location of all windows and exterior doors; the insulation levels of the walls, roof and basement; size and efficiency ratings of the heating, cooling, and domestic hot water equipment; information about ventilation equipment; and any other information relevant to the home's energy performance.
Imran Ebrahim :
The report told homeowners that it would be a good idea to allocate part of your project budget to weatherization and upgrades to the home envelope. This means that you can put in a smaller system, while still maintaining the comfort levels that you're used to, saving money on equipment and utility costs. Some of the measures that we recommend to customers are: draft proofing and air sealing; attic and roof insulation; basement and crawlspace insulation; window and door upgrades. We found that NRCan's air source heat pump sizing and selection tool was a good stepping point between the EnerGuide and the equipment selection. It's a useful way for contractors to see what the impacts are of the various heat pump models, and communicate the optimal size to their customers. We're pleasantly surprised how well the smaller heat pumps keep up, even on the coldest days. In this home, we installed a two and a half tonne centrally ducted unit. That's less than half the size of the original furnace that was replaced. From monitoring the system continuously for the past year, we've seen no impacts to home comfort levels or system performance. The post-project measurements showed that the supplementary backup heating used 2% of the overall heat pump energy, and this was much less than we had expected. We found that the performance of the cold climate heat pump was surprising. The comparable output size was one half to two thirds less than that of the furnace, and still able to provide the required heat. I should stress that the investment in weatherization and air sealing really paid off for this customer.
Paul Shouldice :
If you're planning an HVAC upgrade, we recommend getting a building envelope inspection done first. Optimizing the building envelope means you can upgrade to a more efficient equipment of smaller capacity, and it saves you money. Then look at house construction. What's the state of the insulation, windows, doors? Has there been any major renovations or add-ons? Fix the building insulation and leaks first, it's more cost effective. We assess if the existing ductwork system can sustain the higher airflow requirements of heat pump systems compared to conventional furnaces. Next, we assess the physical dimensions, space, and clearance for the [inside? outside?] unit, room in the furnace room for the air handler. These are key factors to determine if the home is a good candidate. Secondary considerations include, do you need backup heat?
Imran Ebrahim :
We've seen many jobs where the heat pump is grossly oversized for the home's heating requirements. The legacy furnace in this home was 72,000 BTUs per hour, or six heating tonnes, but you can't look at the existing unit and say, well, it's a six tonne furnace, therefore it should be replaced with a six tonne heat pump. First of all, you need to assess the actual heating and cooling loads of the home. We recommend that homeowners complete an EnerGuide energy efficiency home evaluation. The data collected includes: the level of the home's air tightness, using a blower door test; the number, type, and location of all windows and exterior doors; the insulation levels of the walls, roof and basement; size and efficiency ratings of the heating, cooling, and domestic hot water equipment; information about ventilation equipment; and any other information relevant to the home's energy performance.
Imran Ebrahim :
The report told homeowners that it would be a good idea to allocate part of your project budget to weatherization and upgrades to the home envelope. This means that you can put in a smaller system, while still maintaining the comfort levels that you're used to, saving money on equipment and utility costs. Some of the measures that we recommend to customers are: draft proofing and air sealing; attic and roof insulation; basement and crawlspace insulation; window and door upgrades. We found that NRCan's air source heat pump sizing and selection tool was a good stepping point between the EnerGuide and the equipment selection. It's a useful way for contractors to see what the impacts are of the various heat pump models, and communicate the optimal size to their customers. We're pleasantly surprised how well the smaller heat pumps keep up, even on the coldest days. In this home, we installed a two and a half tonne centrally ducted unit. That's less than half the size of the original furnace that was replaced. From monitoring the system continuously for the past year, we've seen no impacts to home comfort levels or system performance. The post-project measurements showed that the supplementary backup heating used 2% of the overall heat pump energy, and this was much less than we had expected. We found that the performance of the cold climate heat pump was surprising. The comparable output size was one half to two thirds less than that of the furnace, and still able to provide the required heat. I should stress that the investment in weatherization and air sealing really paid off for this customer.
-
Making a business case for gas furnace retrofits
As utility prices rise, many Canadians are turning to heat pumps as a solution to manage their costs. With the availability of incentives and grant programs – a heat pump can be a sound financial investment in your home.
Learn how a family in Ottawa made a compelling business case to transition from a gas furnace to a heat pump system for their home.
Transcript
Paul Shouldice :
Heat pump systems have been around since the sixties. They were typically used in locations where the winters were mild. Historically low fuel prices combined with the capital cost of heat pumps put people off for a very long time. With fuel prices on the rise, and people looking for superior comfort, more people are choosing this technology, which is creating a better business case, lower incremental cost to making the switch, and getting greener space heat for homes. There's been big advances in technology, especially with the cold climate air source heat pump system. Your trades and contractors must be certified and trained on heat pump installations. You'll also need a licensed electrician to verify the service to the house and handle the project's electrical requirements. A six and a half foot ceiling height is a big issue with older homes, and we need to find creative workarounds. Older homes may be poorly insulated, increasing the heating load, and therefore the size of the equipment that needs to be installed. All of this can increase risks and cost for retrofits in older homes.
Imran Ebrahim :
In this case, the homeowner completed an energy audit and implemented select improvements to insulation, windows, and weather stripping. This meant that the heating requirement was much less than it would've been without these envelope upgrades. Based on site visit findings, an energy model was created using Hot 2000. Design loads were then entered into NRCan's air source, heat pump sizing, and selection tool. By trying different heat pump tonnage capacities, we narrowed the heat pump selection down to ones that would work in this home. Because the homeowners did the work to reduce the heating load, we were able to specify a two and a half tonne unit instead. The capital cost of the new system was $17,500, but this was offset by a $5,000 rebate.
Imran Ebrahim :
Since both the furnace and AC unit were replaced, this resulted in avoided costs of $7,500, resulting in a net incremental cost of $5,000. As the furnace was nearing the end of its life, this replacement protects against breakdowns, and emergency replacement scenarios. Many homeowners may be concerned that heating with electricity will raise their utility bills. But, in this case, significant savings in gas usage offset that. After one full year of operation, the utility bills were $50 lower on average, acting as a hedge against future gas price increases, plus all the improvements in comfort and efficiency.
Paul Shouldice :
Grants and incentive programs go a long way to bringing down the costs. We, as an industry, have what it takes to adapt, to change, and provide value and comfort to our customers. I believe cold climate air source heat pumps are the future in Canada. Millions of Canadians can benefit from heat pump systems. As an industry, we need to step up, train our teams, and reinvent our thinking.
Paul Gammon :
A cold climate air source heat pump was a sound financial investment. It did have significant upfront capital costs, but had minimal impact on our day-to-day utility and operating costs.
Holly Bickerton :
We managed the upfront costs by reducing our heating load first, and installing a system that fit well. No complex architectural or duct work changes were necessary. We're thrilled with the new system, and we're always happy to share it with others.
Paul Shouldice :
Heat pump systems have been around since the sixties. They were typically used in locations where the winters were mild. Historically low fuel prices combined with the capital cost of heat pumps put people off for a very long time. With fuel prices on the rise, and people looking for superior comfort, more people are choosing this technology, which is creating a better business case, lower incremental cost to making the switch, and getting greener space heat for homes. There's been big advances in technology, especially with the cold climate air source heat pump system. Your trades and contractors must be certified and trained on heat pump installations. You'll also need a licensed electrician to verify the service to the house and handle the project's electrical requirements. A six and a half foot ceiling height is a big issue with older homes, and we need to find creative workarounds. Older homes may be poorly insulated, increasing the heating load, and therefore the size of the equipment that needs to be installed. All of this can increase risks and cost for retrofits in older homes.
Imran Ebrahim :
In this case, the homeowner completed an energy audit and implemented select improvements to insulation, windows, and weather stripping. This meant that the heating requirement was much less than it would've been without these envelope upgrades. Based on site visit findings, an energy model was created using Hot 2000. Design loads were then entered into NRCan's air source, heat pump sizing, and selection tool. By trying different heat pump tonnage capacities, we narrowed the heat pump selection down to ones that would work in this home. Because the homeowners did the work to reduce the heating load, we were able to specify a two and a half tonne unit instead. The capital cost of the new system was $17,500, but this was offset by a $5,000 rebate.
Imran Ebrahim :
Since both the furnace and AC unit were replaced, this resulted in avoided costs of $7,500, resulting in a net incremental cost of $5,000. As the furnace was nearing the end of its life, this replacement protects against breakdowns, and emergency replacement scenarios. Many homeowners may be concerned that heating with electricity will raise their utility bills. But, in this case, significant savings in gas usage offset that. After one full year of operation, the utility bills were $50 lower on average, acting as a hedge against future gas price increases, plus all the improvements in comfort and efficiency.
Paul Shouldice :
Grants and incentive programs go a long way to bringing down the costs. We, as an industry, have what it takes to adapt, to change, and provide value and comfort to our customers. I believe cold climate air source heat pumps are the future in Canada. Millions of Canadians can benefit from heat pump systems. As an industry, we need to step up, train our teams, and reinvent our thinking.
Paul Gammon :
A cold climate air source heat pump was a sound financial investment. It did have significant upfront capital costs, but had minimal impact on our day-to-day utility and operating costs.
Holly Bickerton :
We managed the upfront costs by reducing our heating load first, and installing a system that fit well. No complex architectural or duct work changes were necessary. We're thrilled with the new system, and we're always happy to share it with others.
-
An introduction to cold climate heat pumps
As Canadians look to heat pumps to decarbonize their homes, many may have questions about how the technology works and whether it will be compatible with their home and needs. Learn how to communicate the benefits of heat pumps to your customers and highlight key information for making the switch.
Transcript
Paul Shouldice :
More and more we are getting inquiries for people looking to switch from traditional systems like gas, oil, and propane, to heat pump systems. When meeting with a client to explain how cold climate heat pumps work, I describe it as it's an air conditioner working backwards that takes the heat from the outside and uses it to warm the house. Existing furnaces are between 80 to 95% efficient, whereas a cold climate heat pump system uses 100% of the energy. For every kilowatt hour of electricity, a heat pump extracts about 1.5 to four times that amount of heat from the outside.
Paul Gammon :
Our house is a 1932 house. It has 1800 square feet of floor space with two floors and a finished basement.
Holly Bickerton :
The first step for us was doing a home energy audit, and that's when we learned that we needed to replace some insulation, and upgrade the doors and windows. We realised that space heating was our home's largest greenhouse gas emitter, and we wanted to reduce our carbon impact by reducing our home's energy load.
Paul Shouldice :
Some customers are worried that heat pumps can't keep up with Canadian cold winters. There's a misconception that because traditional furnaces burn hotter, that they provide better heat. Modern cold climate heat pump systems can reliably heat your home, even when external temps are minus 28 to minus 29 degrees Celsius, with minimal drop-off. As we look at decarbonizing and moving away from fossil fuels, we will see a lot more people turning to heat pump systems.
Paul Gammon :
Our furnace was 17 years old and 17,000 btu. It was starting to act up, and our one and half tonne air conditioner was also getting old. As well as reducing our greenhouse gas impact, this was an opportunity to bring down our utility bills, and be proactive about replacing equipment before it failed.
Paul Shouldice :
For this home, we chose a two and a half ton centrally ducted system using the existing ductwork distribution system, complete with a new condensing unit and indoor air handling unit. We generally allot two days for the installation. Installation times will be reduced even more going forward, as the systems become more mainstream. We recommend some backup heat, or supplementary heat, for the days that we drop below minus 30. In this case, we chose a 15 kilowatt electric duct heater that kicks in on the coldest of days. Clients need to remember that backup heat can add to the project costs and space requirements.
Holly Bickerton :
In order to meet the energy demands of the cold climate heat pump, we needed to upgrade our electrical panel from 100 to 200 amps. And we did this by working closely with our local utility company.
Paul Gammon :
We knew space constraints were tough, but we had already brought the heating load down by sealing and re-insulating, so we could put in a two and a half tonne system that both fitted and met our needs.
Holly Bickerton :
Heat pump retrofits can be expensive, especially a cold climate air source heat pump system, and it's tough to make a decision to throw out existing equipment.
Paul Gammon :
As energy costs continue to rise, the economics of a heat pump begin to make sense in an all electric solution. In addition, incentive programs are bringing costs closer to parity.
Holly Bickerton :
We have an even temperature distribution throughout the home, and we found it to be really quiet even on the nights when it's minus 30.
Paul Gammon :
It's way more efficient. Our hydro bills have gone down in the summer.
Holly Bickerton :
But most importantly for us, in the first full year of operation, we've reduced our carbon dioxide emissions by one and a half tonnes.
Paul Shouldice :
We can show cost comparisons from customers that demonstrate that hydro bills have not increased significantly.
Holly Bickerton :
The bottom line: home heating is one of your household's largest operating costs and a big source of greenhouse gas emissions, and a heat pump can reduce this considerably.
Paul Shouldice :
We suggest that you do your homework and find the right qualified contractor to do the work. A properly designed and installed cold climate air source heat pump can provide your family with years of comfort and reliability.
Paul Shouldice :
More and more we are getting inquiries for people looking to switch from traditional systems like gas, oil, and propane, to heat pump systems. When meeting with a client to explain how cold climate heat pumps work, I describe it as it's an air conditioner working backwards that takes the heat from the outside and uses it to warm the house. Existing furnaces are between 80 to 95% efficient, whereas a cold climate heat pump system uses 100% of the energy. For every kilowatt hour of electricity, a heat pump extracts about 1.5 to four times that amount of heat from the outside.
Paul Gammon :
Our house is a 1932 house. It has 1800 square feet of floor space with two floors and a finished basement.
Holly Bickerton :
The first step for us was doing a home energy audit, and that's when we learned that we needed to replace some insulation, and upgrade the doors and windows. We realised that space heating was our home's largest greenhouse gas emitter, and we wanted to reduce our carbon impact by reducing our home's energy load.
Paul Shouldice :
Some customers are worried that heat pumps can't keep up with Canadian cold winters. There's a misconception that because traditional furnaces burn hotter, that they provide better heat. Modern cold climate heat pump systems can reliably heat your home, even when external temps are minus 28 to minus 29 degrees Celsius, with minimal drop-off. As we look at decarbonizing and moving away from fossil fuels, we will see a lot more people turning to heat pump systems.
Paul Gammon :
Our furnace was 17 years old and 17,000 btu. It was starting to act up, and our one and half tonne air conditioner was also getting old. As well as reducing our greenhouse gas impact, this was an opportunity to bring down our utility bills, and be proactive about replacing equipment before it failed.
Paul Shouldice :
For this home, we chose a two and a half ton centrally ducted system using the existing ductwork distribution system, complete with a new condensing unit and indoor air handling unit. We generally allot two days for the installation. Installation times will be reduced even more going forward, as the systems become more mainstream. We recommend some backup heat, or supplementary heat, for the days that we drop below minus 30. In this case, we chose a 15 kilowatt electric duct heater that kicks in on the coldest of days. Clients need to remember that backup heat can add to the project costs and space requirements.
Holly Bickerton :
In order to meet the energy demands of the cold climate heat pump, we needed to upgrade our electrical panel from 100 to 200 amps. And we did this by working closely with our local utility company.
Paul Gammon :
We knew space constraints were tough, but we had already brought the heating load down by sealing and re-insulating, so we could put in a two and a half tonne system that both fitted and met our needs.
Holly Bickerton :
Heat pump retrofits can be expensive, especially a cold climate air source heat pump system, and it's tough to make a decision to throw out existing equipment.
Paul Gammon :
As energy costs continue to rise, the economics of a heat pump begin to make sense in an all electric solution. In addition, incentive programs are bringing costs closer to parity.
Holly Bickerton :
We have an even temperature distribution throughout the home, and we found it to be really quiet even on the nights when it's minus 30.
Paul Gammon :
It's way more efficient. Our hydro bills have gone down in the summer.
Holly Bickerton :
But most importantly for us, in the first full year of operation, we've reduced our carbon dioxide emissions by one and a half tonnes.
Paul Shouldice :
We can show cost comparisons from customers that demonstrate that hydro bills have not increased significantly.
Holly Bickerton :
The bottom line: home heating is one of your household's largest operating costs and a big source of greenhouse gas emissions, and a heat pump can reduce this considerably.
Paul Shouldice :
We suggest that you do your homework and find the right qualified contractor to do the work. A properly designed and installed cold climate air source heat pump can provide your family with years of comfort and reliability.
-
Oil furnace to heat pump retrofits: Utilizing existing distribution systems
Airflow measurements are a simple piece of information that can significantly improve how you quote retrofit jobs.
As a contractor, arming yourself with this information by taking the time to invest in measurements and analysis sets you apart from the competition. Learn how to work with existing distribution systems in the home to better meet your customer’s needs.
Transcript
Ron Morrissey :
I am a typical homeowner. Myself and my wife, we discuss what is our next move to make our home
more comfortable and more energy efficient.
This does not have to be accomplished this year or next year. We're looking at a long term goal here.
Pam Morrissey :
Now, the flooring can wait... Kitchen cabinets... The heat pump is a priority because -- the cost of oil.
Okay
We could save a lot of money with that heat pump.
Ron Morrissey :
We'll get some quotes on that.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
In Atlantic Canada, we're seeing a huge trend of folks moving away from oil-based systems into heat
pumps. They're more reliable. Cleaner.
Dara Bowser :
A Heat pump is much less expensive to heat your home with than an oil furnace. Secondary benefit is the heat pump will give you cooling, so now you can have comfort in the winter and the summer. Also
dehumidification, especially in the summer, spring and fall when it's important.
Ron Morrissey :
We do have forced hot air vents in our floor in that. So we're wondering if a central system would work
in our home, or should we have a mini-split ductless system?
Dara Bowser :
The most popular form of heat pump that you'll see in Nova Scotia is what's called a mini-split. They
don't need any duct work and they give you heating and cooling in the room where they're located.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Ductless heat pumps are very easy to install. There's a big range of companies that, literally, all they
want to do is drill that little two and a half inch hole in your wall, connect a ductless heat pump, and
they're home by four o'clock. Where ducted systems do require a little bit more knowledge and
understanding of airflow, static pressure, distribution to make sure that the homeowner is going to get
the comfort that they're paying for in their home.
Dara Bowser :
If you have the fortune of having a house with a central forced air system with an oil furnace, then you
should seriously look at converting the oil furnace to a central heat pump. The beauty of a central heat pump is now the heating and cooling goes to all of the rooms in the house. These old oil furnaces had
very high temperature rise. It's not warm, it's hot. The heat pump, the air coming out of it is warm. It's
not hot. So you need more airflow to get the same heat. The question is, can the existing ductwork carry
the higher level of airflow?
So we went down to the furnace
nice big return duct work...
Jack Fitzpatrick :
There's one lead coming off the top...
Dara Bowser :
And then we measured the airflow and pressure in the duct work, figured out that it was moving around
800 CFMs, which is enough for a two ton heat pump, which is a little small for this house -- from a
heating point of view. A three ton heat pump would be exactly the right size. You measure the pressure
pushing out of the furnace, you measure the return pressure and then you replace the filter on the
furnace with an airflow grid. So using the pressure and airflow measurements that we got, turns out we
can move almost 1200 CFM, which is good enough for a three ton heat pump, which is the right size for
this house.
Ron Morrissey :
Some contractors told us that the ducts had to be resized and maybe hauled out and revamped or even
cleaned.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Sometimes being maybe the second or third contractor to visit a homeowner, they tell me automatically
that a ducted heat pump is not the right solution for them because another contractor may have
condemned their existing ductwork or distribution system, where, after review, you can easily show
them that the their ductwork system is perfect and it may be the better choice for them.
Ron Morrissey :
After getting a bunch of quotes, there's one thing I noticed. Not all contractors are the same.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
So the homeowner shared with me some of the other quotes that he received from other contractors.
They were only going to put a two ton system in. They made assumptions on the ductwork was just too
small. As a contractor, we always want to make sure we're putting in the best system with the best
installation, we're very confident that the system that we installed for this particular homeowner
matches his needs and he's going to be happy for many years.
Ron Morrissey :
Well, I didn't realize how much more comfortable it would be compared to burning oil and having a
furnace, because the furnace will come on and the heat will go up and then it will cool off. So I don't
have that fluctuation now.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
The new higher efficiency system is going to produce air at a lower temperature than your combustible
fuel. So ...
Dara Bowser :
If you can take the time to learn how to sell and install central heat pumps on existing forced air, that
puts you in a different class. It differentiates you from everyone else. Airflow measurement:
- improves quoting accuracy;
- sets contractors apart from competition.
- allows use of existing distribution systems;
- saves time and money.
You're going to have extra instruments that you will need. It's going to take more staff time, but at the
end of the day you'll differentiate yourself from other contractors and you'll be able to offer the
homeowner just the solution that they need.
Ron Morrissey :
I am a typical homeowner. Myself and my wife, we discuss what is our next move to make our home
more comfortable and more energy efficient.
This does not have to be accomplished this year or next year. We're looking at a long term goal here.
Pam Morrissey :
Now, the flooring can wait... Kitchen cabinets... The heat pump is a priority because -- the cost of oil.
Okay
We could save a lot of money with that heat pump.
Ron Morrissey :
We'll get some quotes on that.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
In Atlantic Canada, we're seeing a huge trend of folks moving away from oil-based systems into heat
pumps. They're more reliable. Cleaner.
Dara Bowser :
A Heat pump is much less expensive to heat your home with than an oil furnace. Secondary benefit is the heat pump will give you cooling, so now you can have comfort in the winter and the summer. Also
dehumidification, especially in the summer, spring and fall when it's important.
Ron Morrissey :
We do have forced hot air vents in our floor in that. So we're wondering if a central system would work
in our home, or should we have a mini-split ductless system?
Dara Bowser :
The most popular form of heat pump that you'll see in Nova Scotia is what's called a mini-split. They
don't need any duct work and they give you heating and cooling in the room where they're located.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Ductless heat pumps are very easy to install. There's a big range of companies that, literally, all they
want to do is drill that little two and a half inch hole in your wall, connect a ductless heat pump, and
they're home by four o'clock. Where ducted systems do require a little bit more knowledge and
understanding of airflow, static pressure, distribution to make sure that the homeowner is going to get
the comfort that they're paying for in their home.
Dara Bowser :
If you have the fortune of having a house with a central forced air system with an oil furnace, then you
should seriously look at converting the oil furnace to a central heat pump. The beauty of a central heat pump is now the heating and cooling goes to all of the rooms in the house. These old oil furnaces had
very high temperature rise. It's not warm, it's hot. The heat pump, the air coming out of it is warm. It's
not hot. So you need more airflow to get the same heat. The question is, can the existing ductwork carry
the higher level of airflow?
So we went down to the furnace
nice big return duct work...
Jack Fitzpatrick :
There's one lead coming off the top...
Dara Bowser :
And then we measured the airflow and pressure in the duct work, figured out that it was moving around
800 CFMs, which is enough for a two ton heat pump, which is a little small for this house -- from a
heating point of view. A three ton heat pump would be exactly the right size. You measure the pressure
pushing out of the furnace, you measure the return pressure and then you replace the filter on the
furnace with an airflow grid. So using the pressure and airflow measurements that we got, turns out we
can move almost 1200 CFM, which is good enough for a three ton heat pump, which is the right size for
this house.
Ron Morrissey :
Some contractors told us that the ducts had to be resized and maybe hauled out and revamped or even
cleaned.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Sometimes being maybe the second or third contractor to visit a homeowner, they tell me automatically
that a ducted heat pump is not the right solution for them because another contractor may have
condemned their existing ductwork or distribution system, where, after review, you can easily show
them that the their ductwork system is perfect and it may be the better choice for them.
Ron Morrissey :
After getting a bunch of quotes, there's one thing I noticed. Not all contractors are the same.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
So the homeowner shared with me some of the other quotes that he received from other contractors.
They were only going to put a two ton system in. They made assumptions on the ductwork was just too
small. As a contractor, we always want to make sure we're putting in the best system with the best
installation, we're very confident that the system that we installed for this particular homeowner
matches his needs and he's going to be happy for many years.
Ron Morrissey :
Well, I didn't realize how much more comfortable it would be compared to burning oil and having a
furnace, because the furnace will come on and the heat will go up and then it will cool off. So I don't
have that fluctuation now.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
The new higher efficiency system is going to produce air at a lower temperature than your combustible
fuel. So ...
Dara Bowser :
If you can take the time to learn how to sell and install central heat pumps on existing forced air, that
puts you in a different class. It differentiates you from everyone else. Airflow measurement:
- improves quoting accuracy;
- sets contractors apart from competition.
- allows use of existing distribution systems;
- saves time and money.
You're going to have extra instruments that you will need. It's going to take more staff time, but at the
end of the day you'll differentiate yourself from other contractors and you'll be able to offer the
homeowner just the solution that they need.
-
Oil furnace to heat pump retrofits: A whole home approach
By investing the time upfront in a comprehensive energy assessment and collaborating closely with your customer and energy advisor – you can meet project goals without compromising on cost or quality.
Learn how a homeowner in Halifax, Nova Scotia was able to replace an oil furnace with a centrally ducted heat pump, and avoided common pitfalls such as oversizing, unnecessary ductwork upgrades, and over-reliance on back up heat.
Transcript
Ron Morrissey :
I love my home very much and I want to be comfortable in my home. And I want to make sure whatever
decisions I do to this home are going to be the right decisions. And I want to be well informed. We've
been in this home approximately 17 years and one big question from the start was, what type of heating
system should we be changing over to? We liked our oil heat because it was warm, but it was not good
for the environment.
Dara Bowser :
Atlantic Canada has a lot of existing oil fired home heating systems. Quite frankly, oil heating is part of
our past, it's not part of our future.
Ron Morrissey :
Yeah, I've been thinking about getting rid of oil for some time now.
Dara Bowser :
Your insurance company really doesn't like you to have oil in (at) the house. If you have a leak, it could
be a very expensive cleanup and it's not healthy at all.
Ron Morrissey :
I had a lot of questions on where should we turn. We'd just like to know where we're going to start.
Dara Bowser :
First step to save money and improve your home and your heating system is to find a certified energy
evaluator and have an energy evaluation done on your home.
Zenon Pilipowicz :
So as a registered energy advisor, we're not just looking at the size and the age of the house, we're
doing our best to determine the insulation levels throughout the house and the air leakage. And so we
get a really great whole house understanding about how the house is performing and where some of
the shortfalls might be, and how to better size heating equipment.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
I've been in the heating and cooling industry for quite some time now. One of the biggest challenges I
see is contractors recommending equipment size based on, you know, the famous rule of thumb. I hear
some folks say that it's for every 1000 square feet, it should be one ton of heat pump. Some people use
850. It's sheer guesswork.
Dara Bowser :
The heat loss of the home was approximately 26,000 BTUs per hour. So we went down to the furnace...
Jack Fitzpatrick :
It looks good on this side …
Dara Bowser :
And its capacity was 72,000 BTUs per hour -- almost three times as much as the house actually required.
From a heating point of view.
Zenon Pilipowicz :
When a homeowner or contractor uses a rule of thumb approach to size a heating system, they could be
oversizing by 50, maybe 80%. That could equate to thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the system
and potentially, you know, a thousand dollars or more on the initial installment cost too.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Having the data provided from the home energy assessment will allow us -- a contractor -- to ensure
that A, we're not going to oversize somebody's equipment we're not going undersize, which means,
again, we're not getting into the electrical backup coming on for the homeowner, causing them higher
energy costs than what they should be facing.
Ron Morrissey :
Finally, the day is here. I'm getting my heat pump put in and I'm really happy. It's just like Christmas
morning as far as I'm concerned.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
The assessment allows us, the contractor, to come in here fully confident knowing that we are not
putting in the wrong equipment for the homeowner. He's going to get the proper amount of heat that
he needs in the winter months, the proper amount of cooling that he's going to need in the summer
months.
Ron Morrissey :
I'm really pleased with the heat pump and I'm really pleased that I don't have to burn more oil, which is
helping cut down on greenhouse gases. And all the information that we got from our energy advisor --I
know that he never had an interest in selling me any products. He was more or less saying, look Ron,this
is where you're losing heat. This is what you need to do in order for a heat pump to work in yourhome.
Dara Bowser :
The most successful projects happen when we collaborate with the energy evaluator, and come up with
a comprehensive solution for the owner and their particular home.
Ron Morrissey :
I love my home very much and I want to be comfortable in my home. And I want to make sure whatever
decisions I do to this home are going to be the right decisions. And I want to be well informed. We've
been in this home approximately 17 years and one big question from the start was, what type of heating
system should we be changing over to? We liked our oil heat because it was warm, but it was not good
for the environment.
Dara Bowser :
Atlantic Canada has a lot of existing oil fired home heating systems. Quite frankly, oil heating is part of
our past, it's not part of our future.
Ron Morrissey :
Yeah, I've been thinking about getting rid of oil for some time now.
Dara Bowser :
Your insurance company really doesn't like you to have oil in (at) the house. If you have a leak, it could
be a very expensive cleanup and it's not healthy at all.
Ron Morrissey :
I had a lot of questions on where should we turn. We'd just like to know where we're going to start.
Dara Bowser :
First step to save money and improve your home and your heating system is to find a certified energy
evaluator and have an energy evaluation done on your home.
Zenon Pilipowicz :
So as a registered energy advisor, we're not just looking at the size and the age of the house, we're
doing our best to determine the insulation levels throughout the house and the air leakage. And so we
get a really great whole house understanding about how the house is performing and where some of
the shortfalls might be, and how to better size heating equipment.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
I've been in the heating and cooling industry for quite some time now. One of the biggest challenges I
see is contractors recommending equipment size based on, you know, the famous rule of thumb. I hear
some folks say that it's for every 1000 square feet, it should be one ton of heat pump. Some people use
850. It's sheer guesswork.
Dara Bowser :
The heat loss of the home was approximately 26,000 BTUs per hour. So we went down to the furnace...
Jack Fitzpatrick :
It looks good on this side …
Dara Bowser :
And its capacity was 72,000 BTUs per hour -- almost three times as much as the house actually required.
From a heating point of view.
Zenon Pilipowicz :
When a homeowner or contractor uses a rule of thumb approach to size a heating system, they could be
oversizing by 50, maybe 80%. That could equate to thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the system
and potentially, you know, a thousand dollars or more on the initial installment cost too.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
Having the data provided from the home energy assessment will allow us -- a contractor -- to ensure
that A, we're not going to oversize somebody's equipment we're not going undersize, which means,
again, we're not getting into the electrical backup coming on for the homeowner, causing them higher
energy costs than what they should be facing.
Ron Morrissey :
Finally, the day is here. I'm getting my heat pump put in and I'm really happy. It's just like Christmas
morning as far as I'm concerned.
Jack Fitzpatrick :
The assessment allows us, the contractor, to come in here fully confident knowing that we are not
putting in the wrong equipment for the homeowner. He's going to get the proper amount of heat that
he needs in the winter months, the proper amount of cooling that he's going to need in the summer
months.
Ron Morrissey :
I'm really pleased with the heat pump and I'm really pleased that I don't have to burn more oil, which is
helping cut down on greenhouse gases. And all the information that we got from our energy advisor --I
know that he never had an interest in selling me any products. He was more or less saying, look Ron,this
is where you're losing heat. This is what you need to do in order for a heat pump to work in yourhome.
Dara Bowser :
The most successful projects happen when we collaborate with the energy evaluator, and come up with
a comprehensive solution for the owner and their particular home.
-
A business case for community housing retrofits
Heat pump retrofits in community housing can pose unique challenges – learn how Ottawa Community Housing approached this retrofit project, considering technical feasibility and costs while ensuring that their tenants could return to a safe and comfortable home.
Transcript
David Carter :
Ottawa Community Housing provides 15,000 homes to 32,000 tenants across this city. OCH's main goals are housing affordability, climate resilience, and GHG reductions. Ottawa Community Housing recently joined Ottawa's Race to Zero Program, which is focused on reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050. It's an ambitious target, but decarbonizing the space heating is a critical step. We recently retrofitted the space heating system in a 1200 square foot end unit townhouse that was built in 1972. The unit had a 15 kilowatt electric furnace of 4.5 kilowatt electric hot water tank, and two AC units that are 5,000 BTUs each. In projects like these, OCH prioritizes occupant comfort and managing long-term utility costs. All of the pre-work, including the upgrading insulation, windows, weather stripping, were all completed in the last five years.
Paul Shouldice :
When we meet a customer at their home, we take a look at many things. One is the electrical requirements. Can they be met for the new system? Is there enough space outside and inside to install the actual units? Will there be room to service the units in the future? And will the ductwork sizing allow for the proper airflow to be met?
Paul Shouldice :
When we meet with a tenant, we want to respect their time and space, and work around their schedule. When we look into the mechanical rooms, [one of] the things we look for [is], is there sufficient space to complete the retrofit? We also look at the fire and safety requirements. Sometimes this can mean moving people's stuff temporarily. We make sure we can return people comfortably to their space as soon as possible. We, in the OCH, work with the tenants to understand how the new systems operate and to maintain their indoor comfort levels. We want tenants to have a safe and comfortable home after the retrofits are done.
David Carter :
We use the EnerGuide home evaluation to determine air tightness; insulation levels; size and rating of the equipment; and cost estimates for the retrofit. We make the necessary upgrades to the weather stripping and insulation. Improving the insulation and weather stripping almost always increases the ROI compared to buying a larger system. Assessment and analysis of the best fit solution means OCH is allocating funds prudently. We redo it once and we get it right
Paul Shouldice :
After installation, we meet with the client and discuss that the units run continuously and modulate up and down based on heating or cooling demands, and can operate as low as 5%. Cold climate heat pumps tend to operate quietly and continuously in the background.
Imran Ebrahim :
The post-project analysis showed a reduction of 6,400 kilowatt hours of electricity. This is 32% of the home's electricity consumption. The annual greenhouse gas reduction was 180 kilograms per year. We have the data and the analysis to show that this stuff works, and that it saves money.
David Carter :
Ottawa Community Housing provides 15,000 homes to 32,000 tenants across this city. OCH's main goals are housing affordability, climate resilience, and GHG reductions. Ottawa Community Housing recently joined Ottawa's Race to Zero Program, which is focused on reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050. It's an ambitious target, but decarbonizing the space heating is a critical step. We recently retrofitted the space heating system in a 1200 square foot end unit townhouse that was built in 1972. The unit had a 15 kilowatt electric furnace of 4.5 kilowatt electric hot water tank, and two AC units that are 5,000 BTUs each. In projects like these, OCH prioritizes occupant comfort and managing long-term utility costs. All of the pre-work, including the upgrading insulation, windows, weather stripping, were all completed in the last five years.
Paul Shouldice :
When we meet a customer at their home, we take a look at many things. One is the electrical requirements. Can they be met for the new system? Is there enough space outside and inside to install the actual units? Will there be room to service the units in the future? And will the ductwork sizing allow for the proper airflow to be met?
Paul Shouldice :
When we meet with a tenant, we want to respect their time and space, and work around their schedule. When we look into the mechanical rooms, [one of] the things we look for [is], is there sufficient space to complete the retrofit? We also look at the fire and safety requirements. Sometimes this can mean moving people's stuff temporarily. We make sure we can return people comfortably to their space as soon as possible. We, in the OCH, work with the tenants to understand how the new systems operate and to maintain their indoor comfort levels. We want tenants to have a safe and comfortable home after the retrofits are done.
David Carter :
We use the EnerGuide home evaluation to determine air tightness; insulation levels; size and rating of the equipment; and cost estimates for the retrofit. We make the necessary upgrades to the weather stripping and insulation. Improving the insulation and weather stripping almost always increases the ROI compared to buying a larger system. Assessment and analysis of the best fit solution means OCH is allocating funds prudently. We redo it once and we get it right
Paul Shouldice :
After installation, we meet with the client and discuss that the units run continuously and modulate up and down based on heating or cooling demands, and can operate as low as 5%. Cold climate heat pumps tend to operate quietly and continuously in the background.
Imran Ebrahim :
The post-project analysis showed a reduction of 6,400 kilowatt hours of electricity. This is 32% of the home's electricity consumption. The annual greenhouse gas reduction was 180 kilograms per year. We have the data and the analysis to show that this stuff works, and that it saves money.
Find out more about LEEP
Page details
- Date modified: