HEATING & COOLING WITH A HEAT PUMP
LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC HEATING COSTS
Your heating system is the single largest user of energy at home; it can account for almost 60% of your energy bill! To lower your electric heating costs, consider an energy-efficient heat pump. They transfer heat energy from the air or the ground to warm or cool your home. We also offer rebates on both air source and ground source heat pumps to make your upgrade more affordable.
Whyte Ridge Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning (a registered Efficiency Manitoba supplier) has installed air source heat pumps in homes throughout Manitoba.
“We’ve had amazing feedback from people that they’re reducing their electric bills. The cost of installing an air source heat pump is higher than a traditional air conditioner, but when you do this with support from Efficiency Manitoba, it makes it a lot more reasonable to get it going, and you can save as you go.”
– Taylor Adolphe, Operations Manager at Whyte Ridge Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning
The contractor works with you to submit the required documents for our heat pump rebate, and we’re here to help every step of the way.
“Efficiency Manitoba is very quick to check over everything, so there’s a level of confidence that we’re putting in a product that works. Efficiency Manitoba is on your side,” Taylor says. “When we have a question, we can reach out to Efficiency Manitoba’s heat pump team, and we can talk with them directly.”
Air source heat pumps can only operate down to a certain temperature (approximately between -10°C to 25°C, depending on the manufacturer’s specification), so you’ll need to have a secondary source of heating. Historically, air source heat pumps have been seen as only having electric back-up heat, but they can also work with a natural gas back-up, which is known as a hybrid system.
In a hybrid system, the heat pump operates as the primary source of heating, and the natural gas furnace provides the secondary source of heating. When the outdoor air temperature drops below the air source heat pump’s operation point, the home’s thermostat will switch the heating source to the natural gas furnace. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.
With last year’s mild temperatures continuing through December, Taylor said people with a hybrid system were able to operate their air source heat pump well into the winter!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Before you upgrade your heating system, it’s a good idea to first improve the insulation, windows, and airtightness of your home. These measures are often more cost effective, reduce your energy bills, and could help lower the cost of your heat pump system by reducing the size of heating system that you need.
Once you’re ready to upgrade your heating system, we recommend getting quotes from several of our registered contractors. Be sure to send your application for approval before purchasing your heat pump or starting any work.
AIR SOURCE VS GROUND SOURCE
HEAT PUMPS
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
A compressor circulates refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat between the indoor and outdoor equipment. In winter, heat is pulled from the outdoor air to warm your home. In summer, the system pulls heat from within the home and transfers it to the outdoor air.
BENEFITS:
- Provides heating and cooling
- Easy to retrofit with your existing infrastructure
- Hybrid systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduces your electric heating costs by up to 30%
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
An electric pump circulates fluid through a loop of pipes buried underground. In heating mode, the fluid absorbs heat from the ground, which stays at a stable temperature. Heat is extracted from the fluid and delivered into your home. In summer, heat is redistributed back into the ground.
BENEFITS:
- Provides heating and cooling
- Low carbon heating solution
- Ideal for large lots and open spaces
- Reduces your electric heating costs by up to 60%