• Home Improvement
  • Heating and Cooling

We've got heat pumps!

By The Marsh Household

Hello, everyone! Here’s another update on our #LNZHomeImprovement Challenge! In December, we installed two heat pumps in our current home. Since we have a legal basement, we have two separate furnaces. Fortunately, our government rebate covered approximately 82% of the cost for the first heat pump, while the grant from Live Net Zero covered about 63% of the cost for the second heat pump. Since installation, we have saved an average of 15% on every utility bill.

Wondering what a heat pump is?

It’s a device that regulates your home’s temperature, making it warmer or cooler depending on the weather. It’s compact, attaches to your furnace, and transfers heat from one place to another. In winter, it extracts heat from the outside air to warm your home, while in summer, it removes heat from the inside to keep things cool. It’s like an all-season climate control system that saves energy and money.

How’s our experience been?

Well, when we got the heat pumps installed in late December, it was pretty chilly. We were told the furnace might kick in when it went below -10°C, but sometimes it activates even at -4°C. However, as the weather warmed up in late January and recently, the heat pump has been working more efficiently. We immediately noticed improved air quality at home after installation. Using a smart humidifier on colder days has helped maintain comfortable indoor conditions. Plus, we’ve seen a 15% reduction in our utility bills. And the best part? We didn’t have to pay anything upfront for installation. We have six months to evaluate the heat pump’s performance and claim our rebate before any payments are due, giving us peace of mind and the chance to assess its effectiveness without immediate financial commitment.

A heat pump is better for the environment because it’s highly energy efficient, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions. It also has a lower overall environmental impact throughout its lifecycle compared to traditional heating and cooling systems. By using electricity instead of burning fossil fuels directly, heat pumps help decrease reliance on non-renewable energy sources and contribute to efforts to combat climate change.

Written by The Marsh Household

Read more of their stories as they vie with the other seven households to reduce their carbon footprint.

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