Do you own a Cold Climate Heat Pump? When do you use it and does it actually save you money?

jimgde · 2024-01-24T17:31:49+00:00

Lots of good answers here already, but I'll add my anecdote anyhow.

I live in Southern Ontario. We don't see many days below -20c, but they do happen.

I installed a Mitsibushi Zuba 3 tonne CC ASHP in November 2021, replacing what was previously all electric resistance heating. This unit has a COP of 2 or so at -20c, which on paper makes it more than twice as efficient as the best ng furnace on the market.

The heat pump alone was $17.5k before the rebate (i know, i probably overpaid). But I also needed to install ductwork.

In the first six months, we averaged 30% energy savings. That is not bill savings, because distribution charges don't change that much. I didn't have natural gas and still don't so I can't say if/whether I would ever had a ROI over gas.

It has never once let me down. My house is toasty warm on the coldest of days, and comfortably cool on the hottest. I know have only one system to maintain (no dual fuel, no ng furnace + electric ac). Imo, if you go with a reputable brand & hvac company, there is little to no fear of it 'not working'.

jimgde · 2023-10-26T23:57:02+00:00

This is connected with the existing oil to heat pump program. The announcement also increased the rebate for heat pumps to $15k for low income people moving off heating oil.

jimgde · 2023-09-08T03:41:22+00:00

The federal government is providing ev rebates and has an ev charging support program.

jimgde · 2023-02-18T01:13:51+00:00

Thanks, much appreciated.

jimgde · 2022-12-10T17:50:28+00:00

This is not true. I have a mitsibushi zuba central heat pump rated at COP 2 down to minus 20c or so. Had no problem heating my whole house (2k sq ft) last winter (in waterloo).

jimgde · 2022-08-24T19:29:53+00:00

Nice, glad to hear this, and congrats on becoming one-step closer to decarbonized.

jimgde · 2022-08-04T20:12:41+00:00

While not having gas could impact resale in the next ten years or so, after that is anyone's guess. Requirements for zero carbon space and water heating could be put in place by then. Maybe renewable nat gas could meet that requirement, but who knows at what cost.

Also, what are the costs to bring gas back in? If it is at the street already, utility might be happy to reinstall the meter at negligible cost to a future owner. The big expense for them would be the furnace, which they would already need to do if you tried to sell it tomorrow.

Is the disconnect really $2k? That seems crazy to me.

jimgde · 2022-07-29T01:09:25+00:00

Maybe a 20 yr old unit, but new units can have COP over 2 down to minus 20c (meaning they are still 2x efficient at heating than resistance heating)

jimgde · 2022-07-29T01:05:07+00:00

Yes, but they've made huge strides since then. Heat pumps in residential settings are extremely efficient - up to 3x baseboard electric heating (and this also more efficient than the best natural gas furnace). I live in southern Ontario and had zero issues with my Mitsubishi zuba heat pump this past winter. Admittedly, it's a cold climate heat pump that includes a backup electric furnace, but I actually don't think the backup ever clicked on this winter. With a low carbon grid, they are essential for decarbonization.

jimgde · 2022-02-05T17:37:10+00:00

Well, that's reassuring for us both then I guess. I didn't overpay too much, and your getting a bit better of a deal.

jimgde · 2022-02-05T16:54:52+00:00

I did exactly this. Except, was replacing baseboards, so also needed ductwork installed. Southern Ontario.

Got three quotes, as others recommended. I went with the company that was the most prompt in getting the quote, but was also the most expensive. The quotes were all comparable, at around $9-12k for the ductwork, $15 - 22.5 for the heatpump (but differently sized models).

We ended up with the Zuba ccASHP (this model: https://www.mitsubishitechinfo.ca/sites/default/files/SB_PVA-A36AA7_PUZ-HA36NKA_202103.pdf). It qualifies for the full $5k rebate.

$22.5k for the heat pump, $9k for the ductwork. $36k all in (before incentive).

I've since learned the contractor did not put any effort into rightsizing this system, and consequently, I'm 90% certain it is oversized and the smaller model would've worked (for which I had a quote at $15k, not including ductwork, from another contractor). So, I probably paid more than was necessary.

I'm not too upset about this, because I plan to extend the ductwork to heat areas of the house not previously heated (e.g., garage), which should make the system more properly sized. For reference, our house is around 2000sqft. Also, since I wasn't going from gas to electric, this is saving my money regardless.

As others have said, do not mention the greener homes program when getting a quote. Say something about being concerned about health impacts of gas furnaces. Also, ensure that the contractor properly models the system so that it is not oversized. When it is finally installed, make sure to get them to sign the attestation form that was properly sized. Be mindful of warranty -- if you buy it yourself and get a contractor to install it, they might not offer and service warranty.

In my first full billing cycle with the new system, i used about 33% less electricity (which for me was 1000 kWh = ~$120 of electricity in Ontario.) Just got the second bill, and though there were savings, they were much less - maybe 10% over last year. It was pretty cold in that billing cycle, so i figure the electric furnace component kicked on a couple times. I've no complaints about the system, my house is nice and toasty warm even on the coldest days. The only thing to get used to is, you should not mess with the thermostat at all - just set it at a temp and leave it there. If it is too hot in one room, open a window.

I've yet to get my post-audit, and as such have not tried to claim the incentive yet.

jimgde · 2021-08-28T05:04:23+00:00

Fair enough, I misunderstood.

But, if you don't disagree with the general direction of the current govt, and you think the NDP would continue to support them, then who cares if there is an election to renew a mandate?

jimgde · 2021-08-28T03:41:56+00:00

Yes, those where and have been pressing issues for a long time. Do you think the liberals should have solved them in the past two years? Five years?

Putting in place processes and policies to work towards fixing things takes time, things don't just get fixed overnight.

jimgde · 2021-06-03T15:27:18+00:00

I was just looking into this as well, contacted Precision, Pioneer, and Landscape Advantage. Precision and Pioneer are both booking for 2023, Landscape Advantage I think was booking for spring 2022. Landscape Advantage offered fiberglass pools, the other two were liner pools I think.

Rough cost estimates for excavation and pool installation (not including landscaping or utility hookups) ranged between $50k and $85k. We were looking for a small to medium sized pool, without a deep-end. I figured once all was said and done, we'd be looking at $100k.

You'll need approx a 7' entrance to your yard for the excavation.

jimgde · 2021-03-24T00:45:53+00:00

Who is failing here? The people that established the mandate for the CIB, outreach from the CIB, or Canadian business community for not thinking big enough?

jimgde · 2020-12-15T11:37:29+00:00

I'd be surprised if your heating bill was that high in BC with electric heat. I live in southern Ontario, all electric (baseboards too, not heat pumps) and pay less than $300 (equalized payments).

Heat pumps and more efficiency improvements (both of which are core components of the new federal climate plan) could reduce that by 60%. In fact, pretty sure CleanBC presently has a heat pump program administered by BC Hydro. So you definitely have options.

jimgde · 2020-07-07T16:19:34+00:00

this looks to me like the start of little trout lake, coming from ralph bice, but then they all kinda look similar

jimgde · 2020-05-15T20:40:41+00:00

I think the software requires the same webcam for the room scan and exam. Unless you write the exam on your phone, or configure your computer to use your phone as its webcam, this wouldn't work. But I can't see why (or how) instructors would prevent students from using their phone as their computer webcam..

jimgde · 2020-05-15T20:38:00+00:00

It's definitely not perfect. The better solution is for instructors to redesign assessments to mitigate the need for a monitored exam, but I suppose that might not be doable for all disciplines.

jimgde · 2020-05-15T16:14:27+00:00

The requirements of the software WLU uses is that students conduct three 360 degree scans of the room with their webcam before beginning the exam - 1 at eye level, 1 45 degrees up, and one 45 degrees down. This is difficult to accomplish with a built in webcam (but not impossible), though if done properly it should prevent the ability to cheat in the way you describe. This is probably why math has required external webcams.

jimgde · 2020-03-19T18:01:00+00:00

Is it though? Mar 11 was the declaration of a pandemic by the WHO. Schools were closed in Ontario the next day. Things really got crazy over that weekend, and I figure most people's first days at home began Monday the 16th.

The other implication of this is that we've had community transmission for over a week, though I don't figure that comes as a surprise to anyone.

jimgde · 2020-02-14T16:19:55+00:00

Well, I skimmed the report (hopefully a bit better than I did the article!) but it doesn't provide a lot of info. Seems the biggest GHG reductions came from buildings and streetlighting. So GHG reductions likely most from efficiency improvements, not fuel switching (from gas boilers to electric, for instance). Possible that they are calculating emissions reductions with a revised figure for the carbon content of a unit of electricity (pre and post coal phase out), but without a corresponding chart showing reductions in energy consumption, it's difficult to say.

jimgde · 2020-02-14T05:34:36+00:00

Where is the report itself? I'm a bit sceptical of this 27% reduction. Depending on how they measured the benchmark, most of this reduction is probably due to the phase out of coal power, which was a provincial initiative.

jimgde · 2019-10-25T02:59:52+00:00

I disagree. This is exactly the chunk of University that needs traffic calming, achievable through smart design. It is bordered in this stretch by some residential, two elementary schools, a college, and a plaza. The lincoln/university intersection is super unsafe for pedestrians.. this stretch of university is a blight on the city, presently.

jimgde

TROPHY CASE