When Adam and Monica bought their home five years ago, they had a gas leak on the very first day! They also inherited a 20-year-old furnace and air conditioner. Rather than replace them with more gas appliances, they took a bold step toward sustainability. With the help of the Pocket Change Project and expert advisors, they transitioned their home to fully electric on a very reasonable budget! They were able to cut carbon, save energy, and create a safe home to raise their young son.
Adam and Monica outside of their home in The Pocket, Toronto
Adam and Monica’s Words of Advice:
Every house, family and budget are unique. “Work closely with your energy advisor on choosing the right service providers for your situation”. Adam and Monica recommend getting multiple quotes from different contractors because they range greatly. Adam reflects “I learned a lot from hearing them all.”
At a Glance
Length of Project | 2 to 3 years |
Budget | ~$18,000 (after $8,500 in rebates) |
Advisors & Contractors | Sarah Grant (Goldfinch Energy), Paul Dowsett (Pocket Change Project), Rey (4Most Energy) |
Upgrades | Heat pump installation, attic insulation, crawlspace insulation, induction stove, duct aerosealing |
Project Difficulty | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ 3.5 out of 5 - Moderate |
Satisfaction | 👍👍👍👍 ½ 4.5 out of 5 - Very Satisfied |
Est. GHG reductions (annual) | 2.5 Metric Tons CO₂e (50 GJ energy savings) |
Background
Adam and Monica’s journey began with a gas leak, on day one of moving into their new home. After getting a technician in to fix the problem, both decided that they wanted to get their home off of gas. They wanted their young son to grow up in a healthy environment, with no risk of another gas leak! This was the motivation they needed to get involved in the Pocket Change Project – THE Network’s inaugural Partner Community. They started attending Changemaker Socials— open houses where neighbours, who have already made the switch to electric, share their experiences. With their aging HVAC system nearing the end of its life, Adam and Monica saw an opportunity to make a meaningful change. Inspired by the stories of others and determined to get rid of gas in their home, they committed to replacing their gas furnace with a heat pump.
The Enbridge technician shutting off the gas on day one in their new home
Preparation
To make the process as stress free as possible, Monica and Adam began planning the transition to gas-free well before their furnace or A/C unit completely gave up on them. As a rule of thumb, about 85% of all residential HVAC replacements happen on an emergency basis (source: HVAC Boundary Spanners Podcast). When your furnace breaks down... it’s usually the middle of winter...because no one’s running their furnace in warm weather! This means you need to get a replacement as quickly as possible, and you end up making decisions under pressure. At THE Network, we are big fans of planning in advance. This leads to the most energy efficient, low carbon and cost-effective choices!
As Monica and Adam made their preparations, the couple leaned on expert guidance from Sarah Grant of Goldfinch Energy and Paul Dowsett, a retrofit coach with the Pocket Change Project, who helped them understand the scope of the project and navigate the new world of home energy upgrades. They had a wonderful experience with both advisors, stating “their support, knowledge, and patience made the entire process manageable, even as it stretched over two to three years.” In preparation, Adam and Monica gathered multiple quotes and encountered a wide range of opinions—from whether to upgrade their electrical panel to how heat pumps perform in extreme cold. With their advisors’ help, they made informed decisions and were even able to secure government rebates to ease the financial load.
Adam and Monica’s Home in 2020 – just after buying
The Work
When it came time for them to begin their transformation, they went with an installer they had spent some time with and felt confident about. Rey from 4MostEnergy did a wonderful job, and Adam and Monica were very happy with the results.
First, they had a 2.5-ton heat pump installed as part of their central duct system to replace the furnace and A/C unit. Rey then upgraded their attic insulation to R60 and re-insulated the crawlspace to ensure the heat pump would heat and cool their home to maximum efficiency. Finally, he found room on their existing electrical panel for their new induction stove, which helped them avoid needing to do a full panel upgrade.
With these changes, Adam and Monica were able to cancel their Enbridge gas service and proudly declare their home fully electric.
The Results
Adam and Monica are very pleased with the results of their home upgrades. The switch to an induction stove was a game-changer—cooking is faster, and they noticed how much heat was wasted with their old gas range. They are enjoying the consistent temperature from their heat pump in the winter and summer months. Best of all, they have peace of mind knowing their home is 100% gas-free with no fear of a gas leak.
About a year after their project, Monica and Adam made an additional upgrade and had their ducts aerosealed (an additional $3000 to the budget). This ensured no leaks in the ductwork, further increasing energy efficiency and comfort in their home. Adam notes that this process made the basement temperature more regulated, but increased the cool air in one of the top floor bedrooms – they are still learning about the process of air flow (HVAC is certainly a fine science). However, this was a very easy fix. A couple of magnetic vent blocks evened out the airflow. Adam reflects that the process was painless, and they are very satisfied with the outcome.
Their upgrades now reduce their carbon footprint by 2.5 Metric Tons of CO₂e annually—the equivalent of taking one gas-powered car off the road for 9 months of the year!
With $8,500 in rebates from the Greener Homes Grant, their total out-of-pocket cost was about $18,000. The experience was so rewarding that they now volunteer with the Pocket Change Project, helping others start their own home upgrade journeys.
The newly installed heat pump doesn’t take up much space, and keeps Adam and Monica’s house cozy