With the help of an energy advisor, this Toronto couple transitioned their home away from gas in a few, seamless months. Planning ahead, consulting with loved ones and even spying on the neighbours heat pumps helped Jennifer and Dan make the switch, and they couldn’t be happier with the results!
Caption: Jennifer & Dan’s picturesque (and energy-efficient!) home in Toronto
Jennifer & Dan’s Words of Wisdom:
Get an energy advisor! They will act as your guide, and be there with you every step of the way. The initial audit of your home is invaluable in providing a path forward, and it also makes you eligible for certain rebates (which your advisor can help you apply for!)
Plan ahead and think about the time of year you will do your upgrades. Jennifer and Dan strategically timed their replacements. They knew their furnace only had a few more years, so they replaced it before it died completely. And they chose early spring for the installations to be done so that a few days without heating or cooling wouldn’t be uncomfortable for them in their home.
Consider a heat pump water heater! At first Jennifer and Dan were skeptical, because the upfront cost was more than they expected. But they discovered that it would pay for itself in the long run. Plus, it doubles as a dehumidifier for the basement!
At a Glance
Length of Project | February to June, 4 months from First Energy Assessment |
Budget | ~ $22 000 (after $3625 in rebates) Detailed breakdown:
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Advisors & Contractors | “We were very happy with the services provided by everyone involved in our project!” Sarah Grant, Goldfinch Energy Scott Wilson, Core Contracting Group Jordan Electric Peter Papay, About Pure Air Inc. |
Upgrades |
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Project Difficulty | ⭐️ ½ 1.5 out of 5 - easier than expected |
Satisfaction | 👍👍👍👍 ½ - 4.5 out of 5 - the missing ½ is because they have yet to try it in the winter... but they are very happy with the summer so far! |
Est. GHG reductions (annual) | Energy Intensity has decreased from 0.77 to 0.37GJ/m2/year. GHG emissions have decreased from 4.8 to 0.5 tonnes/year
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Background
Jennifer and Dan’s story began the same way as many HVAC replacement stories when their A/C unit broke down. After getting it repaired once (and it breaking a second time), they began to think: this could be the perfect opportunity to upgrade and remove their gas line completely! Their furnace was almost 30 years old, and they knew it was running on borrowed time. As two people who had been concerned about the climate crisis for many years, they had a desire to switch as much as they could from gas to electric in order to cut their GHG emissions. They had previously replaced their gas stove with an induction one, and this felt like a great time to eliminate gas from their home entirely.
Preparation
As they started to think more about this transition, they looked to other people in their lives who had gone electric. Dan’s brother put in a heat pump about three years earlier. They found it helpful to talk with him about his experience and see how the heat pump was functioning. Dan is also involved with the charity Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach, who recently renovated their Blake St. Building with a ductless heat pump and backup furnace. Dan remembered that after the first winter the Blake St. house didn’t need to turn on the furnace once: “This was a pretty good endorsement for heat pumps.”
Another source of information? Jennifer was (in her own words) ‘spying’ on other people’s heat pumps. She was curious – “honestly, I really have walked the neighborhood, including the Pocket, crept up to people's heat pumps and listened, looked at where the tubing was going, and things like that”.
Finally, they reached out to Sarah Grant, an energy advisor at Goldfinch Energy that Dan’s brother recommended. Sarah’s energy assessment was extremely helpful, and it was the kickstart they needed to get their project going. “Once Sarah came in and gave us direction and referrals, we were booking something new every few weeks and the process was underway!”
Caption: Maca the dog is excited for the new heat pumps too!
The Work
Jennifer and Dan began the process of installing two new heat pumps – one to replace the old furnace and A/C unit, and a heat pump water heater in place of the gas water tank.
There were some upgrades that needed to be done to the house to improve the efficiency of the heat pump, such as aerosealing the ductwork, upgrading insulation in the two upstairs bedrooms and ceiling, installing a sub-panel to the 100-amp electrical panel and updating some wiring. Dan noted that most of the upgrades that were needed to prepare their house for the heat pumps were things that “would have been done to the house in the normal course of time anyway”. The heat pumps simply prompted them to do it sooner.
Both Jennifer and Dan reported that the process was very smooth. Despite a couple of challenges and delays (the electrician had to return 3 times!), every contractor was available when they needed them and it was an easier process than either of them expected. Even calling Enbridge to get the gas line disconnected was pretty simple – they had heard stories that this would be a headache, but it all went quickly and efficiently.
As mentioned earlier, along with installing an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, Jennifer and Dan also replaced their gas water tank with a heat pump water heater. They noted that this was the most expensive option up front – but after breaking down the costs (factoring in the costs saved from gas tank rental, monthly gas bill, etc), Dan discovered it really wasn’t so painful. In fact, they will save in the long run. Dan calculated that it will take only about 6 years before it pays for itself! They also note that the city of Toronto has loan programs to help with the upfront costs of a heat pump water heater. Another perk? It doubles as a dehumidifier for the basement!
Jennifer reflects that going through this process with their energy advisor, Sarah, made the whole thing much easier. Sarah provided recommendations for contractors, and she helped them apply for rebates. Jennifer and Dan also remember that they interviewed a few different heat pump installers, but ultimately went with Peter Papay (from About Pure Air Inc.) because he had a heat pump in his own home! And they were very happy with his service.
Caption: In the basement - the air handler and heat pump water tank are installed
The Results
At the time of this interview, Jennifer and Dan had only had their new heat pumps for about three months, but they are delighted with the early results. The air source heat pump has been keeping them comfortable throughout the summer, especially through a brutal August heat wave! Jennifer remarked that the heat pump is much quieter than she expected. Even outside their house, it’s quieter than their neighbours’ AC units. Although they haven’t tested the winters yet, they are confident that it will be cozy, especially thanks to the new insulation upstairs. They’ve already noticed how different the upstairs rooms feel in the summer months. Both are looking forward to seeing how their costs have changed in the winter now that they are disconnected from the gas line. More good news? A couple of months after their upgrades, Jennifer and Dan got some money back in rebates from Enbridge: $1375 for the heat pump, and $2250 for the energy audit, heat pump water tank and insulation.
Jennifer and Dan are a great example of a seamless and cost-effective transition away from gas. Much of this was thanks to their advance planning, and gathering lots of advice from friends, family and professionals.
Caption: This subtle and classy heat pump keeps Jennifer and Dan’s home at the perfect temperature