Two Climate Activists Take a Big Step to Reduce Emissions

Susan & Harvey’s Words of Advice: 

• Get an energy assessment, Susan says. “We went in knowing nothing. All we knew was that we wanted to reduce the fossil fuels that we were using, and switch to renewable energy. Our energy advisor helped us, really held our hand along the way, it was great!” 

• “I wish I would have done this earlier.” In Harvey’s opinion, if you have the means to get off gas, do it now! This is one of the most impactful, one-time actions you can take to mitigate climate change. Plus “it will make you feel really good” both inside and out. 

At a Glance 

Background 

Susan and Harvey are recently retired Toronto homeowners and busy climate activists. They are members of SCAN(Seniors for Climate Action Now), Red Rebels Toronto, and founders of the York University Wellness Impact Lab. To accompany their advocacy in the community, the couple wanted to take more steps at home to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. They decided to start investigating how to make their house as energy efficient as possible. 

Susan and Harvey’s home, a 1949 build in York Centre, was reliant on radiators for its heat source. The couple had heard about heat pumps and were interested in getting one for their home, but they weren’t quite sure how or if this would work with radiators. They researched and discussed ideas for about a year before taking the next steps and consulting an energy advisor, who assured them that they could definitely make a heat pump work in their home. 

Preparation 

In June 2024, they met with Sarah Grant from Goldfinch Energy, who conducted an energy assessment. Sarah advised them on the best upgrades and helped kickstart their renovations. She suggested two options for heat pumps given the radiator system they had:  

1. install a hydronic heat pump system that will heat water and circulate it through the existing radiators, or  

2. install a mini-split cold climate heat pump with indoor units mounted in individual rooms.  

The couple ultimately decided on a ductless mini-split heat pump after consulting with their contractor. This decision allowed them to keep their radiators in place as a backup. Plus, the heat pump provides air conditioning in the summer months, which meant Susan and Harvey could get rid of their, according to Harvey, “marginally useful” AC unit upstairs. To prepare for the heat pump, Susan and Harvey added insulation in the basement and attic to ensure optimal efficiency. 

Wanna hear more about hydronic heat pump systems? Read Margaret’s story here.

The couple also knew they wanted solar panels for their home. They have a neighbour with solar panels, and they wanted to be the second homeowners in the neighbourhood to generate their own energy. To prepare for the panels, the couple had to have their roof checked for any needed repairs, get the big oak tree in their backyard trimmed to allow the most sun access for the panels, and upgrade their indoor electrical panel to 200 amps. The electrical panel upgrade was also helpful for the heat pump and future electrification, so it served a dual purpose. In hindsight, Harvey reflects that preparing the house for the solar panels took more steps than he had expected, but it was all worth it. 

Now their home was officially ready for the next steps! 

The Work 

The installations began in May of 2025. The solar panels only took about two and a half days to be installed. Susan recalls that they worked fantastically for two weeks... before hitting a tiny hiccup when the inverter stopped working. But not to worry, the installers came back for a repair, and the panels have worked well ever since. 

Susan was very grateful to have an energy advisor for the solar panel installation process, because Sarah did the tricky work of getting them the hydro permits required for the panels. The couple also appreciated their installer, Heliotechnik, for their helpful guidance along the way.  

Now it was time for the heat pumps. The size and age of their house meant that Harvey and Susan would need two cold-climate heat pumps installed. Mini-split heat pumps have individual units mounted in each room, so each heat pump was connected to three units, covering six rooms in total. The installation went very smoothly, and they remarked that their installers from Spring Home Heating and Cooling were knowledgeable and experienced. 

Susan and Harvey kept their radiator system in place as a backup. The heat pumps will work up to –30 degrees Celsius in the winter, so they doubt this back-up system will need to kick in at all, but it’s there just in case.  

One frustration that Susan shared: there weren’t many rebate options for them through the provincial government. The rebates tended to be most useful to homeowners switching from a central duct furnace to a cold climate heat pump. Susan feels that the options need to be majorly improved to encourage more people to take steps towards electrification. Harvey and Susan made the changes because it was the right thing to do for the planet and future generations. But the upfront costs for them were high, and for them, the decision was mainly ethical, not financial. In order to win over the majority of Ontario homeowners, electrification needs to make short term financial sense as well. “The provincial government needs to be behind this 100%” Susan says. 

The Results 

Susan and Harvey absolutely love the look of their house with solar panels. They were worried that the panels might look intrusive or unattractive, but instead they think their home looks sleek and classy. And they like that their panels can act as a conversation starter to encourage their neighbours to consider solar too. 

The couple are pleased with how comfortable their home feels with the new heat pumps: “we’ve never had it so good here, and we’ve been in this house for 30 years”.   Harvey remarks: “It’s amazing technology - it’s kind of magical engineering! When it’s really cold outside it can pull some heat almost out of thin air, and vise versa in warm weather. So I think heat pumps are almost magic.”

Susan and Harvey have big plans to continue their public climate activism. They are strong advocates of the importance of action at the public and political level. “That’s how we spend our time... advocating for public education and getting the public engaged around this. When the public is engaged, the politicians will follow.”