Reduce your carbon footprint and save up
	to 60% on your home heating costs!

Heat Pumps

A heat pump is one of the most energy-efficient heating and cooling systems available today. Unlike other heating systems, which convert fuel or electricity directly into heat, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another in the same manner as an air conditioner. It heats, cools, dehumidifies and continuously filters the air of dust and other impurities. It also can circulate the air - without heating or cooling to eliminate stuffiness as well. The outdoor coil of the heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers it to your home. In hot weather, the heat pump operates in reverse to provide cooling. It transfers heat from within your home to the outdoors. And because heat pumps consume less primary energy than conventional heating systems, they are an important technology for reducing emissions of gases that harm the environment, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Affordability

In general, it is not economical to use a heat pump as the only source of heat in your home. A heat pump large enough to meet heating needs would work inefficiently in summer. Combining a heat pump with an existing furnace or other supplemental heater is a great way to reduce home energy expenses.

Cost savings

Using a heat pump as part of your year-round heating and cooling system could save 60% of your energy bill. Savings will vary depending on the fuel and efficiency of your current system.

Under optimal conditions a heat pump can provide three times the amount of heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes.

In recent years, heat pump efficiency has increased due to the incorporation of the following improvements:

• Variable speed blowers, compressors and motors – This equipment provides variable speeds of operation to optimize performance and efficiency. Heat pumps utilizing multi-speed components will typically start in the first stage or low speed. If comfort levels or control settings cannot be satisfied with the first stage, the second stage or high speed will activate. Some heat pump systems have more than two stages or speeds of operation.
• Larger coil surface areas – Large surface coils provide maximum heat transfer efficiency.
• Time delays – Time delays vary the on and off cycles of compressors, motors and supplemental heat packages.
• Expansion valves – Expansion valves control the flow of refrigerant in proportion to the load on the evaporator. Compared with other types of fixed metering devices, expansion valves are able to exercise control over a much wider range of operating conditions.

Learn More with our Heat Pump FAQ

More info on Heat Pumps from NR Canada

	Government rebates are available on
	heat pumps and furnaces.

The LiveSmart BC rebate for an air source heat pump is $1060, or $1420 if it is installed with a 90%+ efficient variable speed furnace. Add the $400 rebate under the Federal ecoENERGY program, and you have a total rebate of $1460-1820. The LiveSmartBC rebate for an air source heat pump with a variable speed motor is larger than for any other home improvement, which indicates that the government has recognized their huge potential to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These grants can pay for up to a quarter of the cost of the installation.