July 2018. Government of Ontario. With property owners and managers, engineers, and contractors all looking for ways to reduce operating expenses in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs), TAF’s Guide to Retrofitting Electrically Heated Multi-Family Dwellings in Ontario with Heat Pumps is a solid first step to getting rising electricity costs under control.
The 26-page guide points to average savings of $600 per suite, and a range of 40 to 75 per cent of total electricity costs, for residential buildings that install air-source heat pumps to supplement conventional electric heating. Once a heat pump is in place, it will deliver even greater future savings and a higher degree of energy independence as electricity prices continue to rise.
The cost savings translate into reductions in carbon emissions, since Ontario still counts on natural gas for about 9% of the electricity on its grid, while the boost to net operating income adds to the commercial value of the building – even when tenants pay their own heating bills. Heat pumps also deliver greater home comfort to residents, leading to lower vacancy rates and slower turnover in rented units.
If you own, operate, or maintain a MURB, the building might be a good candidate for a heat pump retrofit if:
- It’s at least 20 years old
- It’s heated with electricity
- Its electricity bills are higher in winter
- It’s had little or no work done on energy retrofits in the last five years
- You’ve had trouble maintaining a comfortable level of heating through the winter—or cooling during the summer months, since heat pumps are designed to deliver year-round comfort
If you think you might see your building in this picture, the Guide to Retrofitting Electrically Heated Multi-Family Dwellings in Ontario with Heat Pumps gives you the information to make an informed business decision about a possible retrofit. It explains what an air-source heat pump is and how it works, presents the business case for retrofitting electrically heated buildings, takes you through a step-by-step guide on how to get the upgrade done, and provides information on available incentives, background information, and case studies.