The federal government says it has a plan to start phasing out the use of oil-fired furnaces in new construction and get homeowners and businesses to switch to heat pumps over the next several years.
The finalized Canada Green Buildings Strategy, which is being released today, outlines Ottawa’s priorities for decarbonizing buildings — the third-largest source of climate-altering carbon emissions in Canada.
The strategy does not target natural gas and propane heating sources. While the document doesn’t explain in any detail how Ottawa means to phase out oil-fired furnaces, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the federal government intends to use regulations and investments to encourage the switch to heat pumps.
At What Temperature Do Heat Pumps Become Ineffective?
Ultimately, the efficiency of heat pump systems depends on their temperature range, which is determined by the type of system you have. Most air-source and water-source heat pumps will become less efficient when temperatures drop below their respective ranges. That is -13°F (air source heat pump) or 45°F (water source).
Geothermal systems are designed to be more resistant to extreme cold weather but can still become ineffective if temperatures dip too low. For geothermal heat pumps, the ideal working temperature range is between 40°F and 75°F (4°C and 24°C).
Geothermal systems are expensive and not an option for many.
