CHARLOTTETOWN, PE, July 16,
2024 /CNW/ - Making the switch from home heating
oil to a heat pump will save Canadians thousands of dollars each
year on their energy bills. By driving down both energy bills and
harmful pollution, the benefits of switching to a heat pump are
clear, and the Government of Canada has been bringing these benefits to
Canadians through the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA)
program.
Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of
Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and
Bobby Morrissey, Member of
Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan
Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the
Honourable Steven Myers, Minister of Environment, Energy and
Climate Action, Government of Prince
Edward Island (PEI), announced that Canada and PEI are fully co-delivering the
strengthened OHPA program.
Low- to median-income households in PEI that heat with oil can
apply to receive a free heat pump, which will heat and cool their
entire home. The Government of Canada's OHPA investment of up to $15,000 per eligible homeowner will not only
provide thousands more dollars to Prince Edward Islanders to switch
to a heat pump but will also allow for additional measures such as
switching to electric water heaters, supplemental electric
resistance heaters, electrical upgrades, and the safe removal of
oil tanks.
Eligible applicants also receive an upfront, one-time payment of
$250 from the federal government. As
of July 5, a total of 7,403 heat
pumps have been installed under the plan nationally and 10,568
Canadian households have received upfront payments.
The federal government currently has co-delivery arrangements in
place with Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland and Labrador and British
Columbia and looks forward to co-delivering the program with
other provinces and territories soon.
In jurisdictions without federal-provincial/territorial
co-delivery arrangements, oil-heated households have been and will
continue to be able to apply for up to $10,000 in federal OHPA funding through the
national portal managed by Natural Resources Canada. The Government
of Canada is currently working
with other provinces and territories to deliver new, strengthened
OHPA co-delivery agreements to make heat pumps even more affordable
for even more Canadians across the country.
In addition to the OHPA program, in June
2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced up to
$16.8 million from Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund to support
low-income homeowners' transition from home heating oil to
more-affordable low-emitting heating technologies, like electric
heat pumps in Prince Edward
Island. The Governments of Canada and PEI are working closely together to
finalize the delivery of this funding.
Quotes
"Making the switch to more energy-efficient heating systems can
help Canadians save thousands on their energy bills, reduce their
energy use, and decrease their carbon footprint. That's why we are
strengthening the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program and
ensuring that families are supported in making the switch from
heating oil to an efficient heat pump."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources
"Installing a heat pump in your home is one of the best ways to
save on your monthly energy bills while reducing emissions. This
announcement builds on the success we are already seeing across
Atlantic Canada, making life more
affordable while protecting our environment and growing our
economy."
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Associate Minister of National
Defence
"Canadians should be able to save on energy bills by heating and
cooling their homes more efficiently. This is especially true in
Atlantic Canada, where many are
facing high energy costs. That's why this federal government is
helping Canadians switch from expensive home heating oil to
lower-cost and lower-emission heat pumps through the Oil to Heat
Pump Affordability program. This next step in the Program is a
win-win: it will provide even more support for low-to-medium-income
Islanders who are looking to reduce their energy bills while also
reducing pollution."
Bobby
Morrissey
Member of Parliament for Egmont,
P.E.I.
"With over 12,500 free heat pumps installed through the
Government of Prince Edward
Island's free heat pump program, we know Islanders are on
board to do what's right for the environment. We appreciate efforts
by the Government of Canada to
assist our provincial government in making life more affordable for
Islanders while we work towards our province's net zero goals."
The Honourable Steven Myers
Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Government
of Prince Edward Island
Quick Facts
- Heat pumps are two to three times more efficient than oil
furnaces. The fact that heat pumps simply move heat, rather than
generate it, is a large part of why they are more efficient and
less costly than alternatives.
- The average Canadian home that uses heating oil spends
$2,000 to $5,500 on energy bills per year, depending on the
province or territory — making it the most expensive heating
option. Homeowners who switch from an oil furnace to a
cold-climate heat pump could save approximately $1,500 to $4,500
per year on their home energy bills.
- Oil furnaces and boilers in Canada's homes generate around three million
tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year — the
equivalent generated from approximately 920,000 cars. Oil
combustion in heating systems also generates nitrogen oxide,
sulphur dioxide and fine particles that can be harmful to human
health and the environment.
- OHPA has already issued 5,000 grants to PEI applicants.
Related Information
- Net Zero Free Heat Pump Program
- Enhancements to the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program
- Canada Greener Homes Initiative
- Delivering support for Canadians on energy bills
- The Canada Green Buildings Strategy: Transforming Canada's
buildings sector for a net-zero and resilient future
Follow us on LinkedIn
SOURCE Natural Resources Canada