{"id":18672,"date":"2025-12-10T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T05:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/?p=18672"},"modified":"2026-01-30T13:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:42:36","slug":"switching-all-b-c-homes-to-heat-pumps-would-save-households-675-million-a-year-while-reducing-grid-demand-and-emissions-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/switching-all-b-c-homes-to-heat-pumps-would-save-households-675-million-a-year-while-reducing-grid-demand-and-emissions-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Switching all B.C. homes to heat pumps would save households $675 million a year while reducing grid demand and emissions: study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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This media release was updated on January 28, 2026 to reflect a correction on individual household savings in the report. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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VANCOUVER \u2014 A new Clean Energy Canada report finds that while B.C. faces a triple threat\u2014more extreme heat days, energy bills contributing to affordability concerns, and worsening climate impacts\u2014there is one simple solution that has the potential to ease all three: the humble heat pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, More for Less<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> draws on independent modelling from McDiarmid Climate Consulting and finds that a provincewide switch to heat pumps for space heating and cooling\u2014paired with a mix of electrified water heating technologies\u2014would slash British Columbians\u2019 collective electricity bills by $675 million a year. For individual households, this translates to savings of about $169 a year for those currently on natural gas heating with standalone air conditioning, and $849 a year for those currently on electric resistance heating with standalone air conditioning.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crucially, More for Less<\/em><\/a> finds that despite expanding cooling to all B.C. homes, overall electricity usage from residential heating and cooling in the province would actually fall, as heat pumps replace inefficient electric baseboards and avoid loads from new standalone air conditioners. The switch would also lower emissions by 3.5 megatonnes CO\u2082e annually\u2014equivalent to taking more than 800,000 gas-powered cars off the road, or roughly 6% of B.C.\u2019s total annual emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The modelling considered B.C.\u2019s various climate zones and residential building types and used a mix of heat pump systems for space heating and cooling, alongside both heat pump and electric resistance water heaters. Results were weighted by population and climate zone to reflect real-world conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report warns that while the opportunity is clear, realizing it requires a provincial plan. Without one, lower-income residents, renters, and households facing more barriers to adoption risk being left behind\u2014and getting stuck with higher energy bills over the long term as gas utilities serve a shrinking customer base. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address this, the authors propose CoolBC, a six-pillar action plan to unlock affordability, advance climate action, and future-proof B.C.\u2019s energy system. Its key pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n