Hybrid systems provide backup heat on the coldest days of the year when a heat pump can’t quite meet the homeowners needs.Photo provided by Kevin Schmitt
Whitby, ON – Residents in three Ont-based cities could receive up to $4,500 if they install an electric heat pump with smart controls.
The Ontario government announces that homes in Whitby, Pickering, and Ajax are able to apply for the Clean Home Heating initiative.
“Switching to hybrid heating could save customers up to $280 every year on their energy bills while cutting their emissions by a third,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of energy. “Our government is excited to provide this opportunity to homeowners in Whitby, Ajax and Pickering as we continue to deliver more ways for families to take control of their energy bills and keep costs down.”
The Clean Home Heating Initiative is delivered in collaboration with Enbridge.
Through the initiative, participating households will receive incentives of $4,500 for installing cold-climate air-source heat pumps and $3,000 for installing standard air-source heat pumps.
The program encourages families to utilize a dual-fuel heating system, as a hybrid heating system automatically switches between the heat pump and a home’s existing natural gas furnace, depending on weather and which heating source is least expensive.
The Clean Home Heating Initiative was first introduced in September 2022 with a government commitment of up to $4.5 million to provide hybrid heating incentives to residential customers in London, St. Catharines, Peterborough, and Sault Ste. Marie.
Recently the initiative announced that households in Barrie could be eligible for incentives. It is estimated that there are over 1,500 eligible households through the program.