Heat pump grants get boost
The federal and provincial governments announced a plan Tuesday to make heat pumps even more affordable for Nova Scotians.
“Under this program, lowto medium-income households in co-delivery with provinces and territories can now apply to receive funding to cover the full average cost of installing a heat pump, including up to $15,000 from the government of Canada from the Heat Pump Affordability program (OHPA) and up to $15,000 from the province of Nova Scotia with Efficiencyone acting as the co-delivery partner, totalling $30,000 for qualified Nova Scotia applicants,” Halifax MP Andy Fillmore said.
“That’s a big deal,” said Fillmore, surrounded by dozens of heat pumps in shipping boxes at the Dartmouth warehouse of MJM Energy.
“As announced this past fall, successful applicants will also receive an upfront onetime payment of $250, which is an incentive to sign up for this program and make the switch.”
Fillmore, making the announcement on behalf of federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, said the federal Liberal government announced in November 2022 a $250-million investment in the OHPA program as a new stream of support under the Canada Greener Homes Initiative.
“The government has already helped 175,000 households across the country upgrade their homes and save money with the support of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative grant and OPHA
combined,” Fillmore said.
REDUCE EMISSIONS
“Whether it’s the cost of the heat pump, the cost of the installation or the cost of electrical upgrades to your home or the cost of removing an oil tank in a safe way, these grants can save you thousands of dollars a year on the installation and your ongoing heating bill while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Fillmore said the average household in Canada is expected to save $2,500 in heating costs after making the transition.
The original OHPA program provided up to $10,000 to help eligible homeowners cover the costs for the purchase and installation of an eligible Cold Climate air source heat pump.
People who have already applied or even received rebates under the original phase
of the program can contact Efficiency Nova Scotia or go to its website to apply for additional rebate under the funding announced Tuesday, said Stephen Macdonald, president and CEO of Efficiency Nova Scotia, the organization that works with partners to transform how customers use energy in the province.
Tory Rushton, the provincial minister of Natural Resources, said affordability is top of mind for everybody these days.
“The cost of living, eating healthy, fueling your car and heating your homes has steadily increased over the last few years and it takes a toll on Nova Scotians,” Rushton said. “We’re in the thick of the winter and I don’t need to tell anyone about the cost of heating your home, especially a home that’s heated with oil. It’s very expensive and it’s bad for our environment.”
Rushton said that spurred the province to invest $140 million last year to continue and expand energy efficiency programs over a four-year period, including free heat pumps for low-income households and bigger rebates for middle-income households that invest in efficiency upgrades and to move away from oil.
Rushton encouraged Nova Scotians to look into the efficiency programs that provide something for just about everyone.
Macdonald said Efficiency Nova Scotia is pleased to codeliver the OHPA grant.
“These increased investment levels will help Nova Scotians do even more as they transition away from oil and provide certainty for industry to grow and plan for the future,” Macdonald said.
PART OF CLIMATE PLAN
Making life more affordable while fighting climate change
is both a federal and provincial priority, Fillmore said.
“Energy efficiency has to be a key part of any successful climate plan,” he said. ““The less energy we use, the more money we save, whether it’s at the gas pumps, whether it’s at the checkout counter, whether it’s our monthly utility bills. Cutting down on our energy consumption will go a long way to help us reach our ambitious climate plan goals by helping us reduce emissions.”
Fillmore said the energy it takes to heat and cool homes and buildings in Canada accounts for about 18 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and in Atlantic Canada, which is more heavily reliant on home heating oil, that number can be even higher.
Macdonald said 40 per cent of homes in Nova Scotia, roughly 160,000 homes, still rely on oil as a main source of heat.