Regions across Canada are making a play for a cleaner, greener future. That includes British Columbia, where the province’s CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 calls for numerous climate change goals and strategies, many of which rely on the HVAC community.
“BC is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 16% below 2007 levels by 2025, 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050,” the province’s Climate Change plan states. “To do this, we’re taking action to reduce pollution and waste while identifying new technologies and opportunities that will help us meet our longer-term climate goals.”
One of BC’s main climate change objectives is to achieve net-zero emissions in all new buildings by 2030. To achieve this, the province will require all new water and space heating equipment being sold and installed within its borders to be at least 100 per cent efficient at the start of that same year. Additionally, BC is shifting the focus of utility-funded efficiency programs to building envelope improvements and heat pumps, and pouring more support into HVAC-related rebate and incentive programs.
“BC’s CleanBC Roadmap places emphasis on clean, efficient energy, and our industry certainly has a role in making that happen,” says Bob Douglas, BC Branch Manager with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA).
MESCA is no stranger to supporting climate change strategies across Canadian jurisdictions. Through advances in HVAC controls, heat pump solutions, and industry stewardship, it is taking Canada’s Net-Zero ambitions to heart.
“The built environment has traditionally used a lot of energy and contributed a bulk of our carbon emissions,” says Mike Comanescu, Commercial Business Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. “The good news is we have the technology to reduce those factors by making HVAC equipment smarter, more efficient, and adoptable.”
The technology may be ready but adoption remains a challenge. To that end, BC offers a host of incentives for property operators and homeowners making the clean energy upgrade. That includes energy efficiency programs like the BetterHomesBC and BetterBuildingsBC initiatives which are administered in partnership with BC Hydro and Fortis BC. Combined, these programs offer sizable guidance, rebates, and low financing for those seeking to upgrade new or existing builds with heat pumps and other energy-efficient solutions.
“People want affordable options to heat their homes with clean energy to reduce pollution and help address climate change,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in a January 2021 statement. “We’re helping people improve the places they live with more incentives to make the switch to cleaner, more efficient technologies and supporting good jobs across the province as we recover from COVID-19.”
The road ahead
The push for cleaner, more future-friendly HVAC technologies are making an impact. According to the government, In 2019, 10% of BC households used heat pumps as their primary or secondary heating source, up from only 3% in 2007.
The numbers show a promising trend, but there’s still a ways to go along BC’s CleanBC Roadmap. Getting there means increasing access to green HVAC technologies and the industry professionals who can make them work.
“The number one challenge and opportunity that exists right now is growing businesses that understand heat pumps and are willing and able to help citizens design and install them in their homes and buildings,” notes says Christopher Higgins, Senior Green Building Planner at the City of Vancouver. “Right now, there’s a subset of quickly growing companies doing most of the heat pump retrofit work, and we’ll need more to hit this goal by 2030.”
HVAC clearing the way
Canada’s provinces and territories are on the path to climate change transformations. The road is long, but the ongoing support of HVAC manufacturers, suppliers, educators, and innovators plays no small role in reaching the net-zero finish line.
“Mitsubishi Electric looks forward to assisting in growing awareness of the superior performance of heat pumps and to helping achieve the province’s and country’s sustainability initiatives,” says Candace Steinberg, Marketing Manager, HVAC Division of MESCA.
Learn more about Mitsubishi Electric at www.mitsubishielectric.ca.