Low-carbon, energy-efficient home heating
Space heating accounts for more than 60 percent of the energy use in the average Canadian home.* A hybrid heating system with smart controls switches between electricity and natural gas to heat and cool more efficiently to reduce emissions, optimize energy use and reduce long term costs.
Supporting innovative energy solutions such as hybrid heating systems is one of the ways Enbridge Gas is helping Ontario transition to a clean energy future. We’re running a pilot program in London, Ontario, to install hybrid heating systems in up to 100 homes. The program is gathering data to measure how much energy and GHG emissions hybrid heating systems can save, with the intent to accelerate adoption.
Saving energy is just one of the benefits
Easy and convenient
Smart controls automatically switch between natural gas and electric heat, based on which source is the most efficient at a given time.
Gain more resilience
With two heating systems, homeowners always have energy-cost resiliency and the option to heat with natural gas or electric heat.
Heat more efficiently
By optimizing the home’s energy mix based on the source that’s the most cost effective, energy costs are reduced over the long term.
Lower carbon footprint
Hybrid systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30 percent so homeowners will also be taking action on climate change.
How does hybrid heating keep energy costs low?
Hybrid heating uses two systems to heat as efficiently as possible. An electric air-source heat pump will heat the home when temperatures are moderate and electricity rates are low. When temperatures are cooler, or at times when electricity rates are at their peak, the system automatically switches to the condensing natural gas furnace, ensuring comfort on cold winter days. The home will also be cooled efficiently by the heat pump.
During the summer:
The air-source heat pump draws heat from inside the home and moves it outside, cooling more efficiently than an old air conditioner.
During the spring, fall and winter:
The air-source heat pump draws heat from outside and moves it indoors. If it gets too cold outside, the condensing natural gas furnace will automatically kick in to provide backup heat.
“Hybrid home heating systems like this are a great new tool to help residents reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and an important step towards responding to the climate emergency.”
– Jamie Skimming, Manager of Energy and Climate Change, City of London