With buildings responsible for roughly 21% of greenhouse gas emissions (Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction) in Canada, the need for carbon reduction tools and strategies is more crucial than ever.
Consumption of fossil fuels in space heating and domestic hot water is by far the largest contributor of greenhouse gasses (GHG) in buildings (United Nations). Many electrically-heated multi-unit residential buildings (eMURBs) still rely on outdated electric baseboard heaters, while non-electric MURBS still maintain inefficient gas furnaces or costly central fossil fuel boiler systems. Converting to efficient electric heating with heat pumps is a key solution to dramatically reduce emissions, while also helping to achieve Canada’s climate goals.
“There is a global effort to reduce GHGs and reliance on fossil fuels, and one of the biggest users of energy in residential buildings – and source of GHG emissions – are the heating and cooling systems,” says Caitlin Forrest, Residential Distributor Sales Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA).
Switching to heat pumps in eMURBS can improve overall energy efficiency and, with proper implementation, help manage grid demand. Heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat rather than generating it, making them more efficient and cost-effective than traditional electric heating systems because the Coefficient of Performance (COP) is at least three times that of traditional baseboard heaters.
WHY HEAT PUMPS
Heat pumps have emerged as a game-changing alternative. They are a highly efficient heating, cooling, and domestic hot water generation technology that can meaningfully reduce carbon emissions in eMURBs.
Implementing new equipment such as heat pumps increase comfort and reduces energy use and also provides air conditioning, eliminating the need for window air conditioners, while providing partial dehumidification in the summer. Through programs such as SaveOnEnergy grants are available for building owners who switch to more energy efficient solutions, with the potential to also increase the value of the property making it more rentable or sellable.
“Many of these older buildings do not have air conditioning at all or have outdated systems. Heat pumps offer both air conditioning and heating in a single system,” says Forrest. “People who live in the units also have the added benefit of full system control over their environment for improved comfort and air quality.”
As heat waves become more frequent, heat pumps offer a resilient heating and cooling solution.
CHALLENGES
While heat pumps have been available for decades, they have only experienced a surge in popularity and adoption in recent years, particularly in Canada, due to their potential to reduce emissions and offer lower-cost heating and cooling. The benefits of heat pumps are widely documented (case studies) but resistance to their adoption persists.
“There is still a lot of misinformation about heat pumps in the market such as concerns about poor performance in extreme cold, so it’s important to get the message out that heat pumps do work and provide many benefits,” says Forrest.
Concerns about initial cost are a significant challenge to heat pump adoption at scale, but there are various government rebate and grant programs available for building owners to upgrade their buildings with state-of-the-art energy technology.
Building owners looking to retrofit with heat pumps can also take advantage of Mitsubishi Electric’s cross-promotional partnership with Efficiency Capital. This partnership combines EC’s unique project investment and delivery model with MESCA’s heat pumps and related technologies, offering turnkey efficiency solutions with little to no up-front capital.
HEAT PUMP SYSTEM SOLUTIONS
Heat pumps can be installed in a variety of configurations, depending on the property’s layout and heating needs. Your contractor or engineer will need to specify the type of heat pump system solution that will work best.
1. Heat Pump System, also known as a single-zone system, features one outdoor unit connected to a single indoor unit, ideal for heating and cooling a specific room or area. Single-zone mini-split systems are typically ductless, meaning they don’t require extensive ductwork, making them easier to install and more aesthetically pleasing. Mitsubishi’s Electric’s single-zone systems, like the Mr. Slim, are known for their energy efficiency.
2. Multi System – One outdoor unit to up to 8 indoor units
Mitsubishi Electric Multi-Split heat pump systems allow you to connect one outdoor unit to up to 8 indoor units, providing flexible and efficient heating and cooling for multiple zones with individual temperature control. A single outdoor unit can serve multiple indoor units, which can be wall-mounted, floor-standing, or even recessed, providing flexibility in installation and aesthetics.
3. Building-wide System – Uses a central outdoor system that would normally be installed on the building’s roof to provide simultaneous heating and cooling.
Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF solutions provide a central solution that allows for precise control of each zone for supreme thermal comfort along with tremendous flexibility and efficiency in various residential and commercial applications.
4. Heating with Water System – Air-to-Water Systems
Mitsubishi Electric also offers various air-to-water heat pump solutions such as Climaveneta Reversible Air-to-Water Heat Pumps for thermal comfort and Ecodan Heat Pump Water Heater for domestic hot water and other applications. Generating hot water as high as 80°C even at temperatures as low as -25°C, tremendously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing towards sustainability targets, compared to any conventional fossil fuel operated systems.
LOW CARBON FUTURE
With aging infrastructure, rising energy costs, and more demand for comfort and sustainability, adoption of heat pump technology in the eMURB sector is critical to address GHG emission reductions and energy efficiency. Heat pump technology provides efficient heating and cooling year-round, significantly reduces energy costs, and aligns with available financial incentives. Switching to heat pumps is one of the smartest investments that will drive long-term energy savings and ensure a low carbon future.
Interested in exploring if a heat pump system is right for your building? Visit www.MitsubishiElectric.ca.
