Ontario Launches Clean Home Heating Initiative in Niagara

St. Catharines – The Ontario government is providing up to $4.5 million through the Clean Home Heating Initiative to bring hybrid heating to up to 1,000 households in St. Catharines, London, Peterborough and Sault Ste. Marie. The Clean Home Heating Initiative will support the installation of electric heat pumps with smart controls by providing homeowners with incentives of up to $4,500.

“Switching to hybrid heating could save homeowners up to $80 dollars every year on energy bills – an annual savings that would increase over time – and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as thirty percent,” said Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy.

“Investing in these types of transformative energy models is how we are building a pathway to a clean energy future that will protect the environment and keep costs down, all while creating new high-quality jobs across the province.”

The Clean Home Heating Initiative, in collaboration with Enbridge, will allow households to leverage Ontario’s world-class clean electricity grid, which is more than ninety percent emissions free. Electric heat pumps replace existing air conditioners in the summer, but can also operate in reverse in cooler seasons to provide home heating. With the addition of smart controls, a hybrid heating system automatically switches to a home’s existing natural gas furnace depending on weather and which source is least expensive.

“The Clean Home Heating Initiative is another example of how our government is working to cut real costs for working families across Niagara,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“This initiative will help reduce energy use and save money by making heat pumps accessible to more families in St. Catharines. I would like to thank Minister Smith, the City of St. Catharines and Enbridge for partnering together on this project that will leverage Ontario’s world class clean electricity grid.”

“The Clean Home Heating Initiative is a great opportunity for homeowners to do their part to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy conservation, and address the impacts of climate change,” said Walter Sendzik, Mayor of the City of St. Catharines.

“Thank you to Minister Smith, Premier Ford and the provincial government, as well as the partners at Enbridge, for providing opportunities to invest in more affordable energy efficient solutions that assist in carbon reduction.”

The Clean Home Heating Initiative will also support Ontario’s economy by creating well-paying jobs and building capacity in the skilled trades, including the province’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry, and local Ontario-based suppliers. This initiative will also advance Ontario’s market readiness to offer clean heating options, while the government learns from the hybrid heating model to inform decisions regarding offering the model more broadly in the future.

“A hybrid heating system can reduce a home’s greenhouse gas emissions by as much as thirty percent per year while increasing the flexibility and reliability of its heating system,” said Sarah Van Der Paelt, Director of Marketing and Energy Conservation at Enbridge Gas.

“We appreciate the support from the provincial government, the four participating cities and the electricity sector for supporting this program and its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures. Together, we are working towards a cleaner energy future.”