1898 home with a hybrid heat pump

Our old place in Hamilton taught us a lot about going green. Instead of choosing a regular air conditioner, we decided to try something different - a central heat pump that used our existing gas furnace as backup. Some folks call it a hybrid system.

What's great about this heat pump is that it worked just like an air conditioner in the summer, but also took care of heating during the winter. The gas furnace only came into play during the coldest months. This meant that we ended up using a lot less gas - our usage dropped by more than 60%. And the best part? Our greenhouse gas emissions dropped by a similar amount.

I remember sitting down to do the math in early 2022. Yes, our running costs did increase by about 7%, but guess what? Gas prices have been going up like crazy ever since. Plus, the comfort in our house totally leveled up. We said goodbye to our struggling window ACs and hello to a heat pump that could cool the whole place with ease.

But there's more. After moving to another house in the lower part of the city, we're now planning to go completely off natural gas. Why, you ask? Because the benefits of going green are hard to ignore - lower emissions, cost savings in the long run, and a more comfortable living environment.

Right now, I'm in the thick of getting energy audits, collecting quotes, and applying for grants and loans to help with the costs. It's a bit of work, but if you're looking to make a difference in your own way, this could be a route worth considering.

Here are the more detailed numbers about the first year of the heat pump at our previous house: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17948767996962651/