Description
As space and water heating systems fueled by natural gas reach their end of life, they must be replaced with highly efficient, low carbon alternatives such as electric heat pumps. By 2030, 20% of homes will be using electric heat pumps for water and space heating. By 2050, this will rise to 85% of homes.
This action will be led by building owners with support from community capacity building organizations such as Reep Green Solutions.
REEP GREEN SOLUTIONS
Reep’s trained staff and registered energy advisors are assisting homeowners in choosing upgrades that will increase home comfort, save energy costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including switching their home's heating and water heating off of fossil fuels.
Since 2020, Reep has helped homeowners install 2,903 energy efficiency upgrades, including 110 solar panel installations.
CITY OF KITCHENER
Approximately 220 Kitchener Utility customers switched from natural gas to electric water heaters in the last year.
The downtown Kitchener district energy feasibility study is progressing. The project would significantly decrease emissions from both existing and new buildings and provide a long-term path to decarbonization for system customers without individual building-level changes being required.
Additionally, The City of Kitchener is undertaking a social housing retrofit pilot with Kitchener Housing Inc.; other partners include Region of Waterloo and WRCommunity Energy.
TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH
In 2022 and 2023, the Township of Woolwich provided educational opportunities to Woolwich residents about heat pumps and switching to net zero in your home through Woolwich Climate Action Events.