Nith Valley EcoBoosters hosting heat-pump information session in Baden

By Galen Simmons

As interest in heat pumps continues to grow across Ontario, a local environmental group is hoping to help residents better understand the technology and whether it could work for their homes.

Nith Valley EcoBoosters, in partnership with Get Pumped Waterloo Region, is hosting a Get Pumped information session May 26 at the Wilmot Recreation Complex in Baden. The event will feature local experts discussing how heat pumps work, what homeowners should know before purchasing one and how the systems can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“There’s a growing interest in heat pumps, but we’re finding a lot of people really don’t understand or are confused by heat pumps,” said event co-organizer Dean Peachey of Nith Valley EcoBoosters. “Some people are being told by their HVAC person, ‘Oh, you can’t do that. You have to have a furnace backup.’ So there just seems to be a lot of poor information and confusion out there.”

Peachey said he and his wife installed a heat pump in their home three years ago and have been happy with the results, even without a backup furnace. The event’s speaker lineup is designed to provide homeowners with several perspectives on the technology.

Jim Bolger of Waterloo Energy Products will speak from the perspective of an experienced HVAC installer who has worked with heat pumps in Waterloo Region for many years.

Andrew Schiedel of Reep Green Solutions in Kitchener will discuss home-energy assessments and the types of questions homeowners should ask before replacing heating or cooling systems.

Diane Stanley-Horn, founder of the website, Get Pumped Waterloo Region, will share a homeowner’s perspective after researching and installing a heat pump herself. In a media release promoting the event, Stanley-Horn said the transition to cleaner home heating and cooling systems can feel overwhelming for homeowners.

“The process for a homeowner can be complicated and confusing,” Stanley-Horn said. “I wanted to create a resource that helps homeowners navigate the process and hear from other homeowners about their experiences.”

Peachey said one of the key messages organizers hope attendees take away is the importance of planning ahead instead of waiting until a furnace or air conditioner fails unexpectedly.

“Let’s not wait until our furnace dies in the middle of winter or the air conditioner quits during a heat wave,” Peachey said. “Plan ahead, give yourself time to get a couple of quotes and see what the options are.”

From an environmental perspective, Peachey said heat pumps represent one of the easier ways homeowners can reduce fossil-fuel use.

“We all need to find ways to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” he said. “This is probably one of the easiest things that most people who own their own homes can do.”

The Get Pumped event will take place Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Wilmot Recreation Complex, 1291 Nafziger Rd. in Baden. Organizers encourage advance registration at nvecoboosters.com to help ensure enough seating and refreshments are available.