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An energy / environment issue with numerous angles for news stories
People would be more likely to reduce their consumption of secondary energy (and lower their emission of carbon) if energy nomenclature were standardized. If Btu + m3 + bbl + calorie + HP were measured in kWh / kW (it should be metric, but few people understand ‘joule’), it would allow people to compare between various supply options and would accelerate the trend to electrification. When possible, energy measures should be expressed as million / billion kWh (not MWh-TWh-GWh) so people can understand the magnitude & the implications of the amount. The same for carbon emissions, where '1 billion kg' has more impact on people than '1 Mt'. All production & consumption of secondary energy (and resulting carbon emissions) should be quantified to stem the growing use of greenwashing. Companies claim to be ‘netzero’ but rarely provide data to verify that statement, and individuals should be required to justify their claims too. Canada’s 15 million households in 2022 consumed 327 billion kWh for space heating, water heating & space cooling (NRCan), while the commercial sector consumed 220 b-kWh (NRCan). The annual GHG emissions from these three thermal end uses was 34 billion kg & 36 b-kg respectively.
For context, Canada generated 625 b-kWh of electricity in 2025, 343 b-kWh from hydro turbines, 50 b-kWh from wind turbines, 6 b-kWh from solar panels (Statistics Canada). Passenger transportation in 2022 consumed 337 b-kWh & emitted 85 b-kg (NRCan).
Many people (including industry practitioners) say heat pumps "transfer" heat from the ground or air into a building. Schematics show up to eight electro-mechanical phases are needed for the process, which means the verb "produce" is more accurate. This word facilitates understanding of the process and allows quantification of the thermal output produced by the system, including the delivery of renewable energy & the consumption of grid electricity needed for its operation.
The average household in Canada would produce 21,307 kWh of renewable energy with a heat pump, but would consume 5,918 kWh (max) for operating power plus 5,094 kWh for lights & appliances, so its production:consumption ratio would be 2:1 ... netzeroPLUS. That house would also lower its carbon emissions by 3,148 kg per year thanks to the heat pump.
If all residential & commercial buildings in Canada had used heat pumps for thermal end uses in 2022, they would have produced 547 b-kWh of renewable energy (they would need 140 b-kWh of grid power to operate all the systems) and woud have reduced GHG emissions by 71 b-kg.
Government reports do not quantify the thermal renewable energy produced by heat pumps. NRCan estimates almost 1 million heat pumps are now in operation, which would be producing 20 b-kWh of dispatchable (no battery required) renewable energy & reducing carbon emissions by 3 b-kg per year. These data could be added to Canada’s UN climate commitments. Measurement of the thermal energy production from heat pumps would allow an end to price-skewing installation grants (good for industry by increasing awareness, but the retail price usually rises by a large amount), it would provide incentives to maximize efficiency (keep filters clean, etc), it would discourge owners from purchasing operating electricity from the grid during peak TOU periods, and it would allow for incentives such as a PTC that is given to production from wind & solar.
The cost to install a heat pump (ground source or air source) is lowest if done during construction of a building, before landscaping. If legislation required new buildings to install heat pumps, there would be no need to expand gas pipelines to service new homes. The federal government has installed 23 km of boreholes for a heat pump to serve Parliament Hill, but has released no details. Our Access to Information request has been delayed for six months because officials say it requires a large number of records & consultations with other parties, to obtain energy data that is integral to the project.
These story angles are suggested as ways to underscore the potential role of the individual in energy use & carbon emissions, which is a key factor in the energy & climate challenge. These ideas are provided in the hope that mainstream media outlets will see a potential story angle in many of the points. For further information, contact NetZeroPLUS Canada at info@netzeroPLUS.ca or 613-663-5200 Further information is available on these internet sites: It's Time to Sweat the Big Stuff Ground Source Heat Pump uses our earth to save our earth Common Misperceptions of a Heat Pump Advocates of Renewable Energy: Be Careful What We Promise Renewables ... more than just wind & solar Heating & Cooling with a Heat Pump |