Canada needs more affordable homes—fast. The federal government is developing a new agency to accelerate construction across the country. Its Build Canada Homes program will be mandated to “build affordable homes, support builders with financing, and encourage better building methods.” We love this direction—especially when Toronto and Vancouver rank among the most expensive housing markets in the world.
A simple way to cut costs and pollution: require heat pumps
One straightforward step the Carney government can take is to require that all homes funded through Build Canada Homes use heat pumps instead of conventional fossil-fuel heating. Making heat pumps a condition of funding would deliver multiple benefits:
- Grow Canadian jobs & lower prices: A clear requirement would create strong demand for this energy-efficient technology, driving down costs and opening manufacturing opportunities in Canada.
- Reduce construction costs: New homes wouldn’t need gas pipelines and services, cutting upfront building costs.
- Lower monthly bills: Heat pumps reduce operating costs over the life of the equipment—especially if we end fossil fuel subsidies and build out our full solar and wind potential.
- Reduce Ontario’s dependence on U.S. gas for home heating.
- Slash climate pollution: New homes would have a much smaller climate impact from day one.
For a Prime Minister who promises to be a champion for climate action, this is a win-win: comfortable, energy-efficient homes with lower climate impacts thanks to heat pump adoption.
No home created under the Build Canada program should be a throwback to the dinosaur age of heating with polluting gas or dirty fuel oil.
Heat pumps work—winter and summer
Heat pump technology is taking off around the world (even in the United States) and can keep homes warm through Canadian winters. They’re also super-efficient at cooling, which matters as extreme heat becomes a growing health threat. No new home should be built without adequate summer cooling.
Take action
Tell Prime Minister Carney and Housing Minister Robertson: Heat pumps are a must for Build Canada Homes.
P.S. Join our webinar on Sept. 17 about Lambton’s – and Ontario’s – Electricity Future: More American Gas? or Wind, Solar & Storage? Register here.