Thinking about a heat pump?
Got questions?

Why are heat pumps all the rage right now?

Heat Pumps are the fastest-growing technology for home heating and cooling in Canada. This technology can help homeowners save money, reduce fossil fuel use, and increase resilience to extreme weather events. 

In October 2026, the Government of Canada announced $2 billion in funding to support homeowners who install heat pumps.

But homeowners have questions…

• Will a heat pump work in cold weather? Will it keep me warm in January in Ontario?
  • Yes. Today’s cold-climate heat pumps are specially designed to keep homes warm in cold weather even at minus twenty degrees Celsius or lower.
• Can a heat pump provide both heating and cooling?
  • Yes, a heat pump works in the same way an air conditioner or freezer works. The bonus is that a heat pump can switch directions depending on the season to either pump heat in or out of your house.
• What will a heat pump cost and how can I get help to cover that cost?
  • Heat pumps range in price from around $6,000 for a single ductless unit to $15,000 or more for a cold climate ducted unit. A Registered Energy Advisor can help find low-interest loans and rebate programs you may qualify for.
• How do I make sure I get a heat pump that’s right for my home?
  • A qualified Registered Energy Advisor can help. They are focused on home comfort and energy savings, and finding you the most rebates, not selling you products. GCC is also training our Energy Advisors to offer a specialized Heat Pump Right-sizing Service with our home energy assessments to help ensure you get a heat pump unit that is appropriate for your specific home.
• What will the heating and cooling feel and sound like?
  • Heat pumps tend to be quieter than most air conditioners and gas furnaces. The heating and cooling feel comfortable and consistent. Unlike the on/off cycles of fossil gas furnaces, heat pumps maintain the set indoor temperature with constant and consistent heating and cooling.
• Can I hear from other homeowners who have gone through this?
  • Yes, case studies from homeowners across Canada are available here. Heat Pump Week events also feature homeowner experiences and recordings of past events are available.
• Furnaces often die in the middle of winter. How can I be prepared to switch to a heat pump when it’s minus 20 degrees outside?
  • If your furnace or air conditioner is nearing end of life, it’s time to make a plan. A Registered Energy Advisor can assess your home’s needs and help you make a retrofit plan in order to avoid locking into a gas furnace for another 10 to 20 years.

List of 2026 Heat Pump Week events and resources

Heat Pump Week features free resources as well as free online and in-person events that connect homeowners across Ontario with locally-based Energy Advisors.

• Heat Pumps 101 – Tuesday, Oct. 13, 12-1 p.m. (free, online) – Hosted by GreenUP
• Heat Pumps in your Neighbourhood – Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12-1 p.m. (free, online) – Hosted by GreenUP
• Funding Your Heat Pump – Thursday, Oct. 15, 12-1 p.m. (free, online) – Hosted by GreenUP
• Canadian Energy + Heat Pumps: most Ontario gas comes from the USA but heat pumps use made-in-Ontario energy. – Wednesday, October 28, 6:30-7:30pm (free, online) – Hosted by Toronto Home Energy Network
• Heat Pump Contractor Meet & Greet – Friday, Oct.16, 4-6 p.m. (free, in-person at the GreenUP office 378 Aylmer St N, Peterborough)
• Exploring the Advantages of Heat Pumps – Recording of Webinar from Durham Greener Homes and Windfall Centre.
• Let’s Talk about Heat Pumps – Recording of Webinar from Reep Green Solutions
• A Buyer’s Guide to Heat Pumps with Jim Feilders –  Webinar recording from Green Venture Hamilton – Watch here

Why trust Green Communities Canada and our Energy Advisor network?

As the longest-serving licensed EnerGuide Rating provider in Canada, Green Communities Canada (GCC) has been a trusted source of advice and advocacy for Home Energy Solutions for over 30 years. GCC is a non-profit charity and does not sell renovations or home heating or cooling appliances. GCC’s energy advisors are based in communities across Ontario and many of them work for locally-based non-profit charities.

What is Heat Pump Week?

Green Communities Canada launched Heat Pump Week in 2026 because we recognized that homeowners have questions about heat pumps and that there are a lot of confusing myths and misinformation circulating about heat pumps.

The driving motivation behind GCC’s Home Energy Solutions network is to support each homeowner so they have what they need to make an informed and effective decision for their own home.

Heat Pump Week occurs in mid-October each year and features free events, including online introductions to heat pumps, virtual tours of heat pumps in action, case studies from homeowners who have transitioned to heat pumps, informative sessions about funding options, and locally-based in-person meet and greets with energy advisors and contractors.

Heat pumps play a crucial role in both cutting fossil fuels and improving resilience in the face of extreme weather. Canada is moving towards net zero emissions by 2050. Communities across the country must also build resilience in the face of a climate that is already changing with more frequent and severe weather events. The building sector as a whole is responsible for roughly 18 per cent of Canada’s fossil fuel emissions, and heating accounts for more than half of that.  

Learn more about how organizations within our network are participating below.