Why Natural Gas Heating Bans are Growing Across Canada
Across Canada residential space and water heating represents 85% of residential greenhouse emissions. There is a growing push towards electric heating within households with the goal to cut CO2 emissions. To help achieve that goal, Canadian cities and provinces are creating new construction regulations that prohibit the use of natural gas heating within buildings.
Currently Vancouver and Quebec are the front runners for attempting to eliminate fossil fuel heating. In Vancouver, Starting Jan. 1st, 2022, all new low-rise residential buildings with space and water heating equipment must emit zero emissions. By 2025, all new replacement heating/hot water systems must be zero emissions. While in Quebec, in 2021 all oil powered heating has been banned for new construction projects, and after 2023 it will be illegal to replace any existing furnaces with natural gas-powered systems.
What will replace natural gas heating?
In most homes the goal will be to replace natural gas heating with electric heating. This will include technology like baseboard heaters and electric furnaces. Those heating methods are less efficient than gas heaters, but they produce zero carbon emissions. There are also alternatives like heat pumps which are more efficient.
With the move towards electric heating, electricity usage will go up and so will the total hydro costs. To help reduce electricity costs and reduce your carbon footprint wind energy generation is a great renewable source to take advantage of because there is no finite amount of wind. Borrum Energy Solutions leverages wind to create a renewable and steady source of energy for homeowners.
Sources Used:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bans-fossil-fuel-heating-homes-1.6327113
