60.1%
Canada’s residential energy used for space heating
2021 national secondary-energy data. An energy-use share, not a share of your bill or a BC-specific household estimate.
Natural Resources Canada
Green Air / Building science
About the Science
A home is one connected system. Heat, air and moisture move between rooms, through walls and across seasons.
Home systems / Seasonal study
Cold-weather scenario
Illustrative home · Not a site assessmentDashed paths: heat transfer
For consideration purposes only: this interactive illustration shows how home systems can work together. It does not assess your home, diagnose problems or predict energy use.
01 / The numbers, in contextGreen Air · British Columbia
3 : 1
Heat delivered to electricity consumed at COP 3
An illustrative operating point: 3 kWh of heat for 1 kWh of electricity. Performance changes with temperature and system conditions.
Natural Resources Canada49.6°C
Lytton, BC · June 29, 2021
Canada’s record temperature during the 2021 heat event. An extreme event, not a normal summer design temperature for every BC home.
Environment and Climate Change CanadaEnergy balance / Heating mode
Move more heat.
Use less electricity.
COP is the heat delivered divided by electricity consumed at a given operating condition. A COP of 3 means three units of heat delivered for each unit of electricity. It is not a seasonal rating.
Illustrative calculation, not predicted savings. Actual COP varies with outdoor temperature, equipment, defrost and installation. Costs also depend on tariffs and the fuel being replaced.
4.0kWh
Electricity in
8.0kWh
Heat from outside
12kWh
Heat delivered
02 / The physics of comfortGreen Air · British Columbia
Four processes.
One connected home.
Conduction
Heat travels through materials.
Insulation slows heat flow through roofs, walls and floors. Thermal bridges—such as framing and poorly detailed junctions—can bypass insulation and create cold surfaces.
Air movement
Air carries heat and moisture.
Leakage is uncontrolled; ventilation is planned. Sealing leaks and providing appropriate air exchange must be considered together, especially around combustion appliances.
Radiation
Sunlight changes a room’s load.
Window orientation, glazing and exterior shading affect summer heat gain. Comfort also depends on surrounding surface temperatures, not just the thermostat’s air reading.
Phase change
Refrigerant absorbs and releases heat.
A heat pump uses a refrigerant cycle to transfer heat. Reversing the cycle provides cooling. Outdoor air still contains thermal energy in winter, but capacity and COP vary as it gets colder.
03 / British Columbia / Place mattersGreen Air · British Columbia
Built for here.
Not for an average.
A wet coastal winter is not an interior cold snap. A shaded ground-floor suite is not a west-facing upper floor. Equipment selection needs to reflect the home, the local climate and the people living there.
BC’s 2021 heat event made the consequences of overheating unmistakable. A complete comfort plan considers summer protection alongside winter heating, rain control and air quality.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Cold & frost
Design capacity at the conditions that matter.
- Use room-by-room heat-loss calculations and local winter design conditions.
- Review low-temperature capacity, backup heating and defrost—not just a headline rating.
- Allow outdoor-unit clearance, snow protection and safe defrost drainage.
Heat & overheating
Reduce solar gain. Plan reliable cooling.
- Prioritize exterior shading and assess west-facing glazing and upper floors.
- Size cooling for the actual home; oversized systems can short-cycle.
- Plan access to cooler spaces for older adults and others vulnerable to heat.
Rain & moisture
Keep bulk water out. Remove moisture at its source.
- Inspect roofing, flashing, gutters and drainage when diagnosing dampness.
- Vent bathroom and kitchen exhaust outdoors, never into an attic.
- Investigate leaks and recurring condensation; heat alone is not moisture removal.
Wildfire smoke
Filtration is a separate part of the comfort plan.
- Choose a portable air cleaner sized for the room; avoid ozone-producing devices.
- Use the best filter compatible with your HVAC equipment and required airflow.
- Follow health advisories on windows and outdoor-air intake; filtration does not eliminate all risk.
04 / A brief historyGreen Air · British Columbia
Old physics. Better possibilities.
1834
The refrigeration foundation
Jacob Perkins patented a vapour-compression refrigeration cycle. The same core principle underlies much of today’s refrigeration, air conditioning and heat-pump technology.
ASHRAE1852
Heat as something to move
William Thomson, later Lord Kelvin, described the principle of using a heat pump for building heating. The idea predates modern residential equipment by well over a century.
Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in ScotlandToday
A whole-home approach
Variable-capacity equipment, cold-climate designs and better building envelopes make integration central. The right system is selected for local conditions, then installed and commissioned carefully.
Natural Resources Canada05 / Evidence & next stepsGreen Air · British Columbia
Facts before forecasts.
National energy statistics and historical extremes provide context, not a forecast for your property. The home diagram is educational: it does not simulate room temperatures, air quality or savings. The energy balance follows heat delivered ÷ COP; it does not include tariffs, auxiliary loads or seasonal weather.
For an actual upgrade, assess the envelope, room loads, ductwork, electrical supply, ventilation and drainage. Ask for equipment capacity at local design temperatures and a commissioning plan.
Discuss your homeExploration references: the DOE interactive home tour and ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick. This page does not apply their US benchmarks to BC homes.
01Heating and cooling with a heat pumpNatural Resources Canada02Residential energy use, Canada, 2021Natural Resources Canada03Canada’s top weather stories of 2021Environment and Climate Change Canada04Indoor air quality: mould and biological contaminantsHealthLink BC05Indoor air filtration during wildfiresUS Environmental Protection Agency06Air conditioning and refrigeration timelineASHRAE07The history of heat pumps — Dave PearsonInstitution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland08Cold-climate heat pump performance assessmentNatural Resources Canada
A better climate starts at home
Comfort, inspired by nature.
Planning a new system? Start with a free installation estimate. For a repair, contact our team to discuss a diagnostic visit.