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Reducing Emissions in Home Heating and AC

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Consultation has concluded

heat pump fan next to outdoor wall of home

Project Update, October 2021: Results of the survey are now available! Click here for more information and to access the survey report .


The City of New Westminster has committed to bold climate action by 2030. In 2019, New Westminster City Council declared a Climate Emergency, which commits the City to reducing GHG emissions across the community in alignment with the targets set out by the International Panel on Climate Change.

To support its climate action objectives, the City is considering undertaking a heat pump pilot program to help make it easier for residents to install heat pumps in their homes. This would help reduce emissions from residential homes in New Westminster.


What’s a heat pump?

A heat pump is part of a heating and cooling system and is installed outside your home. Like an air conditioner, it can cool your home, but it’s also capable of providing heat. In cooler months, a heat pump pulls heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it indoors, and in warmer months, it pulls heat out of indoor air to cool your home. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and transfer heat using refrigerant to provide comfortable indoor temperatures all year round. Because they handle both cooling and heating, homeowners may not need to install separate systems to heat their homes. Heat pumps do not burn fossil fuel like some furnaces do, which also makes them more environmentally friendly.


Aren’t heat pumps only possible / practical for single detached homes?

Heat pumps aren't just for single detached homes. Just like with air conditioners, there are various types of heat pumps out there. You can definitely use a heat pump for heating and cooling in your apartment, townhouse, or condo. If you're a renter, in most cases you will require permission from your landlord / property owner to install a heat pump. Likewise, if you are a townhouse or condo owner you likely require permission from your strata council.


Objective of pilot program

This initiative will trial the effectiveness of a potential heat pump program that will be delivered by the City’s Energy Save New West program and help address barriers to heat pump adoption in our community.


Community Engagement

The City is seeking to develop a deeper understanding of local residents’ perspectives when it comes to home retrofits and climate change, to inform effective implementation of a potential heat pump program. Obtaining a shared understanding of homeowners’ attitudes towards air conditioning will enable us to campaign sensitively and respond to our residents’ needs as we work towards increasing heat pump adoption. Information collected through this engagement will also help inform potential scaling-up of the heat pump pilot over the long run.

A community survey was open from September 1 - 13, 2021. Survey results are now available here.

Project Update, October 2021: Results of the survey are now available! Click here for more information and to access the survey report .


The City of New Westminster has committed to bold climate action by 2030. In 2019, New Westminster City Council declared a Climate Emergency, which commits the City to reducing GHG emissions across the community in alignment with the targets set out by the International Panel on Climate Change.

To support its climate action objectives, the City is considering undertaking a heat pump pilot program to help make it easier for residents to install heat pumps in their homes. This would help reduce emissions from residential homes in New Westminster.


What’s a heat pump?

A heat pump is part of a heating and cooling system and is installed outside your home. Like an air conditioner, it can cool your home, but it’s also capable of providing heat. In cooler months, a heat pump pulls heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it indoors, and in warmer months, it pulls heat out of indoor air to cool your home. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and transfer heat using refrigerant to provide comfortable indoor temperatures all year round. Because they handle both cooling and heating, homeowners may not need to install separate systems to heat their homes. Heat pumps do not burn fossil fuel like some furnaces do, which also makes them more environmentally friendly.


Aren’t heat pumps only possible / practical for single detached homes?

Heat pumps aren't just for single detached homes. Just like with air conditioners, there are various types of heat pumps out there. You can definitely use a heat pump for heating and cooling in your apartment, townhouse, or condo. If you're a renter, in most cases you will require permission from your landlord / property owner to install a heat pump. Likewise, if you are a townhouse or condo owner you likely require permission from your strata council.


Objective of pilot program

This initiative will trial the effectiveness of a potential heat pump program that will be delivered by the City’s Energy Save New West program and help address barriers to heat pump adoption in our community.


Community Engagement

The City is seeking to develop a deeper understanding of local residents’ perspectives when it comes to home retrofits and climate change, to inform effective implementation of a potential heat pump program. Obtaining a shared understanding of homeowners’ attitudes towards air conditioning will enable us to campaign sensitively and respond to our residents’ needs as we work towards increasing heat pump adoption. Information collected through this engagement will also help inform potential scaling-up of the heat pump pilot over the long run.

A community survey was open from September 1 - 13, 2021. Survey results are now available here.

Consultation has concluded

  • What We Heard: Heat Pump Survey

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    The purpose of the Heat Pump Survey was to better understand local residents’ perspectives when it comes to home retrofits and climate change, to inform effective implementation of a potential heat pump program. Obtaining a shared understanding of homeowners’ attitudes towards air conditioning will enable us to campaign sensitively and respond to our residents’ needs as we work towards increasing heat pump adoption. Information collected through this engagement will also help inform potential scaling-up of the heat pump pilot over the long run.

    In total, 182 community members completed the survey, and the high-level results are summarized below.


    General thoughts and perspectives on air conditioning and undertaking home energy efficiency retrofits:

    We heard that the key factors that influenced decision-making as it relates to home improvements, retrofits, or upgrades to improve energy efficiency are: costs/ fitting a budget, improved home comfort, and reduced emissions / concerns over climate change.

    We also heard that the key barriers associated with adding air conditioning and making home retrofits/ upgrades are: concerns about increased energy use and emissions and costs, not being familiar about suitable retrofits that can be completed, and uncertainty about the return on investment or value of the retrofit.

    Overall, a majority of respondents (85%) indicated that they would be interested in learning more about a heat pump pilot program that is anticipated to launch in 2022.


    Click here to access the survey response report.

    This survey was available at beheardnewwest.ca from September 1st to September 13th, 2021. It is noted that the sample may not be fully representative of the general population given the existing interests of participants in heat pumps.