According to the City of Toronto the largest source of emissions in the city is from fossil gas heating in residential buildings (29% of Toronto’s total community-wide emissions). The same source suggests passenger vehicle contributions are 20% lower.
If this is the case, why are we so fixated with replacing our gasoline cars with EV alternatives and not uprating aging gas HVAC systems? Why are we so keen on replacing gasoline cars but not fossil fuel boilers?
Because EVs are much more sexy and HVAC systems are boring!
How are our neighbours going to appreciate our commitment to the environment if they can't see the changes? Where are the clubs for like-minded heat-pump enthusiasts to sit around evangelising about electricity over gas? We will appreciate our changes to improve the world, but how will this be shared with everyone else? Will we get the same warm and fuzzy feeling from washing our hands at home, as we will driving to the store in public?
In Canada the uplift in cost between a new gas-powered car and a new EV is around 25%. Not dissimilar to the difference between a fossil-fueled boiler and a modern heat-pump, with an 25-30% increase to be more environmentally friendly. Both need replacement after around 10-15 years (cars and HVAC). Though the investment/differential in actual cost to buy a 'boring' electric HVAC system is significantly less than the premium to show our environmental considerations with a new sexy EV. We use hot water, heating or air-conditioning multiple times everyday. We will see the reduction in initial investment, actual cost savings and reduce our real impact on the environment much more quickly updating to electricity from a gas-guzzling boiler than with a gasoline car.
Maybe with the recent tariff increases from our friends south of the border, now is the time to start looking towards making environmental improvements to our houses? Cheaper, more effective and longer lasting! Even if a little boring...
Of course we could consider a cheaper EV and a new HVAC system, doubling our positive impact, whilst still gaining all the prestige. Then again, if living in downtown Toronto, we should probably consider ditching our car all together, but that is a whole different argument.
