Most of us think of our homes as safe, cosy refuges. We don’t think of our homes as polluters, emitting methane (the primary component of “natural” gas), carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases, which are toxic to both our health and our climate. What’s more, fossil fuel use in residential buildings is the single largest contributor (58%) to our city’s greenhouse gas emissions, and of those, 56% are from the residential sector, the majority of them from single family homes. This is why the city’s Net Zero Strategy has a goal to reduce emissions from homes and buildings by 50% by 2030.
On the other hand, there’s a lot to look forward to when you make green improvements on your home. Energy efficient, gas-free homes are not only healthier for you and your family, but also more comfortable – cold areas and drafts are eliminated and insulation and window upgrades reduce outside noise. And heating and cooling with electricity using efficient, cold-climate electric heat pumps need not cost more than heating with gas and will save you money as the cost of gas continues to increase over the coming years.