With the global push for more sustainability in the face of climate issues, heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular way to heat a home.

Heat pumps work by forcing heat to move from one space to another, they use the physics of pressure differences and the transitions between a liquid and gas state.

Professional Engineer Matt Dipple says that there is a common misconception that heat pumps do not work in Saskatchewan.

“Radiance Co-Housing in Saskatoon is heated and cooled using heat pumps. Cumberland House Band Office, which is pretty far up north and a greenhouse Montreal Lake which is even farther north in Saskatchewan. We’ve used heat pumps in lots of places.”

Dipple does add that while heat pumps are possible to have in Saskatchewan, homes with air-source heat pumps will likely need a backup system.

While heat pumps are generally more environmentally stable that other forms of heating, Dipple says that the environmental sustainability of heat pumps is dependent on what the power source of the user’s home is.

“If you’ve got solar panels, then yes, you’ll be saving emissions versus natural gas. If you don’t, if you’re just using Sask Energy’s grid power, then it will not save any emissions. That’s because the grid still has enough coal on it that it will be dirtier than burning natural gas.”

He adds that with the phasing out of coal power, heat pumps will become more sustainable in the province.

Heat pumps currently cost around $14,000 to install into a home. Dipple says that whether or not a heat pump will save money in the long term depends on many factors.

“Maybe you don’t actually care if your heat pump costs you 3 and a half times what your natural gas costs you, and you’re paying 30 or 40 bucks instead of 8 bucks a month, maybe it’s no big deal. If you’ve got a very inefficient house, a pre 1980’s home, maybe you’re spending 150 a month, you certainly wouldn’t want to see that go up to 300 or 400 dollars a month.”

Dipple adds that a home with a heat pump that does not rely on natural gas will save money in the long run.