Heat pump technology is becoming an increasingly common option for heating and cooling in Ontario buildings. As buildings consider or implement heat pumps, the intersection with submetering raises practical questions for property managers and developers.
Heat pumps use electricity to move heat, providing both heating and cooling from a single system. In multi-residential buildings, heat pumps may be installed as individual units serving each suite, central systems serving the entire building, or a combination of both approaches.
When individual suite heat pumps are used, submetering captures the electricity consumed by each unit's heat pump along with their other in-suite loads. This means each resident's heating and cooling costs are reflected in their electricity bill based on actual use.
This is a significant change from buildings with central heating systems, where heating costs are typically shared through common expenses or rent regardless of individual usage. With individual heat pumps and submetering, residents who maintain moderate temperature settings will see lower costs than those who heat or cool aggressively.
For property managers planning building electrification (transitioning from gas heating to electric heat pumps), understanding the impact on in-suite electricity consumption is important. Heat pumps will increase individual suite electricity use, particularly in winter. Submetering ensures this cost increase is borne by the resident rather than absorbed into building operating costs.
When designing new buildings with heat pumps, ensure the metering infrastructure is planned alongside the HVAC design. Heat pump circuits should be included in the submetered loads so that each resident's full electricity consumption is captured.
Ontario's evolving energy landscape, including potential future carbon pricing adjustments and clean energy incentives, may further influence the economics of heat pump electrification. Submetering data provides the granular consumption information needed to evaluate and optimize these systems over time.