Heiltsuk Heat Pump Retrofit Project – Central Air Systems Pilot

The Heiltsuk First Nation will run a pilot to replace diesel furnaces with central air-source heat pumps in 62 homes. Heiltsuk is located on the remote island community of Bella Bella on the Central Coast of British Columbia. Most of the community’s 411 homes use diesel heating systems. Given that fuel needs to be shipped from the mainland, this is both expensive for homeowners, and a significant source of local pollution. Bella Bella is also already connected to the Ocean Falls Hydroelectric Dam, which is currently running below full capacity. These factors make home heating electrification a clear benefit to the community.

In 2018, a pilot program paid to fully retrofit 38 community homes, replacing diesel furnaces with high-efficiency ductless heat pumps. While the majority of participants reported that they were happy with their new heat pumps, some raised concerns about uneven heat distribution throughout their homes. For this reason, the community would like to test ducted central air-source heat pumps on an additional 62 homes, before selecting a model for the remaining homes. At the end of the pilot, the team will produce a final project implementation report, including a participant survey and utility bill review. The report will be presented to the Chief, the Council, and the community at large.

This pilot project is linked to the Heiltsuk First Nation’s land use plan, its community energy plan, and the Haíɫcístut Incremental House Post Agreement with the governments of British Columbia and Canada, which supports the reconciliation process with a focus on community well-being.

Innovative aspect(s): This will be the first pilot on the BC coast to install central air-source heating systems at scale. The electricity load demand on the hydroelectric micro-grid will be monitored, as central air-source heat pumps have comparatively higher starting currents than ductless heat pumps.

Replicability: The pilot will serve as a blueprint for other coastal First Nation communities in BC in terms of funding generation, accessing provincial incentives, selecting appropriate technologies, and community capacity building.

Environmental benefits

• Retrofitting 62 homes is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 335 tCO2e/year, with anticipated lifetime savings of 5025 tCO2e
• The retrofits will result in energy consumption savings of 3,596 GJ/year
• Each heat pump installation is expected to eliminate the need for 2,033 litres of diesel fuel annually, resulting in less fuel being shipped and potentially spilled

Economic benefits

• Homeowners are expected to save $1,658 in annual heating costs
• The community’s remote status means that diesel purchasing takes money out of the community--the pilot will stimulate the local economy by keeping money in Bella Bella.

Social benefits

• Local training and skills development in the areas of diesel furnace removal, heat pump installations, ongoing system maintenance and energy efficiency
• Improved air quality and home comfort
• Lack of housing is a major concern for the community. Ensuring that existing housing remains healthy and livable is critical to eventually increasing housing stock