In the realm of heating homes, heat pumps have been a subject of debate, especially in colder climates.

However, a recent study from the University of Oxford, published in the scientific journal Joule, has debunked many doubts surrounding their efficiency.

Heat pumps operate by extracting heat from the external air, and the concern arises when temperatures drop significantly. The question lingers: If heat pumps have to work harder in colder conditions, are they genuinely more effective than alternative heating methods?

The study reveals that, even in challenging sub-zero temperatures ranging from 10 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees Celsius, heat pumps prove to be two to three times more efficient than their oil and gas counterparts. This contradicts the misconception that their efficiency diminishes to a point where they become impractical.

Duncan Gibb, a senior adviser at the Regulatory Assistance Project, emphasizes that, despite the increased effort required in sub-zero conditions, heat pumps remain more efficient than other conventional heating methods.

The natural gas and fossil fuel industries in Europe and Canada have attempted to undermine heat pumps by highlighting reduced efficiency in cold weather. Gibb dismisses this argument, asserting that the efficiency of heat pumps has not declined to the point of being impractical.

Drawing data from studies in Europe and North America, the research demonstrates that standard heat pumps are two to three times more efficient than their counterparts at temperatures typically reaching minus 10 degrees Celsius. Even in harsher climates at minus 30 degrees Celsius, cold-climate heat pumps exhibit 1.5 to twice the efficiency.

Gibb urges people in colder regions not to discount heat pumps as a viable heating option, a sentiment echoed for governments at federal and provincial levels when considering which heating forms to promote.

The study's findings, graphically represented in a chart, illustrate the efficiency of heat pumps across varying outdoor temperatures. Heat pumps, functioning as both heaters in winter and air conditioners in summer, are gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to natural gas and oil heating systems.

While fossil fuel-based systems can achieve up to 98% efficiency, heat pumps surpass them with efficiency ranging from 200% to 540%. By transferring heat instead of generating it, heat pumps consume less electricity and contribute to emission reduction, aligning with Canada's net-zero building sector and emissions goals.

The cleanliness of energy sources for heat pumps, like electric heating, varies by location. Whether derived from hydropower in British Columbia or a mix of natural gas and coal in Nova Scotia, the overall energy consumption of heat pumps remains lower than traditional heating methods, making them a more sustainable choice for the planet.

Amidst debates on the effectiveness of heat pumps in cold climates, the University of Oxford's recent study, published in Joule, brings clarity.

Dispelling doubts, the research demonstrates that heat pumps exhibit remarkable efficiency, proving two to three times more effective than oil and gas alternatives at temperatures ranging from 10 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Duncan Gibb of the Regulatory Assistance Project underscores that, despite increased effort in sub-zero conditions, heat pumps remain superior.

With data from Europe and North America, the study advocates for embracing heat pumps in colder regions, challenging preconceptions, and supporting sustainable heating choices for a greener future.