A heat pump is an energy-efficient alternative to other types of home heating systems, such as a natural gas furnace or electric baseboards. Plus, a heat pump can provide both efficient heating and cooling to help keep your home comfortable year round!
A heat pump uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. In the winter, a heat pump transfers heat from the outside air to indoors through a cycle of compression and expansion of a refrigerant. In the summer, it operates in reverse and transfers heat from inside your home to outdoors, like an air conditioner.
A heat pump has two major parts: an outdoor unit that transfers air to and from the outdoors and one or more indoor units that move air through your home.
- more efficient technology:
- up to 300X more efficient than electric baseboards
- up to 50% more efficient than a typical window air conditioner unit
- reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- reduced environmental impact
- more efficient technology:
Is your home's natural gas system ready for replacement? Are you considering making the switch to a cleaner, more efficient alternative?
Several rebate types include a top-up from the City of Kamloops for eligible Kamloops residents.
Click here for more information on available rebates and how to apply.
Heat Pump Industry Training Resources
These courses aim to develop and improve the skills necessary for the shift towards building electrification. These focus on best practices for heat pump installation, consumer satisfaction, and energy efficient homes. Contractors can register and learn more by clicking on the course names below, or download a resource sheet here. (Date last updated March 2022).
COURSE NAME INSTITUTE* COST LEARNING OBJECTIVES DETAILS Heat Pump Installer Training
CourseBC Hydro
Powersmart
FortisBCFree for PRC or HPCN - Gain the skills to install indoor and outdoor heat pump units in a safe and effective manner, including some common residential insulation products
- Building science principles and best practices for heat pumps
- Online
- 7 modules
Basic Understanding of a
Passive House BuildingPHC $50.00 - Gain a basic understanding of the core principles of Passive House design standards
and meeting provincial energy efficiency regulations
- Online
- Self-paced
- 5 hours
BC Energy Step Code for
Builders and Energy AdvisorsCHBA-BC $499.00 - Understand the BC Energy Step Code specifications
- Identify performance metrics, administrative steps, and design considerations required when building a Step Code compliant home
- Online
- Self-paced
- 5 hours
Energy Management
ProfessionalCIET $595.00–$695.00 - Cover technical matters of energy consuming systems and opportunities for energy savings
- Discuss central elements for energy efficiency, and how to set and reach efficiency goals
- Online
- 3 days
Municipal Heat Pump
Certification (Hydronic)TECA $795.00–$975.00 - Cover various heat pump designs involving air-to-air or water-to-water heat pumps
- Learn to properly size and operate heat pumps and use them in a hydronic heating
or cooling system
- Online
- 24 hours
Net Zero Energy Construction BCIT $1,014.79 plus BCIT tuition fees - Gain an understanding of building science, design, and construction strategies for
zero energy buildings and best practices - Design or build to the BC Energy Step Code, Net-Zero Energy, or Passive
House standards
- Online
- 48 hours
Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Mechanic
FoundationTRU $607.00 per
month
(~$3,642.00 for 25 weeks)- Course for an entry-level position as an apprentice in refrigeration sector
- Foundational knowledge in refrigeration to understand how heat pumps work, with
a section of the course providing an overview of heat pumps - Refrigeration theory such as heat transfer, temperature pressure conversions and calculations, components, and practical applications
- In-person
(Kamloops) - 25 weeks
- Full-time
studies
*LEGEND:
BCIT - British Columbia Institute of Technology
CHBA-BC - Canadian Home Builders Association of BC
CIET - Canadian Institute for Energy Training
PHC - Passive House Canada
TECA - Thermal Environmental Comfort Association
TRU - Thompson Rivers UniversityThe HPCN is an online database of qualified retrofit contractors made to further capacity building in British Columbia for high performance homes. HVAC companies applying must complete both of HPSC’s courses and two courses offered by either TECA or HRAI for a total of four courses. More information on the HPCN and how to join can be found here. For course details, click on a course name below, or download a resource sheet here. (Date last updated March 2022).
COURSE NAME INSTITUTE* COST LEARNING OBJECTIVES DETAILS Retrofitting with a
House-as-a-System
ApproachHPSC $200.00 - Introduction to the ‘House-as-a-System’ approach to retrofitting
- Identify and solve common home issues with energy retrofits
- Focus is on practical examples and scenarios
- Online
- Self-paced
- 3 hours
Quality Installation of
Forced-Air Furnaces and
Air Source Heat Pump
Retrofits in BCHPSC $1,500.00
Free for contractors
applying to HPCN- Evaluate existing HVAC systems and optimize the performance of replacement systems
- Best practices for quality installation of furnaces and air-source heat pumps in
residential retrofits - Consumer education to support system use and maintenance
- Online
- Self-paced
- 30 hours
Principles of Residential
VentilationHRAI $865.00 - Proper equipment sizing and installation for ventilation system design and distribution
- Learn how to determine ventilation and exhaust inlet requirements and meet code specifications
- Online
- 2 days
Residential Heat Loss &
Heat Gain CalculationsHRAI $1,240.00 - Basic principles of building science and heat loss/heat gain calculations
- Learn how to determine thermal resistance
- Online
- 4 days
Heat Loss / Heat Gain TECA $199.00–$299.00
(In-person)$335.00–$385.00
(Online)- Perform accurate code-compliant heat loss/heat gain calculations
- Elaborates on dynamic heat loss and heat gain
- Covers room-by-room and whole building heat loss and heat gain calculations
- Online - 3 days
- In-person (Surrey) - 1 day
Principles of Moving Air TECA $400.00–$500.00
(In-person)$559.00–$659.00
(Online)- In-depth look at how air moves through a system
- Installation of ducting and air filters
- How to develop quiet and effcient systems
- Understand the relationships between pressure, pressure drop, volume, velocity, and power
- Online - 3 days
- In-person (Surrey) - 2 days
*LEGEND:
HPSC - Home Performance Stakeholders Council
HRAI - Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
TECA - Thermal Environmental Comfort AssociationThese resources aim to develop and improve the skills necessary for the shift towards building electrification. These focus on best practices for heat pump installation, maintenance, and system selection. Click on the titles below to access these free training guides, or download a resource sheet here. (Date last updated March 2022).
TITLE PUBLISHER(S) CONTENTS DETAILS Home Performance Stakeholders
Council Fact SheetsHome Performance
Stakeholders Council- Central ducted air-source heat pump fact sheet
- Ductless air-source heat pump fact sheet
- 2021
- 2 pages
Energy STAR Fact Sheets Natural Resources Canada,
Energy STAR- Heat pump water heater sales and buying guides
- Central ducted air-source heat pump fact sheet
- Ductless mini-split heat pump fact sheet
- 2021
- 2 pages
Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump Natural Resources Canada,
Energy STAR- Covers the various types and operations of heat pump systems
- Factors involved in choosing, installing, operating, and maintaining heat pumps
- 2021
- HTML (web-only)
Best Practices for Installing Ductless
Heating and Cooling SystemsNorthwest Energy
Effiiency Alliance- Best practices for the installation of ductless heating and cooling systems
- How installers can provide quality service to homeowners
- 2016
- 2 pages
Guide to Installing Air-Source Heat
Pumps in Cold ClimatesNortheast Energy
Efficiency Partnerships- Best practices and requirements for high quality air-source heat pump installation in cold climates
- How to educate homeowners on system set up and maintenance
- 2020
- 4 pages
Cold Climate Ductless Heat Pump
Specification and RecommendationsNorthwest Energy
Efficiency Alliance- How to optimize performance and comfort in existing homes with cold climate air-source heat pumps
- How to get the best performance and longevity in cold climate ductless heat pumps
- 2020
- 8 pages
Guide to Sizing & Selecting Air-Source
Heat Pumps in Cold ClimatesNortheast Energy
Efficiency Partnerships- Proper sizing and system selection of heat pumps for cold climates
- How to maintain high efficiency and high-performance levels
- How to provide quality service and increase customer satisfaction
- 2020
- 7 pages
Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and
Selection GuideNatural Resources Canada,
Canmet Energy- How to properly select and size air-source heat pumps for Canadian climates
- Best installation practices for new and existing residential homes
- 2021
- 62 pages
Heat Pump Best Practices Installation
Guide for Existing HomesICF Canada,
FRESCo,
Home Performance
Stakeholders Council- Best practices for heat pump installation, system design, commissioning, and maintenance
- Educate homeowners on proper operation and care of heat pumps
- Common installation challenges and possible solutions
- 2019
- 51 pages
