Estimated Savings Ranges for Electrically Heated Homes in BC (in kWh/year)
Stand Alone Upgrades
Attic Insulation
Wall insulation
Basement insulation
Weatherization (Draftproofing)
Air Source Heat Pumps
Wood Stove
Electronic Thermostats
Solar Water Heater
Windows (average 12 windows)
Low Savings
Estimate
[kWh/yr]
850
725
650
250
1,800
0
0
600
1,400
High Savings
Estimate
[kWh/yr]
10,500
9,500
2,000
1,000
3,000
22,500
5,000
1,600
4,700
Savings Estimate for
a Typical Home*
[kWh/yr]
1,700
4,000
1,700
850
2,500
2,800
0
1,400
2,500
1,650
2,000
1,700
5,700
4,000
5,750
3,300
3,400
5,000
2,500
16,200
3,400
2,550
16,250
4,200
2,250
3,200
1,700
15,200
7,700
5,750
5,550
4,700
5,000
Combination Upgrades
Draftproofing, Windows
Draftproofing, Air Source Heat Pump
Draftproofing, Windows, Doors
Draftproofing, Attic Insulation,
Windows
Draftproofing, Attic Insulation,
Windows, Doors
Attic Insulation, Windows
Air Source Heat Pump, Windows
Windows, Doors
Updated January 20, 2013
See reverse for factors that impact the level of savings you might expect
Note: Ask your Energy Advisor about why combinations of upgrades do not achieve the sum of the
savings from those same individual upgrades undertaken alone
* Typical Home Used For Typical Savings Estimates – How Does Yours Compare?
Floor Area: 228 m2/2450 ft2
Storeys: 2 above ground
Basement: Full Height
Occupancy: 3 people home 50% of the time
Average Thermostat Setting: 19º Celsius
Hot Water Use: 160L/day
Climate zone – Lower Mainland
Year Built: 1980
Minimal previous energy efficiency upgrades
For current electricity rates in your area, visit www.bchydro.com/rates or www.fortisbc.com/rcr
You can estimate the dollar value of your savings using current rates information and the energy savings
estimates provided in this document and by speaking with your Certified Energy Advisor.
Estimated Savings Ranges for Electrically Heated Homes in BC (in kWh/year)
Factors Impacting Where Homes Fall In Savings Ranges
Lower Savings
↔
Higher Savings
Home in a warmer, southern climate
Home in colder, northern climate
Smaller home (< 185 m2 / 2000 ft2)
Larger home (> 370 m2 / 4000 ft2)
Post-1975 home with improvements
Pre-1975 home with no improvements
High use of wood for supplemental heat
No use of wood for supplemental heat
Heating system upgrade w/out insulation
upgrades (where insulation is possible)
Heating system upgrade with insulation
upgrades (where insulation is possible)
Poorly installed equipment*
Post-renovation, higher energy use
behaviours compared to pre-renovation,
such as:
 less thermostat setback behaviour**
 less low temperature clothes washing
 less heating of occupied rooms only
(less attention to zonal heating)***
For new air source heat pump
installations, using cooling where it wasn’t
used before the renovation
Equipment installed by a contractor with
recognized credentials*
Post-renovation, consistent or lower energy
use behaviours compared to pre-renovation,
such as:
 more thermostat setback behaviour**
 more low temperature clothes washing
 better heating of occupied rooms only
(proper zonal heating)***
For new air source heat pump installations,
using very little or no cooling – similar
behaviour to before the renovation
* Poor installation quality can reduce equipment efficiency by up to 60%
** Setback means reducing thermostat temperature settings when people are not home or at night.
A 1 Celsius average reduction in thermostat setting can save up to 15% on heating bills
*** Heating only occupied rooms to needed temperatures – only some heating systems allow for this
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas makes no representation or warranty, whether expressed or
implied, in respect of any of the improvements that a homeowner may implement, including no assurances or
guarantees as to the energy savings realizable upon the work’s completion
For current electricity rates in your area, visit www.bchydro.com/rates or www.fortisbc.com/rcr
You can estimate the dollar value of your savings using current rates information and the energy savings
estimates provided in this document and by speaking with your Certified Energy Advisor.