Trinity Glen: How Cold Climate Heat Pumps Will Save You Money
The Challenge
Trinity Glen: How Cold Climate Heat Pumps Will Save You Money
Trinity Glen is a co-operative housing complex located in the town of Newmarket, Ontario. Built in the late 1980s, its original heating source was electric baseboard heating, which is a very costly method of heating.
Trinity Glen needed a modern, energy-efficient heating solution that would be easy for residents to use daily and cost-effective to run and install. When Trinity Glen received a government grant to upgrade the complex's infrastructure, they requested quotes and proposals from three companies.
"There are many townhome communities out there similar to Trinity Glen with existing electric heating, gobbling up those expensive kW-hours. You want a product that is going to deliver maximum savings with minimum electrical consumption, and for that you need a heat pump that gives you the most heat at the lowest temperatures. For this project, Mitsubishi's Zuba-Multi system was the natural choice." Tom Melanson, Territory Manager, Mits Airconditioning Inc.
"The lowest common denominator pricewise can be ok in some cases, but when you're choosing this kind of product you really want a company that has been doing R&D for years and are gliding along with a product that is perfect." Bob McKeraghan, Contractor, Canco ClimateCare
"Mitsubishi has such a good track record with reliability and performance, so I would have to be pried away to go somewhere else." Bob McKeraghan, Contractor, Canco ClimateCare
The Solution
Leslie Adams, Trinity Glen's property manager, confirms that of the three companies that submitted proposals, Canco ClimateCare came back with the best bid using Mitsubishi Electric products. Because there was a cap on the funding, the team became innovative to create savings that would cover all the homes.
The selected product was the Mitsubishi Electric Zuba-Multi system, a solution that provided efficient heating and air conditioning, which the homes never had before. Mitsubishi Electric products were also selected for their lifecycle of over 20 years with minimal maintenance.
Tom Melanson of Mits Airconditioning Inc. described the previous costly baseboard heating, combined with the absence of air conditioning, as making the Zuba-Multi low-temperature systems an attractive choice. Mitsubishi Electric was selected because the system performed strongly at low temperatures, generating a high amount of heat at temperatures as low as -27°C. The Zuba-Multi heat pumps provide up to 80% of their rated capacity at -25°C, reducing or eliminating the need to use the original baseboard heating.
The Results
The overall consensus was that residents were very pleased with the new system, especially the air conditioning. Tenant feedback indicated that heating bills dropped following the installation.
The results exceeded expectations on heating savings, with a 50% reduction on average, varying slightly depending on family size. Each system is individually metered, allowing for further savings analysis compared with the previous baseboard systems.
The units also blended well into the building sightlines. The key benefit of the new installation is the everyday savings it brings to residents.
Summary
Company: Trinity Glen Housing Co-op
Industry: Residential
Size: 800-1200 square feet/unit
Challenges:
The housing complex needed an energy-efficient, modern upgrade to their existing heating solution - electric baseboards.
Selection Criteria:
- Energy efficiency
- Cost-effective up-front and in the long run
- Optimal performance at below freezing temperatures
- Air conditioning included
Design/Engineering Solution:
Mitsubishi Electric Outdoor unit models:
- 55 x MXZ-3C24NAHZ-U1
- 37 x MXZ-3C30NAHZ-U1
Mitsubishi Electric Indoor unit models:
- 173 x MSZ-GE06NA
- 11 x MSZ-GE09NA
- 76 x MSZ-GE12NA
- 30 x MSZ-GE15NA
- All infra-red remotes
Results:
- 50% reduction on heating bills, on average
- Energy-efficient models provided lower heating costs with a bonus of air conditioning
- Seamless integration of models into homes
- Back up heat not required
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a cold-climate heat pump reduce heating costs in homes with electric baseboard heat?
Cold-climate heat pumps can provide space heating more efficiently than electric resistance baseboards, reducing how often the original baseboard system is needed. At Trinity Glen, residents saw a 50% reduction in heating bills on average after the retrofit.
Can a cold-climate heat pump provide both heating and air conditioning for existing townhomes?
Yes. A heat pump can provide both heating and cooling from the same system. At Trinity Glen, the Zuba-Multi retrofit replaced much of the reliance on electric baseboard heat while also adding air conditioning that the homes did not previously have.
What should be considered when selecting a heat pump for below-freezing temperatures?
Important factors include low-temperature heating capacity, energy efficiency, installation and lifecycle cost, reliability and ease of use. For Trinity Glen, the selected Zuba-Multi system provides up to 80% of its rated capacity at -25°C and was chosen for strong cold-weather performance.