Raising the profile on heat pumps, with The Vancouver Sun
a quest to keep cool
Urban Climate Leadership partnered with The Vancouver Sun on a special public education series exploring the economic, policy, and real challenges of transitioning to heat pumps in Vancouver’s low-rise rental buildings. The series highlighted the barriers while showcasing practical solutions to keep residents safe during extreme temperatures, reduce air pollution, and lower energy costs.
From September 20th to 26th, 2025, leaders from housing, energy, and community sectors shared why this transition matters, not only as a climate solution, but also as a step toward a just, healthy, safe, and resilient future for BC residents.
Read the series through the links below:
Launch Article by The Vancouver Sun: "Help wanted: Incentives, innovative financing needed to help cool B.C.'s aging apartment buildings"
Sara Fralin, Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA): "Indigenous communities are prepared to build a climate-resilient future."
Ian Cullis, LandlordBC: “Heat pumps and the future of rental housing in B.C.”
Brian Jung, BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA): “Transitioning to heat pumps: The cost of a missed opportunity is often immense”
Tony Gioventu, Condo Home Owners Association of BC (CHOA): “Strata councils face daunting path to transition buildings to electric heat pumps”
Michaela Neuberger and Jamie Gray-Donald, AFFINE Climate Solutions: “Decarbonizing housing isn’t a burden. It’s an investment — but there are challenges”
Dan Fumano, The Vancouver Sun article: “The Right to Stay Cool”
George Patrick Benson and Roberto Pecaro, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC): “British Columbians are Ready for Heat Pumps”
Shauna Sylvester, Urban Climate Leadership (UCL): “Heat Pumps Could be Best Bet for Affordable Homes”
Why Do Heat Pumps Matter?
Heat pumps provide reliable heating and cooling year-round, keeping homes cool during hot summers and warm in the winter, while lowering energy bills and reducing harmful emissions.
For renters, that means healthier, safer homes that stay affordable. For building owners, this means lower operating costs, higher property values, and climate-resilient buildings.
By investing in heat pumps, we protect vulnerable residents, strengthen community resilience, and move Vancouver closer to its climate goals, together.
Heat Pump Resources
If you’d like to learn more, here are some practical resources on heat pumps in BC:
About Urban Climate Leadership, a project of MakeWay: we work with local governments and partners across Canada to dismantle obstacles and accelerate equitable climate action. Our focus: facilitating collaborative solutions, and championing a just, healthy, safe and resilient future for all.
Learn more by visiting the link.
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Partners and Collaborators
Urban Climate Leadership (UCL) acknowledges our collaborators and participants in this series and in our Transitioning to Heat Pumps Dialogue Process including: AFINE, Aboriginal Housing Management Council, BC Cooperative Housing Federation, BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, BC Housing, BC Hydro, BCIT Zero Emissions Building Learning Centre, BC Non-Profit Housing Association, BC Rental Protection Fund, BrightFuture Studio, Building Decarbonization Alliance, Community Energy Association, CHOA—Condominium HomeOwners Association of BC, Coast Capital Credit Union, City of North Vancouver, City of Vancouver, CWB Maximum, Dale Littlejohn, Definity Foundation, Efficiency Canada, Home Performance Stakeholder Council, Introba, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, FRESCO, Kambo Energy, Landlord BC, MaRS—Climate and Cities, McConnell Foundation, Metro Vancouver, Natural Resources Canada, New Market Funds, Ontology, OPEN Technologies, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Pembina Institute, Ronald Roadburg Foundation, Sacha Investments, SOFIAC, SwitchPACE, TREC Renewable Energy, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria,Vancouver Health Authority, VISOA - Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association, Vancity Credit Union, Westeroff Climate Strategies, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) .