Jun 3rd, 2025

Heat Pump Upgrades Bring Year-Round Comfort to Allard Place and Winthrop Court 

Thanks to a major energy upgrade, 120 homes in Allard Place and Winthrop Now have high-efficiency heat pumps, which replaced the older baseboard heaters. This has two bonuses – saving you money on your electricity bills and helping you to keep cool in the summer. 

Heat pumps are a modern, energy-saving system that works like a heater and an air conditioner. They are much more efficient than traditional baseboard heaters and can keep your home warm, even in freezing weather as cold as -30°C. In the summer, they work like an air conditioner, helping you stay cool without installing a window unit. 

These upgrades go beyond individual homes—they benefit the entire community.  Without the need for window air conditioners, we reduce maintenance issues and improve our buildings’ look and function. 

That means you can enjoy: 

• More efficient heating in the winter 

• Built-in air conditioning for hot summer days 

• And because heat pumps use less electricity, tenants can also expect lower hydro bills, especially during the winter.   

This project is all about making homes more comfortable and more efficient. It was made possible through a partnership between Ottawa Community Housing, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), and EnviroCentre. The new equipment represented a $2 million investment. “We’re proud to bring this kind of innovation to our communities,” said Daniel Dicaire, OCH’s Senior Manager of Conservation and Sustainability. “Projects like this are about improving quality of life while being smart about energy and maintenance.” 

More upgrades are coming, so stay tuned for the next improvements coming to your community!