‘Two-fold benefit’

Dear Editor:

RE: Tax ‘hurting people’, April 20. 

I really do feel for Janis Aubut, who wrote last week about the sharp increase in her propane heating bills. We too heated with propane until last winter (2021-22) and the expense was huge, at least $700 to $1,000 for the coldest months, December through February.

Since switching to an electric above-ground heat pump in November 2021, our hydro bills have gone up about $200 to $300 during those same cold months – but we’ve eliminated the enormous propane bills. In addition to big savings on home heating, gone is the fossil fuel pollution from burning propane.

Yes, the new heat pump system did cost more than a conventional fossil fuel furnace replacement, but the federal government’s Greener Homes grant of $5,000 has helped, and the new system will pay for itself within four or five years. 

Since burning fossil fuels is the main driver of the climate crisis, taking the heat-pump step has a two-fold benefit: dramatically cutting household costs while greatly reducing our carbon footprint.

Liz Armstrong,
Erin