UFV has partnered with FortisBC as an early adopter in their GAHP program to have GAHPs installed at the Trades and Technology Centre to reduce the use of natural gas and lower GHG emissions on campus. A heat pump pulls naturally occurring heat out of the air and transfers this heat either inside or outside depending on the time of year. There is heat contained within the outdoor air, even in winter that can be used for heating in the building. It is estimated that by using the GAHP, energy savings of 35% can be realized compared to existing heating and cooling systems. Continued measurement and verification will be used to ensure that the equipment is running optimally. The GAHP will serve as an educational facility for property managers, engineers, and contractors interested in GAHP technology and UFV is exploring ways to incorporate the facility into UFV courses as a teaching tool.
Read more about the heat pumps