Cities across Canada are striving to increase housing supply as populations increase and demand soars.
“Our heat pump has performed flawlessly. Our bills have been reasonable, and the best thing is we don’t notice it’s on; we’re just comfortable.”
— Adam Molson, Homeowner
Renu also likes that the brand’s Cold Climate models perform well even in freezing Canadian winters and don’t require a supplementary heat source.
In a conventional point tower, there are very few o sets and changes to the shape of the building. But to maximize lake views for every unit, the Aquabella has a heavily terraced and articulated architecture, which can make incorporating heating and cooling pipes more complex. The VRF system resolved this challenge as it runs horizontally throughout the building, allowing for flexibility in the exterior design.
Another notable feature of the VRF system is its ability to provide superior HVAC zone control, enabling each unit control to its own heating and cooling. This means residents in the sun-facing southern façade can cool their units, while those in the north side of building can introduce heating – a combination that often necessary to keep everybody comfortable during the shoulder seasons.
The system is also much more energy-efficient. Instead of having HVAC units combating each other by running the boiler and chiller plants concurrently, the VRF units optimize efficiency by moving heat around a building’s footprint as required. The result is a greener building with reduced CO2 production and energy consumption. The whisper-quiet system is also quieter and has more unobtrusive bulkheads than competitors, minimizing noise and disruption for residents.
The Results
The renovations at this home were completed in February 2020, with Molson’s family moving in in 2019 and the second tenant arriving in March 2020. Everyone has been very pleased with the home’s heating.
“We’ve had two full winters with no issue getting heat even in the dead of winter, with the heat pump operating at full capacity at -27°C and beyond,” says Molson. “The tenants don’t even talk about the heating, which is great as a landlord.”
Molson was also able to work with the architect to fit all of the ductwork within the joist spaces, ensuring modern and architecturally pleasing interior spaces without wall units. “The resulting spaces are free of obtrusive bulkheads, look very clean and we are really happy with them,” he says.
