The Minister for the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism and Minister responsible for the Laval region, Mr. Benoit Charette, announced on Wednesday the promulgation of the Regulation respecting heating in diesel. As of December 31, 2021, the installation of heating with oil in new constructions will be prohibited. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the installation or the replacement of oil heaters with a fossil fuel heater will be prohibited in existing buildings. Therefore, the maintenance of these devices remains authorized as long as they are in good working order. However, from December 31, 2023, it will be prohibited, in an existing residential house, to carry out major repairs on a boiler, a hot air generator operating totally or partially on oil if it was installed over 20 years. For such a water heater, the prescription takes effect after 10 years.

 The impact of oil heating on the environment

 First, residential oil-fired heating systems generate approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to the GHG emissions of 300,000 light-duty vehicles. These are significant adverse environmental effects for few systems. In addition to producing GHGs, fuel oil gives off nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and fine particles when it burns, and is also a source of soil contamination during leaks. Similarly, fuel oil is a major contributor to urban smog. Thus, the gradual elimination of fuel oil will serve Quebec’s environmental and public health objectives. The consequences are therefore very significant compared to the benefits generated by this type of heating. By the way, did you know that oil is 1.4 times more polluting than natural gas and 102 times more than hydroelectricity?

Why remove oil heaters?

This regulation is an important and practical measure of the Green Economy Plan 2030 (PEV 2030). It will make it possible to achieve the objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the heating of homes in Quebec by 50% by 2030.

Homeowners who must convert their oil heaters to electricity or another renewable energy could benefit from financial assistance from “Chauffez vert”. Expenditures of $134.5 million for this program are provided for in the 2021-2026 implementation plan of the EPI 2030.

Although several households have already used more ecological heating methods, this step was more than necessary since there are still 200,000 homes that heat with oil.