Canada invests over CA $500,000 in heat pump training to boost skilled workforce and reduce emissions

Space heating currently accounts for about 60% of the energy used in Canada’s residential and commercial/institutional buildings, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) ^[1]. The adoption of heat pumps is in line with the country’s objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

 

Over the past twenty years, the number of residential heat pumps installed in Canada has doubled to over 800,000 units ^[1]. As of 2023, 7% of Canadian homes are using electric heat pumps as their primary heating system ^[2]. One in four Canadian homeowners is planning to replace primary heating systems in the next five years, and 300,000 heat pumps were shipped to Canada in 2021, which represent 20% more than gas furnaces ^[2].

 

To support the increased demand, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians need to be trained to install and maintain heat pumps. In August 2024, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over 500,000 Canadian dollars (about 334,000 euros or about 362,000 USD) in federal funding to support the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) to help address the skills gap for heat pump proficiency.

 

This investment by the Government of Canada will support the following initiatives:

• Enable the industry to take on more work in the growing clean economy
• Create a benchmark of skills and knowledge needed to safely and competently install and service electric heat pumps
• Identify the skills gap in the existing workforce
• Work collaboratively with colleges to develop training that can be delivered in an accelerated and flexible format to address the identified gaps
• Pilot this training with a small group of gas and licensed technicians in the Canadian province of Ontario.

 

 

For more information, visit the Environment and Climate Change Canada website.  

 

 

Sources

[1] Market Snapshot: Heat pumps could significantly reduce GHG emissions from Canada’s buildings. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2023/market-snapshot-heat-pumps-could-significantly-reduce-ghg-emissions-from-canadas-buildings.html

[2] Environment and Climate Change Canada.  https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2024/08/government-of-canada-invests-in-heat-pump-training-for-skilled-workers-in-a-cleaner-economy-across-the-country.html