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As a result of efforts to decarbonize heating, the market for electric heat pumps is advancing and will one day become the norm for home heating solutions. The current residential HVAC workforce employs thousands of Gas Technicians (G2) whose skills might become less and less relevant over time as this new electric heating market evolves. The workforce also includes Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanics (313D) who may not be used to working with newer heat pump technologies. Our trades are already stretched. The workforce needs every capable body to meet the growing heat pump demand.
A panel of subject matter experts, drawn from across the industry, will determine exactly what skill sets, knowledge and capabilities will be needed to safely and competently install and service heat pumps. The same panel will assess this benchmark against Ontario’s 313D Training & Curriculum Standards to see if there are any gaps in that program.
All of this information will be programed into an on-line platform where technicians can log in and go through the program responding to scenarios that will assess their understanding and ability to perform specific tasks. We are looking to have 100 or more technicians from across Ontario complete this assessment.
A qualified workforce will help to instil confidence among residential customers, minimize service and warranty issues and ensure efficient heat pump operations.
The inputs gathered from the technicians will help us understand the state of the existing workforce – their readiness from a skills and competencies perspective and any potential skill deficits that will impede their success in a low carbon economy. A report on the findings and recommendations will be produced and available for the industry, government and others.
Building on the report, HRAI will engage with interested training providers to develop and pilot accelerated training for the reskilling and upskilling of HVAC technicians – accelerated, so that they may continue to be active in the workforce. The lessons learned from this pilot will also be made available.
This project is funded in part by Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the final report, please contact Stephanie Meyer.
