IGSHPA continues to work with U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and federal governments to ensure that GSHPs are being designed and installed for long-term success.
As the Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pump industry is on a path to unprecedented growth, it is important that governments and utilities (especially those that are providing incentives) have a benchmark for success. How can they protect their investments and reputation, while encouraging adoption of the technology, which provides so many benefits to consumers, developers, the electric grid, and society as a whole? IGSHPA’s partnership with CSA Group for accredited training and certification programs and additional courses that create “building blocks” for success, provide solutions!
IGSHPA has 23 courses available in online, self-paced formats and through instructor-led (in-person or virtual)instruction. States and provinces, and even federal governments are including IGSHPA courses as part of their programs. This blog will highlight the most recent implementations and will be updated as new programs develop.
The state of New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program provides a Workforce Development Reimbursement of up to $2,000 per person per course, up to $4,000. The following IGSHPA courses and certifications are eligible for reimbursement:
IGSHPA Residential Self-Paced Online Training (up to) 7 Core Modules
IGSHPA Residential System Design Workshop
IGSHPA Residential Self-Paced Online Training (up to) 2 Further Learning Modules
IGSHPA Commercial Self-Paced Online Training (up to) 7 Core Modules
IGSHPA Commercial Systems Design Workshop
IGSHPA Commercial Self-Paced Online Training (up to) 3 Further Learning Modules
New Mexico
The state of New Mexico’s Geothermal Ground Coupled Heat Pump Tax Credit program of up to 30% of the installation costs (up to $9,000) through 2034 requires IGSHPA certification for installers of the systems. See the following links for details of the program:
The state of New York’s Clean Heat program offers significant incentives based upon each utility’s program. For example, National Grid offers up to $20,000 for single family GSHP retrofit installations and up to $14,000 for new construction (even more for disadvantaged communities). Other New York utilities have similar incentives. The program requires IGSHPA certification and is designed up be updated for the new IGSHPA curriculum (footnote on page 28 states, “56If IGSHPA adjusts its installer certifications, the NYS Clean Heat Program will adjust appropriately”).
Ontario
The province of Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings program provides up to $12,000 for GSHPs. Participating HVAC contractors must be IGSHPA certified.
U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.)
IGSHPA’s GRIT (GSHP Residential Installation Technician), GRST (GSHP Residential Service Technician), and Geo 101 courses have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as important new content and best practices in the Energy Skilled™ HVAC Program. Energy Skilled™ is a workforce development program that recognizes certification, licensure, training, and degree programs that teach the skills needed to succeed in today’s building sector jobs. The Department of Energy recognition shines a light on training programs, certifications, and other credentials that are helping to prepare a competitive American workforce and reduce energy costs to consumers.
The proceedings from the 2026 Research conference are now online!
The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association’s 5th IGSHPA Research Conference was held as a track at the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference, May 26-29, 2026, in Vienna, Austria. There were 27 papers presented during the conference with research topics from all over the world covering GHX optimization to thermal energy storage to experimental R744 (CO2) systems. View the proceedings here.
IGSHPA just released a new white paper on how the legacy training and certifications will transition to the new program.
Starting in July 2023, IGSHPA began a new training / certification program to replace the legacy IGSHPA training with a modular approach, while incorporating the latest technology and standards. IGSHPA partnered with CSA Group for an ANSI / CSA accredited training curriculum and CSA / IGSHPA certification program based upon ISO 17024. Additional training to support the accredited program was developed by the IGSHPA training committee with a certificate program. The goal was to replace all legacy training by the end of 2025, which was accomplished. The white paper details options for individuals holding the legacy certifications to maintain their certifications indefinitely or upgrade to the new certifications. It also provides recommendations for utility/state/provincial program transitions to the new program.
NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs) has just released a technical specifications document for the U.S. Depart of Energy that is a customizable template.
IGSHPA members who are working on U.S. government projects should download the template to assist with project specifications and design guidance. Note that the specification references IGSHPA training and the CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 Design and Installation Standard. IGSHPA members can purchase the standard at a discount at https://igshpa.org/standards/; IGSHPA training/certification programs are at https://igshpa.org/training-certification/.
Over 20 new courses, along with a new certification program are rolling out over the Summer & Fall
If you missed the July 9 IGSHPA Town Hall webinar, you will want to view the recording to learn about the exciting new offering. IGSHPA has partnered with CSA Group on new accredited training and certification programs. The two organizations have long worked together to support the GSHP industry. CSA and IGSHPA developed courses comprise over 20 choices to empower professionals to become experts in the technology!
Just this morning, the IGSHPA website has been updated to reflect the new training courses. For more information, go to igshpa.org and check out the training menu. You will see all of the new courses listed. Over the next 6 months, IGSHPA curriculum and certificate/certification programs will be completely updated, making them more accessible and easier to navigate, while including the most up-to-date information and best practices. The 10 self-paced courses are available now!
When you’re on the training pages, notice that the new courses have substantial discounts for members. One more reason to become a member!
Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Speaking Opportunities Now Available!
Join us in St. Charles, Missouri April 13-15, 2026 for our Annual Conference!Registration and hotel reservations are open as well! As an industry leader, you play a key role in shaping the future of geothermal heating and cooling. Together, we can champion the benefits this technology offers, particularly in supporting grid stability. Connect with hundreds of professionals from a range of sectors to spark innovative projects, gather valuable insights from experts, build meaningful relationships, generate leads, and raise awareness about the power and potential of ground source heatpumps! You can go here to see the sponsorships & exhibit spaces available.
If you are planning on submitting an abstract please wait to register at special presenter discount until after December 31, 2025 when abstract submissions will be finalized.
From Ryan Dougherty, Executive Director of GeoExchange:
This afternoon the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of President Trump’s ambitious and wide-ranging domestic policy package, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill. The President will sign the legislation into law tomorrow at the White House. While the bill represents a significant setback for the geothermal industry in some ways, there are other provisions that create new opportunities.
First, the bad news. The Sec. 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit expires at the end of this year. GeoExchange fought for months to defend against this outcome, but it was an uphill battle from the start. This congressional majority simply does not like consumer tax credits and their insistence on repealing 25D for solar meant that we were collateral damage. There may be opportunities to restore some sort of consumer-facing tax credit in the future, but for now, it is important to communicate the short window of opportunity to residential channel partners and customers. State and utility incentives may be able to defray the adverse impacts of the loss of 25D, and we will ramp up our efforts to gain and advance existing support in these arenas.
On the commercial side, the Sec. 48 Investment Tax Credit was untouched. There is a 30% credit for commercial projects until 2033 when the credit drops to 26%. It is 22% in 2034 and zeroes out in 2035. The domestic content and energy communities bonus credits are still available as is direct pay and transferability.
Additionally, the law creates an exemption from longstanding IRS policy known as limited-use property doctrine and allows commercial geo systems to now be leased by third parties, including leases to homeowners. More work needs to be done to flesh out the particulars of geothermal leasing, but our hope is that these business models will ramp up quickly and help offset the loss of 25D.
GeoExchange will continue its work in Washington on the back end of this bill as the focus moves to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and their task of implementing the law. The geothermal industry is resilient, and this legislation represents the start of a new chapter for us. Geo technology lowers energy costs, drives economic growth, and strengthens the electric grid. GeoExchange and our partners at IGSHPA will continue to serve this industry and help its professionals deliver those benefits.
Stay tuned for more updates from D.C. and if you have questions about the bill, please don’t hesitate to send them to .
IGSHPA’s 2026 Research Conference will be in cooperation with IEA and AIT in Vienna, Austria, May 26-29, 2026.
****Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to June 2, 2025****
The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is pleased to announce that the next IGSHPA Research Track will be held at the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference, May 26-29, 2026, in Vienna, Austria. This is the fifth in a series of research conferences and tracks held in Denver (2017), Stockholm (2018), Las Vegas (2022) and Montréal (2024). Like the previous four conferences, scientific papers will undergo peer-review to ensure quality. Papers in the conference proceedings will be freely available with DOI numbers at the IGSHPA website and a permanent archive at the IEA Heat Pump Center. Selected scientific papers will be invited to submit expanded versions for a special issue of the journal Science and Technology for the Built Environment (link takes you to TandFOnline.com). This will be a great opportunity to exchange the latest research ideas and results with leading researchers.
In addition to scientific papers, it will be possible for authors to submit shorter applied research paper which are aimed at reporting the latest developments in applications and practice. This is a great opportunity for practitioners to present more applied work.
IGSHPA is taking pre-orders for the 2025 edition of the CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 Design and Installation Standard for GSHPs
The 2025 edition of the C448 standard will be available the beginning of June! The new edition has many new updates and is the basis for all new IGSHPA training. Following are some of the updates to the nearly 250 page standard:
New section on District Energy Systems
New section on Energy Foundations / Energy Piles
New annex on Waste Water Energy Transfer Systems
New PE-RT piping material added
New glycerin-based antifreeze and detoxified ethylene glycol added as acceptable heat transfer fluids
Consolidation of clauses that appear in more than one section (moved to the General section) for ease of use and clarity
Removal of PVC as an acceptable piping material for inside piping
Validation of references used in clauses throughout the standard
Review of IGSHPA Standards Committee recommendations for changes to the standard that will allow the 2017 IGSHPA standard to be sunset when 2025 C448 is published
The new standard will be available to current IGSHPA members at a discounted price of $175 for the licensed PDF version of the standard. Non-member pricing for licensed PDF or for the paper copy is $250, another benefit of being an IGSHPA member!
High-voltage power lines at sunset or sunrise. High voltage electric transmission tower.
Chair of IGSHPA’s Board of Directors, Jack DiEnna, just wrote an article on the impact the GSHP industry could have if GSHPs were 30% of the HVAC industry. The article has been added below to provide a perspective for members.
The Road to 30% – Our Industry Goal
Energy has become a defining issue of our time. President Trump on the day of his inauguration signed two Executive Orders. The first “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” which stated, “the United States has the potential to use its unrealized energy resources domestically, which would create jobs and economic prosperity for Americans forgotten in the present economy.
The second Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy” states that “It is in the National Interest to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources. This will restore American prosperity and ensure that an abundant supply of reliable energy is readily accessible in every State and territory of the Nation.”
The Department of Energy states building lighting, appliances, space conditioning and water heating account for 36% of primary energy in the United States. This is far greater than the total energy used in the transportation sector and nearly equals that of the industrial sector, two thirds (2/3) of that is supplied by electricity. Forty percent (40%) of the total energy used in those buildings is for space conditioning (heating & cooling) and water heating!
The “Road to 30%” is a path to Work Our Way to the “Triple E” Goals of Energyindependence & security, Environmental stability and Economic prosperity by using the “Energy Under Our Feet”, the energy we already own, with geothermal heat pump technology, to deliver space conditioning to residential, commercial and institutional facilities throughout the United States using existing resources from the training and standards set by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)
Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) heating and cooling is a renewable technology that is resilient & sustainable and uses theearth’s thermal properties, in conjunction with electricity, to provide space conditioning and water heating to facilities that the US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has stated is the most environmentally sensitive heating and cooling system available today and it reduces Greenhouse Gasemissions by up to 40% over conventional HVAC systems.
There have been numerous studies conducted by National Labs on the value of GHPs. One of the first was in 2006 conducted by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which stated that GHPs have an estimated developable resource of 15 quad of energy and 1.8 quads of avoided power.
In 2008, Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) stated that an aggressive deployment of GHPs could account for a savings of 3.9 quads annually.
In another study in 2010 assessed the national benefits of retrofitting existing single-family homes with GHPs would yield a savingsof 4.2 quads in primary energy and would account for a reduction of 271.9 million metric tons ofCO2 emissions, a savings of $52.2 billion in energy expenditures and a reduction of 215.9 GW in summer peak electrical demand.
A report conducted by ORNL as part of the DOE Vision Study indicated that GHPs have the potential to save: 6.7 quads of primary energy, avoid 433.3 million tons of CO2 emissions and reduce energy costs by $80.4 billion annually.
Finally, in the latest DOE report, “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff, Geothermal Heating and Cooling,” January 2025, stated that a national-scale mass deployment of GHPs could result in reducing wholesale payments for electric grid services by at least $300 billion through 2050. This study considered deployment to 43% of commercial and institutional and 78% of residential floor space.
Currently there are approximately three million installations throughout the US and although the geo footprint is a small one, those units have had a significant combined effect on energy savings and environmental issues.
Conserved over 46 million barrels of crude annually, reducing our dependency on fossil fuel.
Eliminated approximately 14 million tons of CO2 (equivalence of taking 3 million cars off the road or planting about 947 million trees).
Created over 100,000 jobs.
If this 40-year-old technology is so great, why aren’t there more systems installed?
The primary failure of the GHP industry is the expectation that the building owners finance the GHP Infrastructure, the outside-the-building portion of the GHP system the ground loop heatexchanger (GLHE). This is the “engine” that delivers the thermal energy to the building and according to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, states that Thermal Energy isincluded in the definition of Renewable Energy, which makes the underground infrastructure, the GLHE, a Renewable Thermal Asset.
The model that would work best is to have the GLHE become an asset owned by a third party, preferably a Utility(electric, gas or water), Investor owned, Co-Operative or Municipal. This would be a “rate recoverable” business unit and would enable the company to take advantage of the numerous benefits the GLHE represents, such as:
– Permanent Demand Reduction: With each installation there is a .55kW to .88kW reduction per ton of installed GHP capacity, a reduction that requires no grid modification and delivers 24/7, 365 days per year.
– Renewable Thermal asset: The States of Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah and New Mexico have designated the Geothermal Ground Loop as a “Renewable ThermalAsset”, one that is available for Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) under the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandate. This allows third party owners such as utilities to add to their renewable portfolio.
This technology enables an entity to become the space conditioning (heating AND cooling)provider for a facility, reducing energy costs, saving water, and providing comfort for the end user by moving energy from the ground to the facility.
What are the potential benefits to be derived from “The Road to 30%”?
Dependency on Fossil Fuels: @ 30% = over 477 million barrels crude oil saved per year
Power Reduction: @ 30% = Reduction of electric demand by over 36,564,000 KW or 36,564MWdemand reduction per year. (1 ton of geo loop capacity reduces demand by .55 to .88 kW).
Power Production: 30% = the amount of energy (BTU to kW conversation) taken from the ground, by these systems. 306,772 MWH per year.
Environment: @ 30% = over 35 million metric tons of carbon and over 130 million metrictons of CO2annually, equivalent of removing 29 million cars or planting 8.5 billion trees peryear.
Economic Development: 30 % = 5 million jobs will be created or retained, within this industry in order to achieve this goal and numerous other economic benefits occur.
Other Needs: The initiative’s success depends on continuing to accelerate the development of a sustainable infrastructure, through professional development training, in all aspects of GHP technology. This can be accomplished by supporting the training courses in design, installation, drilling and looping which have been developed by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and are currently available.
To recap, the goal of the “Road to 30%” is to gain a thirty- percent share of the HVAC market for safe, efficient and renewable geothermal heat pump technologies, installed by IGSHPA trained journeymen, remember 90% of the GHP industry are tradesmen. The “Road to 30%” is the path for us to Work Our Way toward Energy Independence & Security, Environmental Stability and Economic Prosperity and creates a sustainable energy future for generations to come. The Industry’s Legislative arm is GeoExchange working hard to keep the industry in the Legislative forefront.
I welcome the opportunity to further discuss other ideas on how to achieve the goals of this initiative, please feel free to call me at 610-659-4998.
John (Jack) P. DiEnna Jr. Executive Director Geothermal National & International Initiative
