The inaugural Heat Pump Symposium, hosted by the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), is officially sold out. Held in partnership with the Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA), the one-day event will be held on April 4th at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
The idea for the symposium, “came from a discussion with HRAI’s Emerging Trends Committee, which has a mandate to explore emerging trends in the industry and advise on appropriate actions. They felt that there was a need for a more focused discussion and promotion of the unique role of heat pumps in tackling the mammoth task of decarbonization of homes and buildings in Canada,” states Martin Luymes, vice president, of government and stakeholder relations at HRAI.
The symposium is geared toward industry members who will gather and discuss the latest technological trends, exchange valuable knowledge, and share strategies for how the industry can grow and benefit during this transition to a low-carbon economy.
“The OGA is a supporting partner of the heat pump symposium because we’re seeing the shift to heat pumps accelerate now in residential HVAC. This is no surprise as it’s been a plan since NRCan released the 2018 Space and Water Heating Market Transformation Road Map: “Paving the Road to 2030”, where the writing was literally on the wall. As contractors start to shift their businesses and adopt heat pumps, the industry needs to show what tools and support are available to them,” explains Jeff Hunter, president of the OGA.
Heat pumps have become quite a hot topic as Canada looks to reduce carbon emissions and make buildings more environmentally friendly. “Across Canada, the heat pump is becoming the technology of choice for addressing our most pressing environmental challenges. Whether it’s air-to-air, geothermal, air-to-water or other options, heat pump technology is our best bet for addressing Canada’s crucial decarbonization goal while reducing costs and boosting efficiencies,” explains HRAI on its event website.
During the one-day conference, guests can network, attend educational seminars and explore exhibitor booths. Educational seminars will cover Building the Business-Case for Heat Pumps, Myth-Busting Heat Pump Misconceptions, Policy Reality, and two keynote speaking presentations. Speakers will include members from Dunsky Energy and Climate, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, and more.
Between the seminars and networking, guests will be able to explore exhibitor booths, all of which will offer products and information on heat pump technology.
Hunter adds that providing information to contractors is the focus: “The public should know that the space and water heating electrification transition is now underway, as it is in many advanced economies around the world. From the OGA perspective, our goal at this event is to help inform participants about what’s available for them today to get involved with Ontario’s geothermal industry.”