GeoCity™: "Recognizing municipalities actively promoting quality ground source heat pump design and installation"

MONTREAL, March 31, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) is proud to announce the launch of GeoCity™, a national initiative developed with the financial support of Natural Resources Canada to recognize municipalities which lead and actively promote quality ground source heat pump design and installation.

Ground source heat pumps, also called geothermal energy, is the most energy efficient heating and cooling technology. It is a renewable energy source which does not depend on atmospheric conditions. A ground source heat pump is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprised of a ground loop and a heat pump which can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 40% to 60% in homes and buildings.

The GeoCity™ initiative is based on the CGC Global Quality GeoExchange Program that includes:

• Training for individuals (8,000 trained since 2007)
• Accreditation for individuals (800 +)
• Qualification for companies (350 +)
• Residential system certification (18,000 +)
• Commercial system registration (upcoming)

Municipalities can become GeoCities™ by adopting by-laws referring directly or indirectly to one or several of the CGC Global Quality GeoExchange Program components and by offering incentives to accelerate the adoption of quality ground source heat pump systems by their citizens, developers and business owners. Such incentives can be various forms of tax breaks, cash incentives, financing via local improvement charges, adapted regulation, streamlined permitting process, etc.

In return, the CGC offers GeoCities™ technical, training and marketing support for their efforts to promote quality ground source heat pump systems on their territory.

The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition acts as the industry catalyst to unite private and public sector stakeholders, and to expand the market for geothermal heat pump technology in Canada. As the nexus of information, training, certification, standards and public awareness, we work to build the necessary infrastructure to foster Canadian industry growth. Website: www.geoexchange.ca

SOURCE: Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC)

Jean-Pierre Finet, Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, Tel : [phone] #26, e-mail : [email protected]