Sheila Malcolmson, BC Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, asked us how the government could deal with the shortage of skilled labour in the heat pump industry.
Global News quotes Dr. Melissa Lem, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment saying, "If we rapidly retrofit our buildings to electrify and install heat pumps that can cool, that will both keep us safe indoors but also tackle the climate change issue at the same time. It’s not just important to start to gradually electrify and start to introduce cooling. This has to be done at speed and scale to make sure that lives are protected,”
Our Answer: Install one million heat pumps in three years.
Here's how:
Here's how:
Summary
providing job training
reducing energy consumption
combatting climate change
saving lives
making homes more comfortable
reducing poverty
An on the job training program that aims to install one million heat pumps over three years would address the shortage of skilled labor in the HVAC industry. It would prioritize easy installations using DIY heat pump systems, allowing unskilled workers to gain experience.
Installers would receive on-the-job training, while supervisors/trainers would be experienced professionals from related fields. The program's expenses, totaling approximately $1.011 billion annually, would be covered, in large part, by the Canada Greener Homes program with the province funding labour/training expenses of about $11 million.
We also suggest offering training courses, incentives, and rebates to encourage DIY installations and engage contractors and non-profits. In addition to meeting the need for skilled labour, the program would reduce energy consumption, combat climate change, and improve living conditions while alleviating poverty.
One Million Heat Pumps In Three Years
To deal with the skilled labour shortage, the government could set up a mini-split heat pump installation and job training program. The program could target, at the beginning, while workers gain experience, the easy jobs using DIY heat pump systems.
The 2016 census says there are about 2.4 million homes in the province. Less than 10% have heat pumps. A program to install one million units would bring that number close to 50%, while providing job training and experience to new workers, reducing energy consumption, combatting climate change, saving lives, and making homes more comfortable in both summer and winter while reducing poverty (monthly utility bills). Increased electrical demand in some homes would be offset, at least in part, by reduced demand in homes that convert from electric baseboard heating.
If this were to be done over three years, with the higher than normal starting wage for inexperienced workers shown below, it should easily attract the workers required. This is an estimate of what would be needed:
Installers - No experience required, on the job training provided
667 (full time at $30/hr) Each person installs two units / day (Note 1)
Supervisors/trainers (experienced handy people, carpenters, electricians, or installers)
34 (full time at $60/hr) One for every 20 installers
Office Staff
67 (full time at $30/hr) 1 for every 10 installers
Annual Expenses:
Total Annual Payroll (Provincial $) $11,017,500
Total Cost of Heat Pumps ($1000 ea. Federal $ - Canada Greener homes) $1,000,000,000
Total Annual Expenses $1,011,017,500
The program would install DIY mini split units, each unit consisting of a compressor (outdoor) and one indoor air handler. Where a home needs more than one air handler to qualify for a Canada Greener Homes grant, the required number of air handlers would be installed with a separate compressor (outdoor unit) for each indoor air handler. (Note 2)
The program could possibly operate from existing BC Government or BC Hydro offices in various communities throughout the province, as most employees would work in the community, not in the office.
The heat pump costs would be covered by the Canada Greener homes program. Labour and training would be paid for by the province. Program office staff could assist residents with Canada Greener Homes applications as well as dealing with installation applications, payroll, dispatching duties etc.
Supervisors/trainers would need to be experienced installers, handy persons, carpenters or electricians but installers would not need experience or training as the program would include on the job training, provided by the supervisor or, as time goes on, an experienced program installer, after which new, inexperienced employees would be able to handle most installations on their own, calling the supervisor for help in the rare situations where the job requires it. (Note 3)
Announcing a one million heat pump plan would likely result in a demand that the program could not meet, at least in the short term. To deal with this, and increase the speed at which we get off fossil fuels and onto low energy systems, offer those who wish to jump the queue these options:
providing job training
reducing energy consumption
combatting climate change
saving lives
making homes more comfortable
reducing poverty
An on the job training program that aims to install one million heat pumps over three years would address the shortage of skilled labor in the HVAC industry. It would prioritize easy installations using DIY heat pump systems, allowing unskilled workers to gain experience.
Installers would receive on-the-job training, while supervisors/trainers would be experienced professionals from related fields. The program's expenses, totaling approximately $1.011 billion annually, would be covered, in large part, by the Canada Greener Homes program with the province funding labour/training expenses of about $11 million.
We also suggest offering training courses, incentives, and rebates to encourage DIY installations and engage contractors and non-profits. In addition to meeting the need for skilled labour, the program would reduce energy consumption, combat climate change, and improve living conditions while alleviating poverty.
One Million Heat Pumps In Three Years
To deal with the skilled labour shortage, the government could set up a mini-split heat pump installation and job training program. The program could target, at the beginning, while workers gain experience, the easy jobs using DIY heat pump systems.
The 2016 census says there are about 2.4 million homes in the province. Less than 10% have heat pumps. A program to install one million units would bring that number close to 50%, while providing job training and experience to new workers, reducing energy consumption, combatting climate change, saving lives, and making homes more comfortable in both summer and winter while reducing poverty (monthly utility bills). Increased electrical demand in some homes would be offset, at least in part, by reduced demand in homes that convert from electric baseboard heating.
If this were to be done over three years, with the higher than normal starting wage for inexperienced workers shown below, it should easily attract the workers required. This is an estimate of what would be needed:
Installers - No experience required, on the job training provided
667 (full time at $30/hr) Each person installs two units / day (Note 1)
Supervisors/trainers (experienced handy people, carpenters, electricians, or installers)
34 (full time at $60/hr) One for every 20 installers
Office Staff
67 (full time at $30/hr) 1 for every 10 installers
Annual Expenses:
Total Annual Payroll (Provincial $) $11,017,500
Total Cost of Heat Pumps ($1000 ea. Federal $ - Canada Greener homes) $1,000,000,000
Total Annual Expenses $1,011,017,500
The program would install DIY mini split units, each unit consisting of a compressor (outdoor) and one indoor air handler. Where a home needs more than one air handler to qualify for a Canada Greener Homes grant, the required number of air handlers would be installed with a separate compressor (outdoor unit) for each indoor air handler. (Note 2)
The program could possibly operate from existing BC Government or BC Hydro offices in various communities throughout the province, as most employees would work in the community, not in the office.
The heat pump costs would be covered by the Canada Greener homes program. Labour and training would be paid for by the province. Program office staff could assist residents with Canada Greener Homes applications as well as dealing with installation applications, payroll, dispatching duties etc.
Supervisors/trainers would need to be experienced installers, handy persons, carpenters or electricians but installers would not need experience or training as the program would include on the job training, provided by the supervisor or, as time goes on, an experienced program installer, after which new, inexperienced employees would be able to handle most installations on their own, calling the supervisor for help in the rare situations where the job requires it. (Note 3)
Announcing a one million heat pump plan would likely result in a demand that the program could not meet, at least in the short term. To deal with this, and increase the speed at which we get off fossil fuels and onto low energy systems, offer those who wish to jump the queue these options:
- Choose to have the government do the installation (get on the list and wait your turn), install your own, hire a regular contractor or handy person, or use a non profit installer.
- Colleges could be incentivized to offer short, one evening or weekend, courses with information on right-sizing the units, choosing the best locations for the heads, checking on the circuit availability and the installation process for DIY systems.
- Rebates could be provided to those who take the college course and submit an invoice for the purchase or installation of a system if the Canada Greener Homes grant is not available. (Note 4)
NOTES:
1. "We did our first DIY heat pump yesterday. It went really well. Instructions weren't ideal as the manual was largely targeted to the non-DIY installation, but as usual, after doing one it is clearly a pretty simple process. It's not for every homeowner but the good news is that a handyman can do it. I did the first one in 7 hours but that included watching videos, reading the manual multiple times to make sure I was doing it correctly, and going to Home Depot to pick up a few items. It would be a 3 hour install for anyone doing it often.” Bruce Murdoch, the Kootenays
2. Where space permits, there are advantages to installing multiple smaller heat pumps, with a compressor for each air handler, as opposed to a one large outdoor compressor and three or four indoor air handlers.
1) They are less expensive to buy.
2) They require less piping for refrigerants as the units can be kept closer together.
3) Installation is quicker and less complicated.
4) If a problem develops in one part of the system the other units are not affected.
5) It is possible to heat one part of the house while cooling another, which cannot be done with larger compressors that connect to multiple air handlers.
3. These units are handyman level of installation. The only semi-skill of installation is to drill a 2 1/2" hole through the exterior wall. Everything else is basically IKEA assembly-level work. Kanartic (Quebec) and MrCool (Victoria) units are pre-charged with refrigerant and have a clever valve fitting that makes it impossible for the DIYer to screw it up. Both Kanartic and MrCool provide the manufacturer's warranty for a DIY.
4. Canada Greener Homes grants require installation by a licensed installer so DIY and non-profit installations may not qualify.
1. "We did our first DIY heat pump yesterday. It went really well. Instructions weren't ideal as the manual was largely targeted to the non-DIY installation, but as usual, after doing one it is clearly a pretty simple process. It's not for every homeowner but the good news is that a handyman can do it. I did the first one in 7 hours but that included watching videos, reading the manual multiple times to make sure I was doing it correctly, and going to Home Depot to pick up a few items. It would be a 3 hour install for anyone doing it often.” Bruce Murdoch, the Kootenays
2. Where space permits, there are advantages to installing multiple smaller heat pumps, with a compressor for each air handler, as opposed to a one large outdoor compressor and three or four indoor air handlers.
1) They are less expensive to buy.
2) They require less piping for refrigerants as the units can be kept closer together.
3) Installation is quicker and less complicated.
4) If a problem develops in one part of the system the other units are not affected.
5) It is possible to heat one part of the house while cooling another, which cannot be done with larger compressors that connect to multiple air handlers.
3. These units are handyman level of installation. The only semi-skill of installation is to drill a 2 1/2" hole through the exterior wall. Everything else is basically IKEA assembly-level work. Kanartic (Quebec) and MrCool (Victoria) units are pre-charged with refrigerant and have a clever valve fitting that makes it impossible for the DIYer to screw it up. Both Kanartic and MrCool provide the manufacturer's warranty for a DIY.
4. Canada Greener Homes grants require installation by a licensed installer so DIY and non-profit installations may not qualify.
