GreenON Installations Program May Only Work in the Hands of a Qualified Contractor

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) (CNW Group/The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI))

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and its members in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry have a great interest in the recent announcement introducing GreenON as well as the Direct Install program for adaptive (smart) thermostats.

The heating and cooling of homes and buildings represents a significant use of energy in our country.  Fortunately, the HVAC industry offers numerous products and services that can assist Ontarians and Ontario businesses to reduce energy consumption, save money and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including state-of-the-art HVAC control systems of the sort being offered in this new program.

HRAI is encouraged by the potential opportunities that the type of program announced by GreenON will create for our industry and for the people of Ontario, but the industry also has some concerns that these programs are implemented responsibly to ensure the potential benefits are fully realized.  It is very important, for example, that products of this type are installed by properly trained professionals who understand how controls interact with existing heating and cooling systems in homes and buildings.  A professional, qualified, HVAC contractor will provide homeowners with the expertise and experience to do the job right the first time, and will explain how a smart thermostat works and how it will benefit users. 

HRAI understands that GreenON has not finalized its procurement process as yet, nor settled on an approach to scheduling and managing installations.  Yet the installation process is a critical piece to providing the assurance of quality that such a program should give to participants.  HRAI member contractors are pre-qualified by the association to ensure that technicians are trade-certified, licensed and insured as necessary to meet the various statutory regulations of the Province of Ontario.  HRAI urges GreenON to ensure that delivery partners responsible for the installation of eligible products meet the same quality standard, as a minimum, to ensure Ontarians who take advantage of these offers also have the peace of mind that comes from a quality installation done by a trained professional.

HRAI is a national not-for-profit trade association of manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors in the Canadian heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry.  There are 700+ HRAI Member Contractors that serve the Ontario marketplace. 

SOURCE The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)

Warren Heeley, President, HRAI Canada, 800-267-2231 x225, [email protected] or www.hrai.ca

Related Links

www.hrai.ca