Frequently Asked Questions

A Buyer's Guide for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems
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Hydro-Québec recommends the CGC buyer's guide. It will serve as your main source of information about geothermal systems.

Can a geothermal system be installed only in a new house?

No. A system can be installed in an existing house. So it is an option that you may want to consider if you are planning to buy a heating and air-conditioning system to replace an old heating system. If your house already has a distribution system (ductwork), the work will be much easier and cheaper to do. In the case of an existing house, you have to sign up for the Rénoclimat^® program to be eligible for the Hydro-Québec grant. In addition, the house must have been heated entirely with electricity or a dual-energy system (Rate DT) for at least a year. For Rate DT customers, the geothermal system must have been installed after November 3, 2009. For more information, talk to a contractor accredited by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition.

What is the payback period for a geothermal system?

As the capacity and thus the cost of geothermal heat pumps can vary from one house to another, the payback period also varies. These are the main points that affect the payback period:

Factors that affect the payback period for installation of a geothermal system in a new or existing house:

System type and price and installation cost (including costs related to earth-moving work, limited access, etc., in the case of an existing house)
House size (the bigger the house, the bigger the savings on heating)
Quality of home’s thermal envelope
Age and type of existing heating and cooling system
Type of ground

All these factors have an impact on the payback period for an investment in a geothermal system, keeping in mind that, for a typical house, you can expect to pay somewhere between $20,000 and $40,000.

Is it absolutely essential to have a forced-air system with a geothermal system?

No. A hot-water system can be used for radiant heating (or another system), but not for air-conditioning. Of course, you can have air ducts installed for central air-conditioning.

Am I eligible for a grant even if construction on my house began before the geothermal grant program was announced?

You’re eligible as long as the geothermal system was installed on or after May 1, 2007, and is CGC-certified.*

Can I get a $2,800 grant for a geothermal system if I’m building my own house?

Yes, as long as installation of the geothermal system is CGC-certified and the other eligibility conditions are met, including installation on or after May 1, 2007.

Why should I have my geothermal system certified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC)?

CGC certification is your guarantee of quality. It applies to the system designer, and the installers of the underground loop, heat pump and distribution system. Certification is a condition of a Hydro-Québec geothermal energy grant.

A system is certified once CGC has approved an application for certification. For a system to be certified, it must comply with standard CAN/CSA C-448-02 and use nothing but ISO/CSA-approved materials and equipment. The applicant must also show that the system has been installed following best practices: “as-is” book delivered to the project owner, all piping and valves clearly labeled, verified and inspected as necessary to ensure compliance with all provincial regulations, etc. For more details, download A Buyer’s Guide for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems.

Certification means that the system has been designed and installed by accredited personnel, and that any borehole work has been done by an accredited vertical loop installer.

Individuals are accredited after successfully completing training. There are three different types of accreditation: for vertical loop installers, systems (including heat pump) installers and residential or commercial designers. Accreditation is valid for two years and requires the following:

A passing mark on the relevant CGC examination
Credit references if and where required
Proof of adequate insurance and liability coverage if and where required
Satisfactory work on five previous geoexchange systems
Assent to the CGC Code of Conduct

See an example of a CGC certificate.