Manitoba’s newly launched Affordable Home Energy Program is a win for many homeowners. But it’s also a masterclass in cross-sector collaboration that Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) is proud to be a part of.

Designed to make upgrading to energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps more accessible for Manitobans, the initiative highlights how government, industry, and training organizations can come together to deliver practical climate solutions and strengthen the local workforce.

Led by the Province of Manitoba and Efficiency Manitoba, the program provides financial incentives for homeowners to upgrade traditional heating systems to geothermal technology that has been largely underutilized to this point.

“The upfront cost of a geothermal system adds a barrier to switch over to this technology ” said Clarence Jonker, one of the owners of Southern Comfort Mechanical Inc. and president of the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance. “Providing this large rebate to Manitobans through Efficiency Manitoba, and lowering the initial capital cost will provide consumers the confidence to move forward with ground source heat pumps.”

Jonker is quick to note that geothermal technology isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it isn’t viable for every home. It is, however, a great fit for homes in electric-serviced areas that see medium to large heating bills. Geothermal systems can produce significant energy savings along with more consistent home temperatures, which is a big reason why interest in the program is already visible.

“We’ve seen quite a number of calls coming in the weeks since the announcement,” Jonker said. “At Southern Comfort, we’re actively moving resources from various divisions in anticipation of this work coming.”

That rapid uptick in demand also presents a challenge: how to scale up the workforce fast enough to meet the need. That’s where involvement from MCSC in partnership with MEIA becomes critical.

The program’s success hinges not just on adoption but on execution, and that means preparing tradespeople with the specialized knowledge needed for the geothermal systems. MCSC, in tandem with other organizations like the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association (MEIA), is positioned to bridge the gap between demand and capacity.

“Companies that do geothermal work aren’t going to be able to keep up,” said Carol Paul, Executive Director of MCSC. “But what MCSC can do is look at adding training for plumbers so that they have the skills to do geothermal heat pump installations. We can work with industry to develop and deliver that training so we can fast-track these installations.”

MEIA, meanwhile, brings an environmental lens to the table by emphasizing the urgency of accelerating the energy transition while recognizing the magnitude of the task ahead.

“The path to build today’s energy capacity is spread over the past 60 to 75 years, and experts predict we have to do the same amount or more in the next 20 years or so,” stated Jack Winram, President of MEIA. “Cleaner renewable energy is critically important, and geothermal is a huge part of that. But it’s such a large task that no one organization can do this alone. That’s why we are pleased to partner and match the MCSC contribution dollar for dollar as part of our sector council mandate funding provided by the Government of Manitoba.”

That sentiment is at the heart of the Affordable Home Energy Program’s approach. It’s about more than just rebates and retrofits; it’s about building the scaffolding of a sustainable energy future and a sustainable workforce.

On the environmentally sustainable side, it’s among the more reliable energy sources.

“What I love about geothermal is that it’s one of those energy sources that is right below our feet, and it’s there 365 days a year,” said Winram. “The same can’t necessarily be said for wind and solar power. The wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine.”

And if the trends at Southern Comfort are any indication, geothermal installations are on their way to creating more jobs in the construction sector – ones that Paul believes will bring in new talent.

“When you talk about construction, people often think of a shovel in hand and they might not be interested in that,” noted Paul. “But when you start looking at construction as being part of the latest and greatest technology, that’s when youth really get excited and can see themselves being engaged.”

In other words, the Affordable Home Energy Program is more than a retrofit program. It’s a talent pipeline, a climate action plan, and a collaborative model for how Manitoba can build a greener future.

And with the groundwork now laid by government and industry alike, the real work can start to happen.