OGA and NY GEO to Partner to Grow the Geothermal Industry

Paul Frith, President of the Ontario Geothermal Association, and Christine Hoffer, Executive Director of The New York Geothermal Energy Organization, are pleased to share that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the intention of working together to grow the geothermal industry through collaboration and education.

“We believe that national borders should not limit the growth of the geothermal industry. This collaboration will enable OGA and NY-GEO to better support our members working across Canada and New York in advancing Ground Source Heat Pump (GHP) and other geothermal technologies,” said Christine Hoffer. The intent of the MOU is to promote the 2 organizations sharing insights, promoting education and helping grow their member bases.  “We are all part of the same geothermal family, and leveraging the 2 organizations strong memberships made perfect sense for everyone” said Paul Frith.

The 2 groups will be working together for a minimum term of 3 years, focusing on industry growth and cross border collaboration.  The leadership teams of both NY GEO and OGA are excited to get things underway.  Details will be shared as both groups begin engagement.

Justin French Joins the OGA Board of Directors

The Ontario Geothermal Association is pleased to welcome Justin French to the Board of Directors. Justin has worked in the construction industry for over 35 years where he has lead businesses in the Geothermal, District Energy, Water and Sewer and Solar industries. Justin is currently a Senior Director at Aecon where he leads Aecon GeoExchange Solutions Inc. He is excited to share his knowledge of the Geothermal and Utility construction sectors and help the OGA to continue to support the drilling companies in our industry.

Gaby Kalapos Joins the OGA Board of Directors

The Ontario Geothermal Association is pleased to welcome Gaby Kalapos to the Board of Directors. Gaby is the Executive Director at Clean Air Partnership, an Ontario based charitable environmental organization. She has been working to motivate and support local government action on clean air and climate change for over 25 years. Her passion has been on encouraging the uptake, transfer and implementation of clean air and climate change policies and actions and the building of partnerships that enable collaboration and support between the community and all levels of government. She is looking forward to supporting the crucial role geothermal will need to play in Ontario’s building decarbonization efforts.

Have You Seen The OGA’s Drilling Guidelines For Municipalities?

For those of you who have not seen the Drilling Guidelines for Municipalities that the OGA spearheaded, or if you would like a copy, you can find them using the button below!

In Case You Missed It! OGA Membership Gets a Refresh for 2025!

We’re excited to unveil our updated membership structure for 2025! Whether you’re a contractor, supplier, utility, government partner, professional, or part of an association, there’s a category designed specifically for you.

The new membership tiers are built to reflect the diversity of Ontario’s geothermal sector and ensure that all voices have a seat at the table.

Annual Fees (tax included):

• Contractor: $250

• Professional: $250

• Supplier:$500 (under 100 employees) | $1500 (over 100 employees)

• Utility/Government: $250

• Real Estate: $250

• Associations/Other (Students, Individuals): $150

Apply online or download the form and email it to us at info@ontariogeothermal.ca

Q: Are there uses for geothermal systems other than heating and cooling?

Units can include a component to heat water for potable or sanitary use. Heat pumps can also be used to control condensation to dehumidify moist indoor spaces such as indoor swimming pool areas.

In-Laws Impressed by Economics of Geothermal Heating & Cooling

For Gerald and Connie Seyler, geothermal has been a family affair. When Connie’s parents built their home near Gads Hill in 1993, Gerald suggested installing a geothermal system. Years later, after buying the home from her parents, the couple has enjoyed decades of reliable comfort and big savings.

Originally paired with their existing well, the geothermal system provided 100% of heating and cooling for their 1,800 sq. ft. home. By tracking his energy use, Gerald found they were saving about 65% each year—especially valuable when oil prices soared in the 2000s.

After 25 years, the Seylers upgraded to a new two-stage GeoSmart geothermal unit installed by John Bosman of Bostech Mechanical in Listowel. The updated system has proven about 20% more efficient, and now even helps heat their water.

“And in my mind another real advantage of geothermal is the air,” Gerald explains. “It’s not blasting or fluctuating. It just wafts out quietly and evenly. You hardly know it’s on.”

Hamilton Community Enterprises: Powering Smarter, Sustainable Communities

At Hamilton Community Enterprises (HCE), innovation meets reliability. By combining next-generation energy systems with advanced telecommunications, HCE delivers integrated, future-ready infrastructure that helps communities thrive.

Their solutions go beyond utilities—empowering decision-makers to achieve sustainability, connectivity, and operational excellence. From smart district development to modernizing assets, HCE provides the technology and trusted support needed to build resilient, forward-looking communities.

With a dedicated team committed to exceptional service, HCE is shaping a more connected, sustainable future—one project at a time.

Comparing Air-to-Water Heat Pumps to Ductless Mini Splits – August 21 • 12–1 pm CDT

While ductless mini-splits are growing in popularity, they’re not always the best fit. This month’s Modern Hydronics & Heat Pumps webinar takes a closer look at how Enertech’s air-to-water system stacks up against ductless mini-splits in the same 5‑zone residential project. The findings may surprise you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Features air-to-water heat pumps provide that ductless mini-splits can’t

• How to configure an air-to-water heat pump with a heat recovery ventilator

• Cost comparisons for systems delivering heating, cooling, domestic hot water, and ventilation

We’re always eager to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback! Your input is valuable to us, and we encourage you to reach out with any thoughts or comments. Please feel free to contact Paul Frith for more information or to share your ideas. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact us via email here.