International Ground Source Heat Pump Association

What International Ground Source Heat Pump Association does

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is a member-driven professional association that develops and administers standards, training, certification, and industry resources for ground source heat pump systems. It does not manufacture heat-pump hardware; its technical platform consists principally of the bi-national U.S./Canada CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 standard and a modular curriculum covering system design, installation, service, and inspection. The organization serves contractors, drillers, designers, utilities, manufacturers, governments, commercial and institutional property operators, and homeowners.\n\nIGSHPA generates revenue from annual membership dues, training and certification fees, conference registration, sponsorship and exhibitor fees, standards and publication sales, online-store purchases, and advertising-supported GeoOutlook distribution. Training is delivered through IGSHPA's learning management system and CSA Group, while its website, conferences, directory, magazine, government programs, and utility relationships support customer acquisition and credential demand. IGSHPA operates with 1-10 employees, but annual revenue, active membership, certification volume, and conference attendance are not disclosed.

Name

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association

Legal name

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association

Website

https://igshpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association is a nonprofit professional body that sets GSHP standards, trains and certifies contractors and designers, and serves utilities, governments, manufacturers, building owners, and homeowners through membership, education, and industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IGSHPA generates revenue through annual membership fees at multiple levels, from individuals to manufacturers, encompassing the entire spectrum of the GSHP industry. Membership provides access to online courses, publications, the business directory, and discounted pricing on standards and training.
2. Training & Certification Fees: Revenue from accredited training courses and certification programs delivered online and in-person through IGSHPA and its partner CSA Group. Course fees are discounted for members. Programs include the legacy training transition and new modular certification pathways.
3. Conference Revenue: The annual IGSHPA conference generates revenue through attendee registration, sponsorships, exhibitor fees, and booth rentals. The 2026 conference was held at Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri, with 10 tracks and over 55 speakers.
4. Standards & Publications Sales: Sale of the CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 standard ($175 for members, $250 for non-members for licensed PDF or paper copy), GeoOutlook magazine (advertising-supported), manuals, and research proceedings.
5. IGSHPA Online Store: Sale of manuals, standards, and training materials through the IGSHPA online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IGSHPA is a non-profit professional association that delivers accredited training, certification programs, and industry standards for the ground source heat pump (geothermal) sector. It develops and maintains the bi-national ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448 Design and Installation Standard, partners with CSA Group on ISO 17024-accredited certification (AI, CGD, CGI, CRD), and offers 23+ courses in self-paced and instructor-led formats. It also publishes GeoOutlook magazine, hosts annual conferences, and operates a business directory connecting certified professionals with customers.

Product overview

IGSHPA is a professional association that offers a comprehensive portfolio of training, certification, standards, publications, events, and industry resources for the ground source (geothermal) heat pump industry. The core offerings include accredited certification programs (Accredited Installer, Certified GeoExchange Designer, Certified Geothermal Inspector, Certified Residential Geothermal Designer) developed in partnership with CSA Group based on ISO 17024 standards; self-paced and instructor-led training courses including the free Geo 101 overview course and specialized GRIT/GRST technician programs; the CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 Design and Installation Standard; annual conferences and research conferences; GeoOutlook industry magazine and newsletters; business directory and job board services; and resources including GeoBridge, District Energy Systems guides, project databases, and case studies. The offerings serve the entire industry spectrum from individual installers to manufacturers, supporting the design, installation, and advancement of ground source heat pump technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Geo 101: Free one-hour online course providing comprehensive overview of GSHP technology, covering how GSHPs work, applications, performance data, federal tax incentives, and industry standards.
• GRIT
• GRST
• CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448

Products and services

• Geo 101 Online Course Free self-paced one-hour online course providing an overview of Ground Source Heat Pumps, covering technology basics, applications, performance data, federal tax incentives, and industry standards. Serves as a prerequisite for GRIT and GRST technician courses.
• Accredited Installer (AI) Certification ISO 17024-accredited certification for geothermal heat pump installers, developed in partnership with CSA Group, covering installation best practices and industry standards compliance.
• Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD) Professional certification for geothermal system designers covering commercial and residential system design, ground loop sizing, and compliance with ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448 standards.
• Certified Geothermal Inspector (CGI) Certification for professionals inspecting geothermal heat pump installations to ensure compliance with industry standards and quality installation practices.
• Certified Residential Geothermal Designer (CRD) Specialized certification for residential geothermal system designers focusing on residential-specific design considerations, heat pump sizing, and residential load calculations.
• GRIT (GSHP Residential Installation Technician) Course Training course for residential installation technicians, recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Energy Skilled HVAC Program. Requires Geo 101 completion as a prerequisite.
• GRST (GSHP Residential Service Technician) Course Training course for residential service technicians, recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Energy Skilled HVAC Program. Requires Geo 101 completion as a prerequisite.
• Train-The-Trainer Course Instructor certification program qualifying professionals to deliver IGSHPA training courses to others in the geothermal industry.
• Commercial Self-Paced Online Training Seven core modules plus additional learning modules for commercial geothermal system design and installation, available in online self-paced format.
• Residential Self-Paced Online Training Seven core modules plus additional learning modules for residential geothermal system design and installation, available in online self-paced format.
• CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 Design and Installation Standard Bi-national (U.S./Canada) standard covering design and installation of ground source heat pump systems. The 2025 edition includes new sections on District Energy Systems, Energy Foundations/Energy Piles, and Waste Water Energy Transfer Systems. Sold as licensed PDF or paper copy.
• IGSHPA Annual Conference Annual industry conference bringing together geothermal professionals for networking, education, workshops, and presentations across multiple parallel tracks covering residential, commercial, driller, and loop installer topics.
• IGSHPA Research Conference Research conference track featuring peer-reviewed scientific papers on geothermal technology, held in cooperation with the IEA Heat Pump Conference.
• GeoOutlook Industry Magazine Biannual eMagazine providing industry news, technical articles, and IGSHPA resource updates. Reaches over 6,500 direct subscribers and 50,000+ readers through BNP Media partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• GSHPs reduce energy costs by 40-70% over conventional electric systems and 30-50% over natural gas systems (utility loop ownership model, CKenergy)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Energy Agency (IEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026IGSHPA's 5th Research Conference was held as a track at the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference, May 26-29, 2026, in Vienna, Austria. This is the fifth in a series of research conferences, with previous events in Denver (2017), Stockholm (2018), Las Vegas (2022), and Montreal (2024). Papers undergo peer review and are archived at the IEA Heat Pump Center.
• Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (GAOI)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 March 2025IGSHPA partnered with the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (GAOI) for the 2025 Annual Conference held March 11-13, 2025 at the I-Hotel in Champaign, Illinois. This was IGSHPA's first annual conference as an independent non-profit and the first partnership with a state association. The partnership provided attendees with additional exhibits and cross-attendance opportunities.
• National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR, formerly NREL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2025NRL (formerly NREL), a national laboratory supporting the U.S. Department of Energy, developed the U.S. Geothermal Market Report with Geothermal Rising and support from IGSHPA. IGSHPA Executive Director Jeff Hammond and GeoExchange Executive Director Ryan Dougherty were acknowledged for technical contributions, reviews, and strategic guidance.
• U.S. Department of Energy Energy Skilled HVAC ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025IGSHPA's GRIT (GSHP Residential Installation Technician), GRST (GSHP Residential Service Technician), and Geo 101 courses have been recognized by the U.S. DOE as important new content and best practices in the Energy Skilled HVAC Program. This recognition is part of the DOE's workforce development initiative that highlights training programs helping prepare a competitive American workforce.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) / Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) / NRELcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2024IGSHPA's Executive Director Jeff Hammond contributed to the GeoBridge resource hub, a GTO-supported initiative developed in collaboration with NREL. GeoBridge offers a centralized repository for geothermal information from home GHP installation to careers in geothermal. IGSHPA training and C448 standard are referenced in the new NREL technical specifications template for U.S. federal government GSHP procurement.
• BNP MediamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023BNP Media partners with IGSHPA to distribute GeoOutlook Magazine to expanded audiences of HVACR News (31,000 readers) and Engineered Systems (13,000 readers), in addition to IGSHPA's 6,500+ direct subscribers, totaling over 50,000 engaged readers. BNP Media provides advertising sales and publication platform support.
• CSA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2023IGSHPA partnered with CSA Group on new accredited training and certification programs. Over 20 courses were developed under ANSI/CSA accreditation and ISO 17024 certification standards. The partnership is the foundation of IGSHPA's new modular training curriculum and the CSA/IGSHPA C448 standard, which serves as the basis for all training. This is a multi-year strategic partnership that has replaced all legacy IGSHPA training programs.
• GEO-NII (Geothermal National & International Initiative)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEO-NII, led by IGSHPA Board Chair Jack DiEnna, developed the 'Road to 10%' strategic briefing document which was updated by IGSHPA's Jack DiEnna and Dona Kyler. GEO-NII works with IGSHPA and GeoExchange on strategic initiatives to promote GSHP technology and grid stability solutions.
• Geothermal RisingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeothermal Rising, a professional and trade association for the geothermal industry, collaborated with NRL (formerly NREL) and IGSHPA on the U.S. Geothermal Market Report. IGSHPA supported the development of this industry report alongside Geothermal Rising and DOE.
• GeoExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoExchange, the legislative arm of the GSHP industry led by Executive Director Ryan Dougherty, works closely with IGSHPA on federal advocacy, tax credit protection, and industry policy. Both organizations collaborated on the U.S. Geothermal Market Report and the 'Road to 10%' strategic briefing. GeoExchange's executive director was acknowledged in the NRL geothermal market report alongside IGSHPA's executive director.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Geothermal Rising: U.S. trade association for the broader geothermal industry (power and direct-use), formed from the merger of the Geothermal Resources Council and the International Geothermal Association's U.S. operations. Closely comparable to IGSHPA as a geothermal-focused membership, conference, and advocacy organization.
• GeoExchange: U.S. legislative and policy arm of the GSHP industry, led by Executive Director Ryan Dougherty. Operates in the same geothermal-heat-pump value chain as IGSHPA, co-authoring the U.S. Geothermal Market Report and the 'Road to 10%' briefing with IGSHPA leadership.

Broad incumbents

• ACCA: Air Conditioning Contractors of America — a trade association representing HVAC contractors and offering certification, training, and standards for the contracting side of the HVAC industry. Comparable to IGSHPA in serving installer/designer professionals with credentialing programs.
• AHRI: Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute — the major HVAC&R manufacturing trade association that develops performance standards and certifies equipment. Comparable to IGSHPA as a standards-setting industry association serving HVAC stakeholders.
• ASHRAE: Global society focused on HVAC&R building systems, with deep standards-development and continuing-education infrastructure. Comparable to IGSHPA as a standards- and training-issuing body, but operating at much broader HVAC scope rather than GSHP specialization.

Emerging players

• International Geothermal Association (IGA): International scientific and industry association for geothermal energy, hosting the World Geothermal Congress. Adjacent to IGSHPA in mission, focused on the broader international geothermal community rather than the GSHP-installer segment IGSHPA serves.

Others

• EGIA: Energy Group of America (EGIA) — a contractor-focused organization offering training, certification, and marketplace programs in the HVAC and home-performance industry. Comparable to IGSHPA in delivering training and contractor enablement in the HVAC space, but with a residential-efficiency orientation rather than GSHP specialization.
• IEA Heat Pump Technology Collaboration Programme: International Energy Agency technology collaboration programme for heat pumps, which co-hosts the biennial IEA Heat Pump Conference where IGSHPA ran its 5th Research Conference. Comparable as an international heat-pump knowledge and policy platform, but intergovernmental rather than membership-based.

Regional players

• NY-GEO: New York–focused geothermal heat pump advocacy and education organization. Comparable to IGSHPA as a GSHP-focused association, but operating at the state level rather than nationally, and closely tied to the New York Clean Heat program.
• Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA): Canada's national geothermal industry association advocating for geothermal energy adoption. Highly comparable to IGSHPA in mission and structure but focused on the Canadian market and the broader geothermal category rather than ground-source heat pumps specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/igshpa
• Facebookfacebook.com/igshpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/igshpa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Ground Source Heat Pump Association