Heat pumps and energy efficiency: a market that is hiring
A Tuesday morning in November, a heat pump installer's phone rings for the sixth time before 9 a.m. The client heard about a new subsidy and wants to know if "it's still time." Companies in this sector are likely to get a lot of calls like that this winter. Here's why this market is moving, which trades it needs and how to benefit, whether you're looking for work or for workers.
Why this market is moving right now
Three recent announcements change the picture for heat pumps in Quebec. First, Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program is still in effect and requests are still being processed normally. It's open to homeowners and tenants alike, and covers heat pumps, roof insulation with air sealing and other energy-efficient equipment, among other measures.
Next, on June 29, 2026, Québec and Hydro-Québec announced a new LogisVert component for 20,000 low-income households: free, turnkey energy-efficiency work delivered through the Éconologis program. Heat pumps started right away; doors, windows and smart thermostats will follow starting in 2027. The total investment is over $243 million.
Finally, on October 8, 2026, the federal government announced a national heat pump rebate program, with $2 billion over eight years. According to Canada.ca, households could be eligible for a $2,000 grant, and low- or median-income households for up to $10,000. The portal will open in early 2027, but the program is retroactive to November 1, 2026. Detailed criteria and the list of eligible units are set to be published starting November 1, 2026.
What that means on the ground: clients who were hesitating now have a reason to call, and installations that would have waited until spring can happen this winter.
Do it today: read the official pages for the federal program and for LogisVert. Whether you install or hire, you need to be able to answer a client clearly without promising an amount the program doesn't guarantee.
Program conditions are skills in demand
Subsidies don't pay for just any installation. LogisVert's residential participation guide (version 1.10, September 2026) sets specific conditions, and each one translates into a need for qualified workers:
- The company doing the work must be registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, hold the appropriate Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licences and be a member of its sector's corporation.
- The heat pump must be new, ENERGY STAR certified and rated at least 12,000 BTU/h in cooling mode for the outdoor unit.
- For roof insulation, you must reach at least RSI 8.8 (R-50) over the entire roof surface, and do the air sealing too.
- The request must be sent no later than nine months after the measure is installed.
In other words, a company that wants its clients to get the subsidy needs skilled installers, but also someone who knows how to fill out the paperwork, keep the invoices and explain the deadlines. A badly prepared file means an angry client nine months later.
A useful reminder: Hydro-Québec states that it doesn't solicit for LogisVert by phone or door to door. If someone claims to be calling "on behalf of Hydro," that's a red flag, not a sales pitch.
Do it today: if you're an employer, check that your RBQ licences actually cover the work you sell. If you're a worker, write down the conditions above: being able to explain them to a client is a skill you can highlight.
The trades that are hiring
A heat pump installation is rarely a one-person job. Here are the most sought-after roles and what they require:
| Trade | What they do | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration mechanic or refrigeration and air conditioning technician | Installs, commissions and maintains the units | Handling a halocarbon requires an environmental qualification certificate |
| Electrician | Runs the power supply and connects the unit | According to the RBQ, an electrical contractor (subclass 16) is required if the installation involves electrical work |
| Insulation and air sealing | Insulates roofs and walls, seals air leaks | Thermal resistance requirements come with the programs |
| Ventilation | Installs ducts and air exchangers | Often paired with central heat pumps |
| Installer's helper | Carries, drills, mounts brackets, cleans up | An ideal way in to learn the trade |
| Office assistant or dispatcher | Schedules visits, prepares subsidy files | Attention to detail and a service mindset |
On the company side, the RBQ indicates that installing certain air conditioning units requires a contractor holding the appropriate subclass, for example "refrigeration contractor" (15.10) or "small refrigeration systems contractor" (15.9), the latter for air conditioners with a cooling capacity of no more than 20 kW. For a specific case, always check with the RBQ.
Do it today: find your role in the table, then look at the profiles and job offers in the heat pumps and air conditioning section, or in the insulation section.
The card that opens doors: halocarbons
A heat pump runs on a refrigerant. According to Québec.ca, anyone who installs, maintains, repairs, modifies or dismantles a refrigeration or air conditioning unit designed or converted to run on a halocarbon must hold the environmental qualification certificate in halocarbons, issued by Quebec's Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. The same goes for recovering, charging, transferring or draining a halocarbon. Only certificate holders can obtain halocarbons for servicing or commissioning these units.
The path to getting it is fairly short:
- Take the online training from EnviroCompétences, or enrol in the program at a school service centre that offers it.
- Register in the halocarbon qualification program.
- Pass the written exam: 25 multiple-choice questions, one hour, 70% passing grade, no documents or electronic devices.
The certificate doesn't need to be renewed. For an installer's helper who wants to move up, it's often the first step. And no, having installed a window air conditioner at your brother-in-law's doesn't count as training.
Do it today: if you already hold this certificate, add it to your profile. If not, check the Québec.ca page and sign up for the next available training.
Where it's moving, and how to know for real
The programs are provincial and federal: they don't target a single region. Demand, on the other hand, depends on the housing stock, the heating systems already in place and the number of qualified companies in the area. A region with few available installers can have clients waiting for weeks, even if demand there is smaller than in the city.
Rather than guessing, look at real data. The GPP Emploi home page shows, live, the requests taken in GPP Central by trade and by region, in the "What nobody else sees" section. You can also browse trades by region. For the broader picture of trades hiring this winter, read Winter jobs in Quebec: the trades hiring from November to March.
If you're an employer and you already get your clients through GPP Central, the Central signal will come in handy: when your company takes more requests than usual, you're immediately shown available workers near you.
Do it today: open the home page, look at the heat pump, air conditioning and insulation requests in your region, and compare them with neighbouring regions.
How to benefit, on either side
Looking for work? Create your free profile in about 3 minutes, without a résumé. List your trades (heat pumps, electrical, insulation, ventilation), your region and your availability. Add your cards to your Passport: our team checks licences against the public register, then a badge appears. Turn on alerts to be notified of good matches. Your name and cell number stay hidden until you accept an invitation.
Hiring? Posting an ad is free. Choose "job offer" for an employee whose schedule and work you supervise, or "request for quotes" to hand a result to a self-employed worker, for example an insulation contractor working on their own. In the profile bank, filter by trade, region and "available now." You only pay when a contact is accepted, generally 2 credits, or $50 (the price can vary by trade and region).
Avoid, on both sides: promising a client a subsidy amount before the criteria are published, or letting an installer's helper handle refrigerant without a certificate.
Do it today: create your profile if you work in the sector, or post a clear ad if you need extra hands before the deep cold.
The bottom line
Subsidies make the phones ring, but qualified people do the installations. Get your halocarbon card or your first hire now: the 2027 wave is being prepared this winter.
Frequently asked questions
What heat pump subsidies are available in Quebec in 2026?
Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program offers assistance for eligible heat pumps, and a free component exists for low-income households through Éconologis. The federal government has also announced a national rebate program that will open in early 2027, retroactive to November 1, 2026. Check the current conditions on the official websites.
How much will the federal heat pump rebate be?
According to Canada.ca, households could be eligible for $2,000, and low- or median-income households for up to $10,000. Detailed criteria are set to be published starting November 1, 2026.
Do you need an RBQ licence to install a heat pump?
The RBQ indicates that installing certain air conditioning units requires a contractor with the right subclass, such as 15.9 or 15.10, and an electrical contractor if electrical work is needed. LogisVert also requires the company to hold the appropriate RBQ licences. Check your specific case with the RBQ.
What certificate do you need to handle refrigerant in Quebec?
You need the environmental qualification certificate in halocarbons, issued by Quebec's Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. You get it after training and a 25-question exam with a 70% passing grade. It doesn't need to be renewed.
Which trades are in demand in energy efficiency?
Refrigeration mechanics and air conditioning technicians, electricians, insulation and air sealing workers, ventilation workers and installer's helpers. Office roles that prepare subsidy files are also valuable to companies.
Sources
- Programme national de remise pour les thermopompes
- Efficacité énergétique - Un meilleur accès aux thermopompes et à des travaux en efficacité énergétique pour les Québécois à revenu modeste
- Programme LogisVert | Subventions en efficacité énergétique
- Programme LogisVert - Guide de participation à l'intention de la clientèle résidentielle (version 1.10)
- Certificat de qualification environnementale en halocarbures (H)
- Unités murales de climatisation : achat et installation
- Modifications aux sous-catégories concernant les systèmes permettant le chauffage, la ventilation et la réfrigération
