Training and certifications attached to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) will continue uninterrupted at Oklahoma State University (OSU) while a new partner organization is developed to focus on member services. Some industry members have expressed concern about an announcement made late in 2019 about changes in the way IGSHPA will be administered going forward.
IGSHPA is in active discussions with other trade associations about transferring management of its membership services department, which includes roughly 1,480 members worldwide. Apart from this move, the training administration will continue with the full support of OSU. Ed Kirtley, assistant dean of OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, said the move of membership services to a larger trade association was simply to “enhance support of the industry.”
“Our primary goal is to protect the future of the industry by providing necessary training services and preparing a plan for the continuation of other member services,” Kirtley said. “IGSHPA is not shutting down and certifications continue to be available through OSU.”
“OSU will continue to support the development of the ground source heat pump industry in the United States and worldwide through research and training,” Kirtley said. “The College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology is proud of our history with IGSHPA and the ground source heat pump industry. As we go through this transition period, IGSHPA is committed to a sustainable future serving its members and the industry.”
HRAI has had a successful training relationship with IGSHPA since 2017, under which HRAI has exclusive rights to offer IGSHPA training in Ontario.