Former governor general Ed Schreyer says it's time take a major step toward using the earth's natural energy to heat and cool more buildings in Manitoba.

Schreyer, who ran and lost in the last federal election in the Selkirk Interlake riding, has become an advocate on energy matters, sitting on the board of the Manitoba Geothermal Association.

He has been lobbying the province to increase the use of geothermal technology, particularly in public schools.

"There's been 101 press releases about wanting to do something with respect to the problem of climate change and the depletion of oil and gas," Schreyer told CBC News.

"These are the ways Canada can show that we're serious about the task. Not by signing the Kyoto Protocol — you can sign 10 of them. Unless we get the job done on the ground, nothing will make any difference."

The government should stop treating geothermal technology as a novelty, he said, adding that Manitoba has the technical ability to apply the technology, it just hasn't demonstrated the will.

Twenty-one schools in Manitoba currently use some form of geothermal system, usually underground pipes to import cooler air or water in the summer and hotter elements in the winter. Schreyer wants more public facilities to consider the option.

A spokesperson for the province said the government is actively considering geothermal options for all new school construction in the province.

Geothermal systems use underground pipes to moderate the existing heating and cooling systems in buildings. While they can be more expensive to install, they produce virtually no greenhouse gases and can cut annual heating costs by 50 to 70 per cent.