October 10, 2008

  ive awards of $20,000 have been awarded to six communities to develop high-profile solar hot water systems as part of SolarBC, a new effort to conserve and promote clean energy in British Columbia.  I get these kinds of reports every now and again and I thought I would share with you this one. 

The selected communities are: the district of Saanich, the city of Kelowna, district of Tofino, district of North Vancouver and a partnership between the city of Dawson Creek and West Moberly First Nation. These communities were chosen through a competitive Request For Proposal process and will use the funding to demonstrate how solar technology can be a viable energy solution in their community.

"These will be flagship solar communities who will provide leadership by their innovative deployment of solar technologies and will become role models for communities across B.C.," said Nitya Harris, executive director of SolarBC.

The financial awards will help finance high-profile demonstration projects for solar hot water:

Tofino's projects will focus on recreational solar hot water needs associated with the tourism industry, and on a solar neighbourhoods project in partnership with social housing providers. 

Saanich will train building inspectors, provide broad outreach to increase solar uptake and install a solar hot water system on a municipal building. 

A unique partnership between Dawson Creek and West Moberly First Nation focuses on training, knowledge sharing, public out reach and installations.

Kelowna's Solar Working Group is establishing solar targets for their community and their solar installation on the Athans Aquatic Centre will be an educational tool for community members; 
The District of North Vancouver will take full advantage of their community's southern exposure at the foot of the Coast Mountain range and embark on a comprehensive retrofit program.

The Solar Community awards were presented at the recent Union of BC Municipalities meeting in Penticton. Earlier this year the Province announced a $5-million investment in the SolarBC program to support solar hot water projects, including installations on residences, local government buildings, First Nations homes, social housing, schools and a Solar Communities project. 

Solar hot water systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about one tonne per year for a single-family home using natural gas for water heating. 

For more information on SolarBC, please visit www.solarbc.ca or check your local state or community.