The T’Sou-ke solar program provided inspiration and a model for others in the capital region.
“They’ve really taken this to a whole new level and have been quite an inspiration for the whole region. This is just one step closer to more clean energy,” said Larisa Hutcheson, general manager of environmental sustainability for the Capital Regional District. The CRD is in the process of finalizing a solar program that will provide grants to homeowners to help fund solar hot water systems.
The grants will cover about a third of the cost of installing a solar hot-water system — which can range from $3,500 to $7,000 in total. The system includes solar panels, which collect energy from the sun, and tanks to heat and store hot water before dispersing it through the house. In the summer months, up to 40 per cent of a home’s hot-water needs can be met through the system. And the tanks last about 20 years, much longer than stand electric models.
The program will be an extension of what Solar Colwood has done with help from the federal Clean Energy Fund since 2011.
Solar Colwood recently extended their program to March 2015. Natural Resources Canada has provided up to $3.9 million for retrofits of municipal buildings and hot-water systems and ductless split heat pumps to homeowners and businesses.
About 40 of the city’s 6,000 homes have taken advantage of the grants and installed hot-water systems. Councillor Judith Cullington hopes to see more in the future.
“It’s an excellent opportunity,” she said. “Once you’re past the initial investment costs, you’re saving money for a very long time.”
Preliminary results from the Royal Roads University Solar Colwood Monitoring program show participating community members are saving between 21 and 54 per cent in energy and related costs.
Cullington also said Colwood’s solar program was inspired by the T’Sou-ke First Nation.
“We were impressed by the technology but also by the whole community approach they took. It was very holistic and educational and that’s what we liked,” she said.
