New Thermal-Energy Solutions Heating Up
British Columbia’s abundant hydropower means our hands stay almost clean of dirty electricity imports. But what most people don't know is that BC’s hands are already dirty for another reason: the province still relies heavily on a carbon-emitting fossil fuel for most heating and hot water needs. Every hot shower, load of laundry, dishwasher cycle and notch up on the thermostat requires thermal energy, and here in BC, most homes use natural gas to supply it.
The provincial government recently invested $25 million in biofuels and bioenergy as alternatives to natural gas, but some experts say the government should be doing more to reduce the demand for thermal energy needs in the first place.
Some advocate using more solar energy. “If we want to be carbon neutral by 2050, it doesn't make sense not to include these systems in all new buildings,” says Nitya Harris, executive director of Solar BC.
In fact, solar hot water is considered low-hanging fruit in terms of energy conservation; it's an inexpensive, easy-to-install and proven technology, with a payoff period of five to seven years.
Solar BC has received $62,000 from the province to develop a solar strategy, and achieve its goal of 100,000 solar roofs in the province by 2020. And there is a grant of up to $1,625 in provincial funds available for homeowners who want to install solar hot-water systems.
However, the Liberals stopped short of making solar heating a requirement in all new buildings, as has been done in places like Spain and Hawaii. When a draft version of the BC’s green building code was outlined in a session at the Union of BC Municipalities last September, some councillors and mayors said they were disappointed that the regulations weren’t more stringent.
“I wasn't inspired,” said David Finnis, district of Summerland councillor, at the time. "I wanted to see regulations that say you must be at least solar-ready when you build a house. We just need to move already."
That’s not to say that some municipalities, real-estate developers and individuals aren't moving in this direction. The Millennium Water development, home of Vancouver’s Olympic village, pushes the envelope of green building in BC, with solar hot water, sewer heat transfer, water recycling, and radiant ceiling heating and cooling.
So why aren’t these technologies more widespread?
