New grants available for local governments to install solar hot water

Provincial SolarBC grants can be matched with federal money

SolarBC has grants available for 20 local governments for installations of solar hot water systems on operations buildings such as pools, recreation centres, fire halls and city halls.

SolarBC is providing an easy one-stop shop to find matching grants for up to 50% of costs, with up to $40k from SolarBC and $400k from NRCan. Additional capital grants exist from other sources, to potentially provide funding greater than 50%. And there are grants available for solar feasibility studies from MCD.

Solar hot water systems for operations-type buildings are normally sized to reduce associated gas or electricity costs by 40-70%, and in BC they supply energy at a lifetime energy cost of 2-10 cents/kWh. They also insure against future energy price rises.

Solar hot water systems can help local governments meet the 2012 target for carbon neutral operations.

System designs have to be engineer approved, and the solar collectors eligible for grants are independently tested to meet Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or equivalent. Solar hot water systems have been used for decades in Canada and around the world.

The process for installing solar hot water systems is straightforward:

The local government asks an engineering firm of their choice to conduct a solar feasibility study.

The engineers and solar installer conduct the EcoEnergy / SolarBC grant applications.

The installation takes place.

The local government receives the Provincial and Federal rebates.

If local governments require more information they can contact Peter Robinson at CEA:

probinson@communityenergy.bc.ca

(250) 769-6978