Solar heat
Living Off the Grid in Eastern Ontario
Mother Earth News / William Kemp / October/November 2011
Twenty years ago, when my wife, Lorraine, and I decided to move off the grid, our motivation was simple. Lorraine wanted to move closer to her family, preferably to a piece of land large enough to offer some privacy and plenty of room to support her “addiction” to animals. A lot at the back of her family’s farm fit the bill (and the wallet). There was only one downside: It would have cost tens of thousands of dollars to connect the property to the nearest electric lines. The solution was obvious: Don’t connect to the grid and instead plan to run our house entirely with renewable energy. We put our plan into action, and have been enjoying off the grid living ever since. Here’s how we run our rural Ontario home using an absolute minimum of fossil fuel energy.
Ontario: Taxpayer-friendly green innovation that works
Windsor Star / Jose Etcheverry And Victoria Hollick / 29 July 2011
Almost unnoticed by pundits and voters, solar-thermal technologies have achieved impressive results and Ontarians deserve to know about them and the smart policies responsible for their growth. In 2007 the provincial government created the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Initiative, which has been effectively combined with the federal government's ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat Program to ensure that hundreds of institutional and commercial buildings are able to install Ontario-made solarthermal air and water heating systems.
These programs represent a valuable model of provincial and federal collaboration, which combined have facilitated close to half of the funds required to install solar thermal heating systems in schools, factories, hospitals, government buildings, warehouses and other large buildings; thereby, saving money and reducing GHG emissions.
OSTHI has been particularly successful in the agricultural sector, enabling hundreds of Ontario's farmers to improve their competitive edge. For example, solar air heating systems help farmers cut their heating costs by a third, which increases their operating profits, ensuring decades of protection from an infamously volatile fossil-fuelled energy sector.
Solar power good fit with theology
Ottawa Citizen / Kelly Egan / 01 May 2011
Advocates for solar programs in churches point to two main advantages: Not only is there a much-needed, guaranteed revenue stream, but the use of solar also fits into many faiths' commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
"This is a good fit with our theology," said Rev. Mark Whittall, the pastor of the Parish of Huntley, an Anglican church, one of three he serves in the area.
"We operate with an understanding that we have a responsibility to care for the earth."
To that end, the Parish is looking at installing a nine-kilowatt plant on the roof of its parish hall in the village of Carp. It would cost $70,000, but pay back about $8,000 a year through the so-called feed-in tariff program. That has been hugely popular across Ontario, so far attracting almost 30,000 applications.
Kathryn Guindon is the Ottawa representative of a program called Greening Sacred Spaces. She has spoken to many churches, of many different faiths, about adopting more sound environmental practices.
Ottawa Solar Power Fair
Like the Beatles’ sang: “It’s been a long cold, lonely winter .... here comes the Sun”. Come learn about solar power options for your home, business, school, church or community organization at the first OTTAWA SOLAR POWER FAIR.
The fair is free and open to the public. Activities have been developed for kids so you can bring them as well!
Solar Display
Meet with Solar Power Suppliers and Installers and test out their products and services. Get information from booths about the How To’s of Solar Power. Get connected with resource to help you.
Website: Build It Solar
Plans, tools and information to do renewable energy and conservation projects.
Hundreds of projects -- from changing a light bulb to building a solar home.
Design information and tools for building renewable energy projects.
An Experimental section for backyard inventors.
Nothing For Sale here -- just free ideas, plans, and information.
Sudbury: Time for ‘bold action’ to reduce oil use
Sudbury Northern Star / John Hood / 08 March 2010
Canada’s economy is highly dependent on oil. Many Canadians believe western Canada’s oil sands deposits will be our salvation. The oil sands, however, are a major atmospheric carbon emitter, which will exacerbate global climate change significantly, while also fouling the region’s water supply.
Should we all be driving hybrids to prepare for the impending high oil prices and volatility? Perhaps, but the report asserts, “There is real danger that the focus on technological advances in cars is making consumers and governments complacent.”
Policymakers in Greater Sudbury should take the following steps to mitigate this impending crisis:
Federal demonstration projects to receive $146 million
Natural Resources Canada / Press Release / 11 January 2010
Nineteen successful projects have been selected in response to a call for proposals under the Renewable and Clean Energy portion of the Clean Energy Fund. Up to $146 million will be invested over five years in these projects to support renewable, clean energy and smart grid demonstrations with evidence of collaboration among partners and the potential to reduce barriers to technology implementation.
