Sept. 28, 2008

SOLAR NEIGHBOURHOODS wants to help you reduce your home’s energy use and tap the power of the sun. We will guide qualifying homeowners in Ward 30 through the purchase and installation of a solar water heating system and help you access to up to $2,000 in cash incentives. Solar hot water is a well-developed zero-emissions renewable energy technology that is in wide use around the world. Now, Solar Neighbourhoods is working to make it part of life right here in Toronto.

Don’t miss this chance to reduce your home’s climate impact, tackle rising utility costs and be a part of Solar Neighbourhoods! Register today at www.solarneighbourhoods.ca

RISE Again ready to get solar quotes

RISE Again (Riverdale Initiative for Solar Energy – Again) is looking for participants who are interested in the community approach to purchasing solar hot water and solar electricity systems. Community groups take the uncertainty out of making the decision to go solar and reduce much of the time spent researching information as you’re working with other homeowners to ensure the system selected is the right one for you.

RISE Again is preparing to release it’s Request for Quotation to the solar industry. The price quotes from solar companies will, in part, be dependent on how many systems are being quoted on. There is no obligation at this time (the selected contractor will still need to provide you with a detailed quote for your home) however this will allow RISE Again to negotiate the best price for you.

For more information on RISE Again go to riseagain.ourpower.ca

Protect yourself from higher heating bills! Sign up for an energy audit today

Natural Gas prices in Toronto have soared 20% this summer, so homeowners should expect to spend a lot more this winter on heating their homes and hot water.

The Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Program has partnered with Windfall Ecology Centre to carry out home energy efficiency and solar site assessments in Ward 30. Now is the perfect time to book your energy audit before the fall rush starts.

A Windfall Home Energy Assessment provides an objective review of the energy use in your home and provides you with a report on how your home uses energy and where it is being wasted. For the solar assessment the house visit will also identify how you can reduce your water consumption and the feasibility of using a solar hot water system. The report will also show the ecoENERGY grant amount for each eligible upgrade you can receive by carrying out these energy saving improvements. For Solar Hot Water the ecoENERGY grant is $1,000 plus an additional $1,000 from the City of Toronto’s Solar Neighbourhoods program.

For more information of the Windfall Home Energy Assessment go to www.windfallcentre.ca.

If you’d like to register for the Solar EcoENERGY Home Assessment under the Solar Neighbourhoods program contact us at 416-392-6795 or book on line at www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/step4.php

Solar Neighbourhoods releases list of eligible solar contractors

The Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods program has released its first list of contractors and solar hot water systems that are eligible for the $1,000 Solar Neighbourhoods incentive in Ward 30. Four solar contractors and six solar hot water systems are on the list. For a complete listing of product specifications, performance and contact information go to www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/suppliers.php.

If you’re a solar contractor and want to participate in the Solar Neighbourhoods program, visit www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/contractors.php. We have a training workshop for interested contractors coming up on Oct. 1st.

City clears way for building permits for solar

The City of Toronto continues to reduce barriers for homeowners to the greater use of solar energy. In the spring, Toronto Building reduced the standard charge for obtaining a residential building permit (for plumbing and structural) to $94 for solar systems. (A City staff survey of Ontario municipalities found that the cost of solar building permits ranges as high as $400.)

Now, thanks to funding support from the Solar Neighbourhoods program, solar contractors can get their systems “pre-approved” for building permit applications. This means that the building permit process will be faster and there will be no surprises when the permit application is submitted.

Solar hot water systems eligible for the Solar Neighbourhoods program will be reviewed and drawings stamped for both plumbing (health) and mounting method(structural safety) by an independent third-party engineering firm. The system drawings will then be submitted to Toronto Building which will list the product. Once listed, the solar contractor will only need to refer to this listing when applying for a solar hot water building permit. Other standard building permit requirements such as submitting a site plan will still apply. For information on how to obtain a building permit visit Toronto Building at www.toronto.ca/building/building_permits.htm

And provides advice on making your home solar ready

During construction or renovation, preparing your home for solar energy can be easy. When the time comes to install your solar water heater, a few preparations now can save you hundreds of dollars and will ensure that your system will provide maximum energy savings. Toronto Building has released a Solar Hot Water Heater Project Guide that provides details on how you can prepare your home for using solar hot water in the future.

Solar heated pool party a splashing success!

Toronto Parks and Recreation and the Solar Neighbourhoods program Solar pool party organized a fun filled day of activities for both kids and adults at Canada’s largest solar-heated swimming pool. Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre has two solar pool heating systems providing 280 kW of heat during sunny hours. It was a beautiful sunny day perfect for neighbourhood solar tours, workshops, ice cream making, solar car races and pool games. Stay tuned to Solar Neighbourhood News for information on future fun events.