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Hermann Scheer – Father of the Feed-in-Tariff
As we approach the 3rd anniversary of Ontario’s “Feed-in-Tariff”, we just passed an anniversary that probably isn't on our minds. Oct. 14th was the anniversary of Hermann Scheer’s death. Scheer was known by many names in the theme of “solar king” or the “sun god”. But...
Hail vs. Solar Panels
We are often asked "will my solar panels stand up to hail?" The answer is YES. A solar module or panel that is installed properly and tilted to face South should never break from hail. Up until a couple weeks ago we would tell people, "we've never seen a solar...
Northern Reflections – from Fort Simpson, NT to Orillia, ON
It has been just about 6 months since the installation of the 60.6 kW solar array in the Northwest Territories and I think this is an appropriate time for some reflection on the largest solar system in Canada’s North. As I sit by the lake in the plus 35C weather of...
Snow and Grid Tied Solar Electric System Production
Canadian winters are synonymous with snow so it is important that consideration be given for the effects of snow on winter and year round energy production from solar electric and solar thermal systems. Although clearing the snow from a solar array can help you...
Does My Roof Need to Face South for a Solar Power System Installation?
In a previous blog post I offered some advice on what makes a house suitable for solar. One of the factors was the orientation of the roof to south, which I’ll delve deeper into here. The maximum energy production comes when the sun’s rays are perpendicular to a...
From Blue to Black – Improved Aesthetics of Solar Photovoltaic Systems
A major consideration for many homeowners evaluating a solar power installation is aesthetics. It’s not too hard to imagine this scenario: Partner 1: “I was reading about this new program where you can put solar panels on your roof and make money. Seems like a good...
Installing solar in the Peruvian Amazon with Light up the World
I just arrived back from a 3 week stint volunteering with Light up the World in Peru. Light up the World is a non-profit specializing in community development through the design and implementation of renewable energy systems. Most of their work is in developing...
Increase Your Homes Selling Price With Solar
A recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory looked at the resale value of homes in California that have sold with Grid-Tied PV systems. They found that a recently installed PV system increased the resale value of the home by...
Solar Decathlon – mounting on a curved roof
The curved roof criterion of Team Canada's 2011 entry to the Solar Decathlon certainly presented a unique design challenge! Some of the early designs of the home actually had slope changes in the North-South direction as well as the East-West direction - thankfully,...
Solar Decathlon competition begins! Follow Team Canada’s progress in Washington..
Construction of Team Canada's entry to the Solar Decathlon, the Cenovus TRTL, is now complete and the competition has started! Team Canada's unique shape and design set it apart from the competition - the TRTL is the only home on site with a curved solar array. Here...