Media Centre

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 24, 2010 — SolarBC is working with the BC Government under the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) to fund solar hot water and air heating systems in provincial public sector buildings. This includes schools, universities, colleges, hospitals and Crown Corporations. SolarBC works in partnership with the Province to review and recommend projects for funding qualified solar thermal systems.

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 14, 2010 — These new communities join our existing nine, to receive funding that will enable them to further develop solar hot water programs and other solar initiatives in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy and a sustainable energy future.

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 9, 2010 — Gregor Robertson is no stranger to sustainable living. As mayor of Vancouver he is working hard to establish the city internationally as the Green Capital but has been a green thinker for a long time, as the original co-founder of the organic juice company Happy Planet. So when it came to the decision to install solar hot water on his home in 2006 it was, as he puts it, just another "logical investment."

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 3, 2010 — The T’Sou-ke Nation, Swiss Solar Tech Ltd., Terratek Energy Solutions Inc. and FortisBC were all recognized during an awards ceremony at the SolarBC luncheon in Vancouver on Friday, May 28 during the launch the 2010 BC Solar Days.

VANCOUVER, B.C. May 21, 2010 — We hope you are as excited as we are for this year’s BC Solar Days! Communities and groups around BC will be hosting various solar events between May 28-29, and to kick-off the Solar Days events are two ribbon cutting ceremonies in Vancouver and North Vancouver on the 28th. Both are free public events that will be followed with tours solar hot water installations.

VANCOUVER, B.C. April 27, 2010 — Solar Days is right around the corner, running May 28-29, with official Solar Communities and other communities holding solar events around BC, including 27 open houses hosted by homeowners who’ve installed solar hot water. As well, leaders of BC Communities have played a big role in helping raise awareness, with four mayors and one chief having installed solar hot water on their own homes. Most recent to join the solar revolution is Mayor Sharon Shepherd, in Kelowna.

VICTORIA, B.C. April 28, 2010 — The Province of BC has developed a new ‘Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation’ in partnership with Solar BC and in consultation with the development industry. This new regulation will apply in local government jurisdictions that request inclusion. Where the regulation is applicable, all new single family homes will be built to accommodate future installation of a solar hot water system for water heating.

VANCOUVER, B.C. April 6, 2010 — Despite the news that the EcoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program is no longer accepting new bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations, the SolarBC program remains strong with a $2000 incentive available towards the cost of installing solar hot water on new and existing homes. As well, homeowners who previously entered the program by scheduling or completing a pre-retrofit evaluation before this time will still have the opportunity to apply for and receive the $1250 grant.

VANCOUVER, B.C. March 16, 2010 — Last Month SolarBC announced that incentives for solar hot water had increased from $1000 to $2000 for installs completed before the end of March, 2010. We’re now happy to announce that the end of March deadline has been extended. All SolarBC customers will be eligible for the $2000 and will be allocated on a first come first served basis until funding expires.

VANCOUVER B.C., February 24, 2010 — Local governments and First Nations are invited to submit an application to become a Solar Community under the SolarBC Program (SolarBC). A grant of $5000 will be provided for 6 communities selected through this application process. The Solar Communities project is a part of the SolarBC Program, which has a goal of transforming the market for solar hot water (SHW) systems in B.C. The goal of this invitation is to add six Solar Communities to the nine Solar Communities that are in place: Dawson Creek, Kelowna, Saanich, Tofino, T’Sou-ke First Nation, District of North Vancouver, Vancouver, West Moberly First Nation and Whistler.