Rebate Incentives Boost Solar Panel Sales

New solar incentives announced this week mean those who choose to make the switch to greener energy sources can save up to 58 per cent in rebates. The news arrived in the inbox of local solar guru Susan Huber, of Swiss Solar Tech, on Monday and she was soon crunching numbers.

SolarBC is already offering a limited time only, bulk buy offer giving those who order solar hot water systems in groups a $375 grant and she has been trying to assemble enough people to place an order.

This latest money brings the federal government’s grant total up $750, from $500 to $1,250, and means it’s a great time to buy, she believes.

"When we arrived, people looked at us like what are you trying to sell us? Energy is cheap and we can still afford it," said Huber, who opened Swiss Solar Tech seven years ago with her husband Roger. "Everybody was making good money and it just didn’t make sense to them, but there’s been a real change lately; people are starting to think about the future."

The provincial government has set an open-ended goal to see 100,000 solar roofs installed in B.C., following on the heels of countries like Germany where a 140,000 solar hot water systems are already installed annually.