BC Celebrates Solstice with Solar Announcements!

The BC government made two solar announcements as the Solstice approaches. On June 14, the Ministry of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible Housing announced that the Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation will take effect on June 21. Thirty-six communities have signed onto the regulation that requires all new single-family homes to have room on the roof for solar collectors and conduits from the attic to the vicinity of the hot water tank to make the later installation of a solar hot water system very easy. Of the 36 communities that agreed to implement the regulation sixteen are SolarBC Solar Communities.

Read the full announcement

Another solar announcement appeared on June 20. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced that 11 schools will receive funding of $20,000 each to install a minimum 2.5 kW photovoltaic system on their schools. Photovoltaic or PV systems generate electricity directly from the sun, and feed surplus electricity, if any, to the electrical grid. SolarBC managed the funding program and organized a selection committee that chose the 11 schools from 51 amazing applications. Students, teachers, administrators, and parents worked very hard to prepare applications that demonstrated a high interest in green activities in all the schools. The successful schools are listed at the bottom of the Solar Schools page

Many of the applications were led by students with advice from teachers and parents. At Rockridge Secondary School in West Vancouver three students from the Environment Club took the initiative to complete the application.

In Golden, a single grade 11 student pushed the application through and his school and town are looking forward to being “big green reformers”! Read their story here