KCP Energy and industry news and events
Biosphere, town launch solar project
from the Canmore Leader
By Justin Brisbane
February 27, 2008
The Solar PV system discussed in this article was designed and installed by KCP Energy. In addition KCP Energy Inc has put together the proposed design and installation of the Solar Hot Water system for the Canmore High school.
KCP Energy, Changing now for our future.
The sun cooperated with the Town of Canmore and the Biosphere Institute for the launch of its newest solar project.
The solar panel, perched atop the Canmore Seniors Centre, will supply about one kilowatt a month to the system, or about 11-kilowatt hours over the course of the year. The panel is used more as a teaching tool rather than as a large power saver. The typical home uses between 600 and 800-kilowatt hours a month.
Mayor Ron Casey said the project is part of the town’s commitment to The Natural Step process.
“The truth is it’s all about incremental change,” Casey said. “It’s about everyone individually making incremental change to move toward a more sustainable environment and community.”
Casey said the project isn’t so much about cost, but about doing the right thing.
“In today’s world, (the cost) is not there but it’s the right thing to do. It brings awareness to the community,” he said.
At the time of the opening, the solar panel was supplying between 500 and 700 watts of power to the building.
Janne Hicklin, project co-ordinator for solar panel project, is overseeing the solar panel installations in 20 municipalities across the province.
She said Canmore was chosen for this pilot project because of its commitment to sustainability and stewardship.
“It’s primarily an educational tool. You can compare the different communities to see who is generating the most power,” Hicklin said.
The project is designed to build solar capacity in the province, Hicklin said. She has been working with regulating agencies to make the panels easier to install.
Hicklin praised the municipality for taking a leadership role with the project.
The public can visit the website www.lassothesun.ca to get more information about the project. At the website, they can see how much power is being generated by the solar panels at each site.
Hicklin said the generator can be plugged in to sell power back to the power companies. She said there is work being done to make it easier for Albertans to generate and sell their own power.
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley proved to be an ideal location for the solar panel due to the southern exposure of the roof, the pitch of the roof and access.
The Biosphere Institute will also provide information to the public about the solar panel.
“We’ve already received inquiries about the panel,” said Biosphere Institute executive director Melanie Watt. “We’ll provide the interpretation about the program and point people in the right direction.”
Watt said most of the inquiries are about solar hot water heaters, which can save a family on average $50,000 over a 25 year period.
Grade 8 students from Lawrence Grassi Middle School also attended the event. The students completed a class project to determine how much energy was being wasted at the school by leaving computers on.
Using an energy monitor from the Biosphere Institute, the students discovered that they could save $6,200 in energy costs a year simply by shutting off the school’s computers at night. They also determined that would stop 75,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.
The students took their findings to the Canadian Rockies Public Schools board, who told the students that they could use the savings to invest in new green energy.
The Lawrence Grassi students are now in talks to purchase a solar water heater for Canmore Collegiate High School. The $50,000 unit they are looking at would supply half of the high school’s hot water needs.
They’re also applying for grant money from British Petrol to help pay for the project.
