KCP Energy and industry news and events
Company offers solar solutions
from the Rocky Mountain Outlook
By Dave Whitfield
Nov 14 2007
photo by Craig Douce
Anyone casting about for ideas or inducements to live a more 'green' lifestyle need look no further than a small Canmore company that has embraced environmentally-friendly products and living.
Indeed, when hoping to fulfill a dream of being self-employed, KCP Energy founder Geoff Domenico himself cast about for something he could throw himself into, something that would make a difference, something he could be proud of when his children ask if he's done anything to help the environment. KCP Energy deals with Earth-friendly solar hot water heaters.
A former software program manager with Nortel in Calgary, Domenico and family moved to Canmore seven years ago. "I realized that company wasn't where I wanted to be the rest of my days. I wanted my own small business and I took some parental leave time to give it some thought.
"I'm always able to do things I'm passionate about. We're not avid environmentalists, but we believe global warming is occurring and we wanted to say we're doing something about it if our kids challenge us on it."
To that end, Domenico looked at available energy efficiency options. "Renewable energy sounded great, so I looked out there to see what I could convince myself to do. I thought a reduction of emissions at a reasonable cost would be the way to go and solar hot water seemed to have the biggest bang for the buck."
Further research convinced Domenico that solar hot water was the way to go. Seven months ago, he teamed up with an experienced Calgary supplier of solar hot water heating panels, heat exchangers and water tanks, etc. and started KCP Energy.
According to Domenico, Canadian companies produce a large amount of solar equipment, which is mostly used elsewhere. In Austria, for example, one in seven homes feature solar hot water systems.
Installation of a solar hot water system can result in the reduction of a tonne of emissions per year for a four-person residential system. "That's like using a small car 25 per cent less, or a mini van 20 per cent less per year for the next 20 years," said Domenico. "It seemed to be the energy conservation idea that made the most sense."
KCP has re-launched its website, kcpenergy.com and is now offering solar hot water heating products for residential, industry and builder applications.
With a KCP system, for an average four-person household, one or two 4 x 8-foot solar collector panels are installed on a rooftop, with food-grade glycol-filled lines running to a heat exchanger/pump which circulates the sun-warmed glycol. The warmed glycol then heats water in a newly-installed secondary hot water tank. This pre-warmed water is then fed on demand to the home's existing water tank and then throughout the home to showers, tubs, dishwashers, laundry sinks, etc.
Financial and energy savings are realized by the fact that the water entering the home's existing water tank is no longer cold, but pre-heated by the sun. The existing water tank, then, requires less energy (natural gas) to heat the water for household purposes.
"People are doing things to be more energy efficient," said Domenico, "fluorescent bulbs, programmable thermostats, maybe buying a hybrid (vehicle). To me, this (solar hot water) is a logical next step as a green option.
"No matter who I've talked to, homeowners or small businesses, everyone is very interested and considering what they can do with the system."
Solar water heating can be installed in new homes or retro-fitted to existing dwellings and, as with all things green, one of the first questions people ask is "how much does it cost and when would a person see the savings?"
Cost-wise, said Domenico, a typical system for a four-person household would run to about $7,000, which he said would pay for itself, depending on usage, in 10 to 15 years. The estimated payback to cover the $7,000 investment would be dependent on natural gas prices, which fluctuate.
As well, federal grants of about $500 are available for retrofits (ecoaction.gc.ca) and, in some areas, Jasper for example, the municipality has gone ahead and passed a motion to supplement federal grants.
Before installing a system, KCP would complete a solar site survey; for assessment of the size of system required, location and complexity of installation and estimation of water and emissions savings.
Finally, said Domenico, despite the fact Canmore in the Rockies is subject to severe winter temperatures, with Alberta boasting some of the highest hours of sunlight, even in winter a solar system would continue to provide savings. During summer, with more hours of sunlight, he said, a properly installed solar hot water system could possibly provide 100 per cent of a home's hot water. In fact, for summer time use, systems require a control to stop overheating of water in the tank.
"I feel good about this, passionate about this," said Domenico, "and it's been great to start a small business. Hopefully, though, we won't be small forever."
