Event Notice: Renewable Energy Course

Community, Energy, Energy Conservation, Lifestyle, Renewable Energy, SolarApril 24, 20100 Comments

I ususally put events strictly on our events listing page, but this course deserves an extra announcement. In Edmonton we have an amazing Solar Energy Society that puts on regular informative events that are packed to the gills. One of the key reasons solar energy is reaching the masses in this city is Rob Harlan.

Rob is this amazing person filled with knowledge and expertise on all things solar and sustainability. i had the good fortune to hear him speak last night and was blown away by his knowledge, experience, and dedication. This man has built an off-grid house and a solar electric truck! He’s full of ideas on how to live sustainably individually and at the community level, and he’s also the instructor of this course.

If you want to live greener but need some guidance, you will get it in this course!

Renewable Energy Course from the Solar Energy Society

To register, visit: http://solaralberta.ca/classes.php

The Ontario Green Energy Act

Energy, Energy Conservation, Green Building + Design, Renewable Energy, SolarMay 29, 20090 Comments

Written by Eco3

“Ontario’s Green Energy Act could propel the province past California as the most innovative North American leader in the renewable energy field.”  – Denis Hayes, former director of National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and lead organizer of Earth Day.

On February 23rd, 2009, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, George Smitherman introduced Bill 150 – the Green Energy Act (GEA).  The intent of the new bill is “to make Ontario a global leader in the development of renewable energy, clean distributed energy and conservation, creating thousands of jobs, economic prosperity, energy security, and climate protection”.  Although the GEA is in its infant stages, it plans to achieve this goal by focusing on making renewable energy projects, mainly hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass more feasible and lucrative for a larger demographic of developers.

In addition to green power generation, the bill will also encourage the development of an improved “smart” grid that will better facilitate the interconnection and transmission of electricity from renewable energy sources.  In contrast to increasing green power production, the GEA also establishes goals to improve overall energy efficiency and conservation by requiring that all buildings, both private and public, to be more energy efficient through a variety of regulations and incentive programs. Continue Reading →

New Ontario Solar Water Heating Program Cuts Energy Costs & Eco Impact

Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar, WaterMay 27, 20090 Comments

From L-R: Lester Holley, Vice President of Finance and Administration, EnerWorks; Tom Heintzman, President, Bullfrog Power; Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton; Paul Green, Director of Enbridge Gas Distribution; and Matthew Sachs, General Manager of Urbandale Construction.Bullfrog Power, together with Enbridge Gas Distribution, EnerWorks, and the Government of Canada today announced the launch of a new Solar Water Heating Program.

Solar water heating allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs and environmental impact by harnessing the sun’s energy through the installation of their own solar water heating systems.

At the time of purchase, qualifying homeowners will receive a substantial savings on the purchase and installation of their own solar water heating systems. These savings are made possible through the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program and volume discounts from EnerWorks. Interested homeowners may also qualify for further rebates and credits through the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program, provincial rebates and the new Home Renovation Tax Credit.

This limited-time offer will give homeowners in the Enbridge Gas Distribution franchise area the opportunity to save up to 50 per cent on their own solar water heating systems. They may also reduce their ongoing water heating energy costs by up to 60 per cent and financing for the installation is available from as little as $56 dollars a month. Continue Reading →

Bullfrog Power Available in BC

Air Quality, Energy, Renewable EnergyMarch 28, 20090 Comments

Bullfrog Power, Canada’s leading provider of 100 per cent green electricity, announced today that it is now offering British Columbia residents and businesses a new way to take a stand in support of low-impact renewable electricity and reduce their environmental impact. Bullfrog provides British Columbians with the first and only choice to support new wind power.

Bullfrog Power is the only company that allows all British Columbians to choose to support low-impact renewable electricity rather than electricity from higher impact hydroelectric generation facilities or greenhouse gas-emitting electricity from fossil fuel-powered sources. When B.C. homes and businesses become “bullfrogpoweredTM”, Bullfrog ensures that low-impact renewable electricity is injected into the electricity grid to match the amount of power consumed. Continue Reading →

Raising Spaces Officially Green Powered

Air Quality, Energy, Renewable EnergyJanuary 05, 20090 Comments

Imagine if you could choose a New Year’s resolution from your list, press a button, and like magic achieve it instantly. Guess what? Many of you actually can! If green powering your home is on the list, that is.

Raising Spaces is pretty green to begin with – we conserve energy, water, and materials, print documents only when necessary on reused and 100% recycled paper, make web changes via a wind powered computer, and do what we can to help others go greener at home.

Now, we’ve taken the next step toward reducing our carbon footprint by becoming bullfrogpowered™. This means that 100% of our electricity consumption is generated by wind power. Continue Reading →

Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods

Energy, Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy, Solar, WaterDecember 22, 20080 Comments

Unbeknownst to them, residents of Toronto’s Riverdale community may well be living in the hottest spot in Canada for going solar. At least as far as government rebates and incentives go, that is.

Starting in Spring of 2009, The Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Initiative will use solar rooftops in Riverdale as a weapon against rising greenhouse gas emissions and smog. Up to 150 homeowners will end up with solar water heating systems at what may be the lowest cost available in the country. Continue Reading →

Solar Hot Water

Blogs - Mill Creek Net Zero Home, Energy Conservation, Green Building Blogs, Green Homes, Products + Materials, Renewable Energy, Solar, WaterDecember 10, 20080 Comments

The Mill Creek NetZero Home (MCNZH) will collect solar energy using three techniques: passive solar design, photovoltaic (PV) modules, and solar hot water (SHW) collectors. The SHW collectors are the ones that heat water – they are the black ones at the top of the above picture.

According to a recent article in Home Power magazine (Oct/Nov 2008, p.40), SHW collector efficiency is 50%-70%. That’s pretty good when you consider that the best PV module is about 17% efficient. Continue Reading →

All content copyright 2011 Raising Spaces.