Rising utility prices and public awareness have drawn the attention of some Calgary residents to solar energy.
The city of Calgary recently updated a free tool that can help homeowners better decide if installing panels in their house is worth it.
The residential solar calculator uses satellite images to evaluate homes. It describes how much productive roof space a home can have. He can even tell the orientation and slope of the roof, along with any obstacles or shadows that may affect the sun’s potential.
With this information, the city uses the PVWatts tool of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to estimate how much solar panel electricity a roof can produce per capita per year.
“Within 30 seconds, one minute you can have a pretty good idea of, you know how much solar energy you could generate, how much it would cost and your impact on the environment from it,” said Louis Percy, who has urban climate. team.
Percy said the calculator is a starting point for residents as they consider investing in solar energy. And it also helps people focus on resources and grants that can help them get the most out of their investment.
Interest in solar energy has doubled every year for the past three years, according to a Calgary-based business.
Solar YYC’s Alex Tyndale says demand for solar panels has increased for his company during the pandemic. (Justin Pennall / CBC)
Solar YYC owner Alex Tyndale used to have to look for a business, but now customers are coming to him. He says the federal government’s green home rebate has helped boost popularity, along with significant solar structures from companies such as the Cadillac Fairview Chinook Center.
The city’s calculator, he added, is helping to spread the word that Calgary has enough sunlight to make solar energy a return on investment.
“We can tell people this as a private company,” Tyndale said. “But having a municipality or a third country to tell people that solar energy is a decent investment means a lot more. Yes, it just adds confidence to what we’re trying to do.
Technology has come a long way, Tyndale said, as has the public’s understanding of solar energy. Calgary has not yet reached full acceptance, but give it a few years and he believes it will reach market maturity.
More funding tools are coming to help pay for the panels
Years ago, his typical client, who had adopted early, was a retired doctor or engineer passionate about new technologies. Now the younger generations and people at different stages of life are interested.
“We’re very close to being mainstream, and that’s only judging by the increase in the number of neighborhoods that want quotes,” Tyndale said. “It’s a variety of neighborhoods, a variety of people with different incomes.”
The city is developing a program to improve clean energy for residents. This would add another option to help fund solar panels and other environmental home improvements in addition to existing discounts.
Percy said the team will present a new climate mitigation plan for councilors to review in June.
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