Home Makeover Magazine April 2009
Contractor’s Corner
Making Solar Energy Pay
Solar hot-water heating is viable for home renovations
We all agree that energy saving is necessary for the sustainability of the planet. But looking at all the green options that are available, what is best for you and your family to increase a home’s carbon footprint during a renovation?
Solar energy is a subject that often comes up. According to BC Hydro, the average B.C. household uses 122.2 kilowatts of energy per day, making the family home one of the premier energy users.
There are two options when it comes to solar energy. Photovoltaic, which converts solar energy into electricity and solar hot water heat that harnesses solar energy to heat only the water used in the home.
Most people first envision rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panels. These panels are the ones that some hope will get their home “off the grid.” Great idea, but the cost of the panels can cost about $30, 000 and take close to 100 years to pay for themselves. Also, with the way the average household consumes energy, the panels do not provide enough power and require a backup system, such as electricity or natural gas.
Another issue with photovoltaic is that you need about a 12-panel system for a four-person household. The panels also need to be installed at a specific angle on your roof, which makes them quite visible from the ground. This takes away from the overall design of the house, and some consider them an eyesore.
Still want to do your part for the environment? Read on.
Hot-water Heating
An alternative to photovoltaic panels is solar hot-water panels. These cost about $8,000 and will pay themselves off in approximately six years, based on a comparison with current hydro rates.
In the first year of installation, homeowners who had them installed in Metro Vancouver reported a reduction of 30 percent to 35 percent from their previous energy bills.
These panels do not take away from the design of your home because they can be mounted directly onto your roof, making them invisible from the ground. A family of four would only need to install two panels, each four feet wide by eight feet long. The solar hot-water panels can be used year-round, even during the winter months. The Canadian Government has also made this process a little less painful by adding a $1,750 rebate to those who complete their project.
“It is the only panel that is CSA (Canadian Standards Association)-approved and there is no permit needed if you follow your roof line,” said Keith Kinvig from Absolute Roof Solutions of Vancouver, who installs Enerworks Solar Hot Water Systems in the Lower Mainland. “As well, it only takes three people to install and one-and-a-half days to complete it.”
Homeowners should do an evaluation of their house to see if the panels will fit and work efficiently. Basically, a house will need about 64 square feet of south-facing roof space, with no shade or little shade during peak daytime hours.
There are generous incentives from the government for such home energy improvements.
The federal 2009 budget is offering up to $1,350 in tax credits on top of LiveSmart BC’s $125 and the SolarBC rebate program that can total $1,000. The contractor installing the solar panels can also take care of the energy audits required to qualify for the rebate programs.
Doug Kerr is president of Kerr Construction Ltd., Vancouver. He can be reached at 604.263.0343 or via www.kerrconstruction.ca.
