Next the electric water heat was removed and the hot water
supply of the apartment was connected to the hot water storage tank supplied by the
solar storage tank supplemented by the natural gas-fired boiler..
Solcan solar hot water collectors were installed on the
roof and the pump, gauges and controls were installed in the mechanical room
in the basement. The solar collectors use a mixture of propylene glycol and water
to eliminate the concerns of fluid freezing and a heat exchanger to heat the water used
in the building. The solar system is expected to pay back its investment in less
than ten years if energy prices remain stable, but it will achieve a faster
payback as energy prices rise.
Alex Winch at The Solar Beaches Laundromat
May, 2004: The Minister of Natural Resources Canada has approved
the extension of the REDI program for an additional three years, until March 31, 2007
For commercial, institutional and industrial facilities
(ie: all sectors except residential), Natural Resources Canada offers an incentive under
the Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative. This program provides a 25% subsidy of
installation costs (40% in regions not served by a utility grid) to offset any premium cost
for a solar thermal water heating or solar thermal, air heating system.
Details are available by calling
877-722-6600 or from the
NRCan
- REDI website.