Peachland
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October 8, 2010 Peachland, BC
Volume 06 | Number 40
Peachland declared a solar community by SolarBC By Joanne Layh
The District of Peachland is now a solar community. That was the announcement made at the solar learning event held at the community centre last Tuesday, where recently installed solar hot water heating panels were unveiled for the public. The installation of solar hot water heating panels on the community centre is just one initiative the district has undertaken in it’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG’s). During the event, SolarBC executive director Nitya Harris presented Mayor Keith Fielding with a plaque and congratulated the community for its efforts. Peachland also received a $5,000 grant from SolarBC to further develop solar hot water programs and other solar initiatives. “Peachland will become one of the role models for communities across BC in terms of solar initiatives. We had put out a request for proposals to communities across BC. Then, we used a number of criteria like what have they done with solar energy up to this point, what are they planning to do in the future as far as putting demonstration projects up in buildings, at least putting one solar system up on a public building, doing awareness programs, giving incentives, initiatives, looking at changing their OCP or development
guidelines to facilitate solar, just to be a role model as a community for solar across the province,” Harris said. There are also opportunities for Peachlanders to participate in solar initiatives on a personal level. Harris says SolarBC is offering a $2,000 incentive available now for homeowners who wish to install solar panels on their home for heating water. “Everyone needs to do their part to ensure we protect the environment for future generations,” Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff recently said. “Peachland is showing great leadership and taking on an important role in our fight against climate change.” Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum media relations officer Jake Jacobs says solar hot water systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one to two tonnes per year for a single-family home using natural gas for water heating. “I think the location is perfect for solar and I’m really looking forward to working with the district to see what kinds of plans, ideas and initiatives they do as a solar community in the future,” Harris told the View. Harris says that while the technology has been around for some time, solar energy is growing in popularity only now because people are starting to wonder about energy security into the future as
energy costs continue to increase. She says people are also starting to think more seriously about greenhouse gas emissions. The district aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 per cent of 2007 levels by 2050. The target is 18 per cent by 2016 and 33 per cent by 2030. “We’re one of the few communities that can actually identify exactly how much energy we’re consuming from our vehicles, from heating, from lighting, from air conditioning, from other energy consumption activities, as well, and have the capacity to translate that into our greenhouse gas emissions. At the moment, that applies only to municipally owned buildings and property in our fleet, but the next challenge is to extend that out to the whole community,” Mayor Fielding told the View. “We’re very proud and pleased to be recognized as a solar community. It’s more of a symbol, I think, of our intentions and the directions we are taking to meet the goals of our climate action charter,” Mayor Fielding said. In addition to the solar hot water installation at the community centre, the district recently adopted a draft solar hot water ready policy that will require new residential develop- Mayor Fielding (left) and MLA Bill Barisoff (right) at the solar event where SolarBC executive director Nitya ments to be solar hot Harris (centre) presented the community with a plaque and declared Peachland a solar community. water ready.
Photo Joanne Layh
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