Join Vancouver Renewable Energy (VREC) and SPEC as we celebrate 10 years of grid-tie photovoltaic energy in Vancouver. In July 2005, VREC installed the first grid-tie photovoltaic (electric solar energy) system in Vancouver on the SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) Energy Demonstration Centre. The system was installed with support from Vancity and the Real Estate Foundation. […]
VREC is pleased to launch a new project that allows BC residents to invest in cooperatively-owned community energy projects. Even if you don’t own a home or can’t afford to install a complete system, you can still own part of a solar energy system. For more information visit solshare.ca.
There is a lot of hype about the announcement of Tesla’s Powerwall Battery. Most of the press and social media postings are missing a few key points / questions. Here are some important points to remember from a BC perspective: Battery storage for homes is not something new. It has been around for decades. There […]
Not only are garages set back from major shade structures, they also provide a number of advantages such as easy rooftop access, convenient and simple wiring options, lower wind load, and hip roofs which allow at lest some of the modules to face due south. Such advantages make for more affordable installations, with greater overall production.
It’s not just economists whose eyes have been fixed on falling oil prices and the value of the Canadian dollar. Whenever fossil fuel prices fall, the overall financial appeal of renewable resources is bound to be questioned. But this blanket assessment can be deceiving. While some large-scale renewable energy investments may be delayed due to […]
Dow’s Powerhouse solar energy shingles are now available in Canada and VREC is ready to install them here in Vancouver.
This summer, VREC installed a new solar pool heater on the roof of the Slumber Lodge in Hope, BC. Solar pool heaters have allowed for GHG-free 3-season pool use for decades. Water is simply circulated through hundreds of small rubberized tubes on the hot roof whenever the roof temperature exceeds that of the pool. The […]
Often we are asked if it makes sense to install solar energy when we live in area where our electricity is primarily hydro power – a fairly “green” energy source. An IPPC study found that Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy has a carbon intensity of 48 g CO2e / kWh. This figure includes full life-cycle emissions. […]
VREC has installed 2 new Photovoltaic projects in Tsawwassen, British Columbia.
A new video summarizes the work VREC has done over the past 10 years to add solar energy to BC’s grid. This video was produced for the National Co-op Challenge. To learn more about the community owned energy project mentioned at the end of the video visit: www.solshare.ca