Municipal Leadership
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Important Colwood Documents Official Community Plan 2008OCP File 1 Strategic PlanIncluded in 2010 Annual Report |
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Solar Colwood aims to move a whole community toward energy conservation and renewable clean energy. Solar Colwood is supported by a $3.9 million grant from Natural Resources Canada, It is one way in which the City of Colwood is implementing its award-winning Official Community Plan (see right), redefining the City of Colwood as a Green Learning City. Community members will benefit from financial incentives for energy efficiency installations, reduced energy costs, a healthy local economy, a cleaner environment, and more.
Solar Colwood initiatives include:
- Financial incentives to support homes and businesses to upgrade to solar hot water heating, ductless split heat pumps, and photovoltaics for electric vehicle charging stations
- The long-awaited re-development of Colwood Corners as an opportunity for clean energy technology demonstration and learning
- Introduction and integration of clean energy saving solutions
- Collaboration as well as financial and technical contributions from our many partners.
- Solar hot water and solar electric installations on the Colwood Fire Hall, as described below
Solar Installations for Colwood’s Fire Hall
Solar Colwood will install a solar hot water system at the Fire Hall, reducing our Fire and Rescue Services’ dependency on the use of natural gas for hot water heating for showers and washrooms. In addition, the City plans to investigate the feasibility of using solar heat in a closed loop system to speed the drying of the fire hoses in its currently unheated hose tower.
The City also plans to install a small solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Fire Hall roof in a direct grid Intertie fashion, so that it can offset some electrical consumption. What makes this system special is their method of backup storage. An Intertie solar power system uses the utility company’s system as the storage. With this type of system you don’t have to buy and maintain a collection of deep cycle batteries. When the sun is shining the solar panels will supply the Fire Hall’s needs and any extra power generated is put back into the power grid for added dollar savings.
The Colwood Fire Hall is centrally located to serve as an accessible showplace and demonstration site for the community, since the solar hot water system installed there will be similar to those installed on most homes. People will be able to access the roof area of the Fire Hall to see what the system looks like, and a digital monitor will be placed in a public location so people can easily learn how much energy the solar PV system is generating. Colwood Fire Hall and Colwood Firefighters’ Museum are both located within easy walking distance of several area schools, which will provide enhanced opportunities for Solar Colwood to reach out and share knowledge with residents of all ages during site tours and special community events.
