CANADA SHINES WITH SOLAR EXPERTISE
Now more than ever, Canadians are harnessing
the sun’s energy. From Canada’s
installed
capacity of photovoltaic and solar
thermal
technology through to investment, technology
development, manufacturing, and of course,
installation,
significant
developments
have
occurred in this industry, though vast opportunities
to further develop this sector remain. Canadian
solar companies and technology developers have
already demonstrated their expertise across the
global value chain, with manufacturing facilities
that produce silicon – the key ingredient of
photovoltaic (PV) panels – all the way to the
deployment of PV and solar thermal units across
the country,
in both the coldest and most
temperate regions.
Olympic and Paralympic Village
Vancouver Solar Systems and
Technologies
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games exemplify another large scale
success for the deployment of unique and highly
effective solar energy systems. The Olympic and
Paralympic Village Vancouver is comprised of
LEED™ certified buildings (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) which are connected
to the National Energy Utility. This allows for a
significant reduction in the structure’s energy
usage and greenhouse gas emissions using high
quality building envelope design and hot water
radiant
heating
systems. Surplus
energy
generated by solar thermal modules located on
the roof tops of three Vancouver Olympic Village
buildings is utilized for other purposes.
Courtesy Danny Singer for The Challenge Series
Rooftop solar thermal units are a clean source of
energy, while the use of radiant hot water heating
systems ensures a higher level of comfort and
lower energy use compared to conventional space
heating options. By some estimates, the buildings
of the Olympic Village will achieve 30-70% greater
energy efficiency when compared to standards
buildings built according to minimum codes.
Passive
design,
district
energy,
efficient
appliances &