Nov 19, 2007 17:30 ET
Government of Canada Invests in Clean Solar Energy
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 19, 2007) - The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced $1.1 million for demonstration projects promoting photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power technologies for commercial and residential use. PV technology converts sunlight directly to electricity. Solar thermal technology uses the sun's energy to heat air for space heating.
"These hybrid demonstration projects will turn the exteriors and roofs of homes and businesses into clean-energy systems." said Minister Lunn. "This initiative is another example that our Government is getting the job done to protect the health of Canadians and our environment."
The four demonstration projects are in Ontario and Quebec. In addition to support from the Government of Canada, the initiative is being led by the Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN) out of Concordia University, which brings together two dozen researchers from academia, governments and industry.
SBRN project partners include: Day4Energy Inc., Conserval Engineering Inc.,
Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd., Sevag Pogharian Design, Les Maisons Alouette Homes, Regulvar Inc., Hydro-Quebec, l'Agence de l'efficacite energetique du Quebec and the City of Toronto.
Renewable energy technologies for generating electricity and heating and cooling are becoming more popular in Canada. Through its ecoENERGY Renewable program, the Government of Canada is investing more than $1.5 billion in two initiatives - ecoENERGY for Renewable Power and ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat - to make clean, low-impact renewable energy less expensive and more available to Canadians.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn has announced $1.1 million in funding for a series of demonstration projects that will use the sun's energy to directly power and heat homes and businesses. The hybrid solar demonstration projects will turn the exteriors and roofs of buildings into clean-energy systems.
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at
www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
