Solar Role Models

Four mayors and a chief have installed solar hot water in their homes in British Columbia, and most recent to join the solar revolution is Mayor Sharon Shepherd in Kelowna.
 

“I have been an advocate of solar for our city and felt I should look at the opportunity to do it in my own home,” she says. Shepherd is no stranger to solar — when she and her husband first purchased their home in Kelowna in the late ‘70s, they installed solar to an outdoor pool. Back then, she said, solar was a new technology that was getting a lot of attention, but the attention dwindled in the ‘80s. “It’s been reintroduced so we’re enthused about having it in the home.”
 

The mayor of Whistler, Ken Melamed, also installed a solar hot water system in his home last year, taking advantage of the SolarBC incentive. Currently there is $2,000 available from SolarBC for new and existing homes. “I think it’s important to do so as to increase awareness, demystify the technology and increase homeowner installations,” says Melamed. “As more people do it, price, availability and choice will all improve.”
 

Mayor Darrell Mussatto of North Vancouver, who had his system installed last summer, says the reason he did it was to lead by example. “I really try to role-model behaviour that I’d like to see in people,” he says. “I thought if I’m asking other people to look at alternatives to energy production I should do the same.”
 

Mussatto says he’s enjoyed seeing a decrease in his energy bills since his system has been installed, which has been a great indicator that solar hot water works like it should. “This has just got better and better, from the experience with the installers to the efficiency of the system,” he says. “I can sleep better at night knowing I’m reducing my fossil fuel use and maintaining a high quality of life.”
 

He’s been so impressed with his install that he is looking at how to integrate building solar-ready homes into the bylaws of the city, much like the City of Vancouver has done with their current $3,500 incentives for installing solar hot water in new homes. The mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, also has solar hot water installed in his home.

Solar hot water is also close to the heart of Gordon Planes, chief of the T’Sou-ke First Nation. The solar community developed a visioning process last year that led to the installation of a 75 kW solar array in their band hall, fish hatchery, long canoe shed and community hall. They also installed solar hot water in 37 residential houses, including Planes’ home.
 

“T’Sou-ke Nation wishes to lead the way and demonstrate how sustainability can be achieved once again using  the power of the sun, wind and sea,” he says. •