The availability and use of onsite renewable energy technology for buildings in BC has grown significantly. While renewable energy may come from an increasing variety of sources, not all of these sources are suitable for onsite production. On-site renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, is a way to power your building while reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. These technologies have an important role in meeting household energy needs throughout the community.
Onsite renewable generation policies community wide can complement similar policies for civic buildings. Various European [1], and now US, jurisdictions have policies mandating the incorporation of renewable energy systems into new construction and renovation. These policies have been very successful, as they have led to strong growth in renewable industries, and decreased costs due to economies of scale and installation experience. National governments, such as Britain, Germany and Spain, are following suit.
[1] European Renewable Energy Council. (2007) Key Issues – Regulations.
Links
[1] http://www.colwood.ca/city-services/solar-colwood
[2] http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/success-story/burns-lake-community-energy-plan
[3] http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/Success-Story/Nanaimo%E2%80%94Harvests-Energy-Drinking-Water-Support-System