Government of Canada Announces New Support for Solar Water Heating in B.C. Homes

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 20, 2009) - More British Columbians will be able to take advantage of renewable energy renovations to their homes thanks to the new SolarBC initiative.

"This is an investment that works for Canadians by generating new economic activity, helping homeowners control their energy costs and reducing harmful emissions," said South Surrey-White Rock Cloverdale M.P. Russ Hiebert, who made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. "Investing in green energy technologies will stimulate the growth of a domestic clean energy industry, create high-quality jobs for Canadians and help to protect and preserve our environment."

Under the SolarBC initiative, Eaga Canada Services Inc. will receive $1.6 million through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. This investment will support installation of domestic solar water heating systems in a total of 1,600 homes, with a focus on seven leading solar communities.

A solar water heating system can supply up to 60 percent of a Canadian home's hot water needs and could cut energy costs by more than $300 a year - reducing the household's annual greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne.

It is estimated that there are fewer than 500 solar hot water systems installed in B.C. today. The idea is to start slowly with a goal of 100,000 solar roofs by 2020.

"The rest of the world is going in this direction - everyone is going solar," said Liz Kelly of Eaga Canada. "SolarBC makes it really easy to install solar hot water, and we're aiming to rank B.C. alongside world leaders such as Germany and China."

The ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program is one of a series of ecoENERGY initiatives through which the Government of Canada is investing more than $3.6 billion to increase Canada's supply of clean, renewable energy, help Canadians reduce their energy costs and emissions and stimulate economic activity in all regions of Canada.

Budget 2009 includes new measures totalling almost $2.4 billion to support a cleaner and more sustainable environment and help meet Canada's climate change objectives.