Blog  July 9, 2012

De-mystifying solar energy: PVs, kilowatts and micro-FIT

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Solar Trailer (Photo: Aurelia Dalinda)

With hundreds of new entrants to the solar market, consumers need to be informed about their choices when looking for a home solar energy system. Understanding whether your home is in a good position, evaluating eligibility with a local utility, and researching various financing options are daunting for the average homeowner.

Armed with the right information, Ontario’s micro-FIT program can generate an 11 percent return on investment for homeowners. A solar energy system installation will pay itself back after approximately nine years, and continue to generate income for another 20 years!

Alex Waters from the TRCA demonstrates how the Solar Trailer works (Photo: Aurelia Dalinda)

On June 21, Alex Waters from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) came to Evergreen Brick Works to talk about what consumers should look for when evaluating solar energy systems and suppliers. The informative workshop demystified the new provincial micro-FIT program, kilowatts per hour (kw/h) and photovoltaics (PVs) for homeowners, and gave participants the facts and tools they’ll need when looking for the right solar energy system for their home. Attendees also got to check out the TRCA’s solar trailer, and see how the PV system measured the sun’s rays.

If you missed out on this session but are interested in learning about solar energy systems, the TRCA will be providing this workshop at EBW again in the fall. In the meantime, it will be offered at the Living City Campus at the Kortright Centre in Vaughan, ON, on Saturday, July 14.