Green government facility is Canada's solar project of the year

In accepting the award at the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) conference in Toronto, Carmanah CEO Ted Lattimore expressed his thanks on behalf of the entire project team, and commented on the global shift towards using renewable energy technology to create healthier and more efficient environments in which to live and work.

At the Jean Canfield Building's grand opening celebration this spring, the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada had declared the 500-person facility "one of the most environmentally friendly buildings ever constructed by the Government of Canada."

Complementing the building's impressive list of environmental technologies and design efficiencies, the Carmanah grid-tied solar power system uses a 636-square-meter rooftop array to generate up to 111,000 watts of electrical power from the sun's energy. A web-based interface displays key system information — including the amount of energy produced and greenhouse gases avoided — online (www.solarforbuildings.com) and on a display screen in the lobby.

As a complement to the building's primary electricity supply, the grid-tie solar power system offsets the amount of power drawn from the grid and helps keep monthly power bills low, all while reducing the building's dependency on the electrical utility.

According to Ron St. Onge, project manager with Public Works and Government Services Canada, the grid-tie solar power system supplies approximately 8-10% of the building's electrical requirements, helping to keep demand, and electricity bills, under control. "It requires virtually zero maintenance, and aside from monitoring electrical production, it's self sufficient," said St. Onge.

The CanSIA solar conference is held annually to help highlight opportunities, programs and achievements within the solar industry.