Not only are garages set back from major shade structures, they also provide a number of advantages such as easy rooftop access, convenient and simple wiring options, lower wind load, and hip roofs which allow at lest some of the modules to face due south. Such advantages make for more affordable installations, with greater overall production.
It’s not just economists whose eyes have been fixed on falling oil prices and the value of the Canadian dollar. Whenever fossil fuel prices fall, the overall financial appeal of renewable resources is bound to be questioned. But this blanket assessment can be deceiving. While some large-scale renewable energy investments may be delayed due to […]
Dow’s Powerhouse solar energy shingles are now available in Canada and VREC is ready to install them here in Vancouver.
This summer, VREC installed a new solar pool heater on the roof of the Slumber Lodge in Hope, BC. Solar pool heaters have allowed for GHG-free 3-season pool use for decades. Water is simply circulated through hundreds of small rubberized tubes on the hot roof whenever the roof temperature exceeds that of the pool. The […]
Often we are asked if it makes sense to install solar energy when we live in area where our electricity is primarily hydro power – a fairly “green” energy source. An IPPC study found that Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy has a carbon intensity of 48 g CO2e / kWh. This figure includes full life-cycle emissions. […]
VREC has installed 2 new Photovoltaic projects in Tsawwassen, British Columbia.
A new video summarizes the work VREC has done over the past 10 years to add solar energy to BC’s grid. This video was produced for the National Co-op Challenge. To learn more about the community owned energy project mentioned at the end of the video visit: www.solshare.ca
The summer of 2014 marks 10 years since Vancouver Renewable Energy incorporated. During those ten years we have installed solar energy systems on homes, businesses and public institutions. The installations have included solar photovoltaic (both grid-tie and off-grid) as well as solar thermal. Over the past 10 years we have watched the price of photovoltaic […]
A big thank you to Argyle Secondary School’s Environmental Club for inviting VREC to participate in their first Sustainability Fair, which brought in businesses and organizations from all over the lower mainland that are working toward goals of reducing our environmental footprint and sharing the tools to do so. While our mini solar hot water […]
VREC recently received an email from Robin Hanvelt, a customer whose garage and house are now proudly bearing 21 solar photovoltaic panels. In most industries, no news is good news once a project is finished. So when an email popped up from Robin with the subject, “Should I expect this type of peak power in […]