Incentives Overview | Financing Options | ICI Incentives | Community Initiatives

Natural Resources Canada Solar Thermal Initiatives

Following the successful negotiation of contribution agreements ($9 million) with the selected organizations, they will deliver projects in seven provinces resulting in the deployment of over 8,000 solar domestic water heating systems to Canadians.

Natural Resources Canada Pilot Projects in Ontario:

1. Reliance Comfort Limited Partnership – Solar Thermal Rental for New Homes
2. Sustainable Ottawa –Bulk purchase and co-operative incentive
3. Utilities Kingston – Solar Thermal
4. Bullfrog Power Inc. – Solar Thermal Leasing Pilot

Reliance Comfort Limited Partnership – Solar Thermal Rental for New Homes
For more information:  http://www.reliancehomecomfort.com/content.aspx?page=Builder%20Program&media=55
Region: Province of Ontario

Solar H2Ottawa (Sustainable Ottawa/Seventh Generation)
Solar H2Ottawa is an initiative that aims to inform consumers about the benefits of Solar Water Heating systems. The project is attempting to make the technology more accessible to consumers by offering matching incentives already provided through federal and provincial rebates. Solar H2Ottawa's goal is to stimulate the installation of 250 solar domestic hot water systems by 2010. Sustainable Ottawa has partnered with Seventh Generation Community Projects to provide educational seminars in the National Capital Region, in both English and French, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The additional incentives offered by Solar H2Ottawa amount to $1200, which have been financed through a grant from Natural Resources Canada, and will be provided to all Solar H2Ottawa subscribers throughout the upcoming 3 years. For more information on how to be a part of this great project, please visit: http://www.sustainableottawa.ca/page.php?51.

For more information:  http://www.seventhgeneration.ca/projects.html
Region:  City of Ottawa

City of Toronto Solar Neighbourhoods Initiative

The City has created and is testing a residential solar water heating pilot program in the community, "Solar Neighbourhoods," with plans to use financial incentives and community-based marketing techniques to achieve 100+ home installations in one neighbourhood (Riverdale). The pilot results will inform a possible city-wide expansion by 2011.

For more information:  http://www.toronto.ca/taf/solar.htm
Region:  South Riverdale Neighbourhood, City of Toronto (Ward 30)

Photo Credit:  Ben Marans

PURE/Orangeville Hydro Green Venture Initiative

Green Pathways Inc. has been established as a 'one-stop-shop' offering services and products associated with energy and resources conservation, efficient use of energy and resources, green power generation and other aspects of ‘green living’.

A co-venture between Orangeville Hydro Limited and Power Up Renewable Energy Co-op Inc to connect consumers with green businesses.

For more information: Tony Howard, General Manager – Green Pathways, (519) 942-2414, www.greenpathways.ca
Region:  Orangeville, Dufferin County 

Solar Bulk Buying Groups

A solar bulk-buying group is a community of individuals who pool their collective resources and expertise towards the common goal of installing solar thermal, pool heating and photovoltaic on their homes.  The advantage to bulk purchasing is that residents can work together to a) negotiate a group rate and relationship with suppliers and installation companies and b) to better understand technical elements of their projects and applications.

1. Riverdale Initiative for Solar Energy (RISE)
2. West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE)
3. Downtown West Solar energy Project (DWSEP) 
4. Guelph Solar Project (GRASP)  and
5. Valley Inititaive for Solar Energy (VISE)
6. CREW's Solar Initiative for Distributed Energy (CREWside)

For more information:  www.ourpower.ca
Regions: City of Toronto, North York, Waterloo and Guelph

Community Groups

Purchase Options: Community Projects and Co-ops
Community projects and Co-ops are a great way to learn about and invest in solar. There are bulk-buying initiatives that enable you to purchase a system for your home at a reduced rate, or co-ops that offer shares in large scale alternative energy projects.

When purchasing individual energy systems through a community initiative or co-op, technical specifications, installation, performance and total costs will vary depending on the nature of the community project, co-op structure and your specific circumstances. Interested homeowners are encouraged to contact a community bulk-buying initiative or local sustainable energy cooperative for further information and to get involved in local sustainable energy issues.

		Citizens For Renewable Energy (CFRE) CFRE promotes mainly solar and wind energy technology, but also small hydro-electric, for use in domestic, farm and small industrial applications. The goal of CFRE is to accelerate the introduction and use of clean renewable energy, thereby speeding up the phase-out of polluting fossil and nuclear energy production. For more details, visit the Citizens For Renewable Energy Web site.
		Community Power Fund (CPF) The Community Power Fund is a financing organization established to support community-owned renewable energy in Ontario. CPF’s mission is to provide financial and technical support to communities working to develop, build and own renewable energy projects. For more details, visit the Community Power Fund Web site.
		Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW) Community Renewable Energy Waterloo is a local non-profit organization dedicated to making renewable energy accessible to the citizens of Waterloo Region. CREW’s vision is to be a network of knowledgeable advocates, early adopters and interested citizens who initiate, resource and support all local projects that encourage energy conservation and sustainable use of energy or materials from naturally regenerating sources, such as wind, solar and earth energy. For more details, visit the CREW Web site.
		Durham Sustain Ability (DSA) DSA develops sustainability programs and supports actions by municipalities, businesses, community groups and individuals – practical actions that help us all learn how to achieve the balance required to move toward a sustainable future. For more details, visit the Durham Sustain Ability Web site.
		ecoPerth ecoPerth is a not-for-profit incorporation in the town of Perth, Ontario. Perth has set out on the road to show how a small town, in central Canada, can respond to the issues of climate change. Partnering with local businesses, groups and individuals, ecoPerth is about making projects happen - projects that are environmentally sustainable and economically efficient – such as their bulk buying initiative of solar water heaters. For more details, visit the ecoPerth Web site.
		Hearthmakers Energy Cooperative Hearthmakers is a cooperatively owned and community-based business that works to provide renewable energy and environmental services and products to members in the Southeastern Ontario region, including the counties of Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, and Leeds and Grenville. Hearthmakers Energy Cooperative was incorporated as a non-profit cooperative in November of 1999. Hearthmakers offers its members energy cost savings, community education and the opportunity to be owners of a renewable energy technology. For more details, visit the Hearthmakers Web site.
		Next Generation Energy Alternatives (NGEA) NGEA is a non-profit, membership-based corporation which aims to rent roof space on on condominiums, housing co-ops, and other large buildings where photovoltaic (PV) panels can be mounted to generate clean power. Electricity from these panels will be sold to the electricity grid at 42 cents per kilowatt hour for 20 years under Ontario’s Standard Offer Contract programme. For more details, visit the NGEA Web site.
		Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) OSEA is dedicated to pursuing a renewable energy renaissance in the Province of Ontario, by inspiring and supporting Ontarians in the development of their own green energy projects at home and in their communities. OSEA works to initiate, facilitate and support the work of local sustainable energy organizations through membership services, province wide capacity building and non-partisan policy work. For more details, visit the OSEA Web site.
		OurPower OurPower is the umbrella organization of community bulk-buying sustainable energy initiatives in Ontario. By working as a group – and supported by OurPower resources – individual members of community projects can receive information, peace of mind and a negotiated ‘best price’ for the purchase of residential sustainable energy systems from local suppliers. OurPower brings together homeowners, the Ontario renewable energy industry and local Ontario power utilities as partners in stimulating the sustainable energy marketplace – one neighbourhood at a time. For more details, visit the OurPower Web site.
		Peterborough Green Up The Ontario Power Authority has announced the list of projects that received financial support from its Conservation Fund during rounds two and three of 2007. The eight contracts awarded, from 40 expressions of interest and 17 proposals, equal $1.7 million. The Green Solar Audit project will research, design, market and deliver solar site audits and information kits for residential housing, covering domestic solar hot-water heating and solar photovoltaic power. The project aims to deliver 250 site audits and facilitate 75 installations while increasing market awareness of the residential applications of solar energy. For more details, visit the Green Up Web site.
		Power Up Renewable Energy (PURE) Power Up Renewable Energy is a non-profit co-operative with a mission to develop the generation of sustainable energy and promote the efficient use of energy. PURE offers community-based sustainable energy strategies for Dufferin County and the Headwaters Region. For more details, visit the PURE Web site.
		Superior Renewable Energy Cooperative (SREC) Superior Renewable Energy Cooperative’s goals are: a sustainable energy plan for Thunder Bay, a wind power co-op for the District and a vibrant Green economy for the Ontario Northwest. SREC community events have included solar thermal workshops and an annual renewable energy house tour. For more details, visit the SREC Web site.
		Sustainable Ottawa Community Energy Co-Operative Sustainable Ottawa was initiated by local citizens interested and concerned about the environment. The formation of Sustainable Ottawa is a response to collective environmental concerns, and questions about access to sustainable technologies that reduce an individual’s environmental footprint. Sustainable Ottawa exists as a buyer’s Co-Operative that provides its membership with lower prices for goods and services by organizing bulk purchases and installations of small to medium scale sustainable technologies. For more details, visit the Sustainable Ottawa Web site.
		Toronto Green Community (TGC) The Toronto Green Community is a non-profit organization working to engage and connect residents, community groups and local businesses to improve our environment, economy and quality of life. TGC's raison d'etre is to be an easy access conduit through which local residents can get involved in a hands-on way. TGC has an ongoing initiative for the bulk purchase and installation of solar water heaters and solar pool heaters. For more details, visit the Toronto Green Community Web site.
		Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) The Toronto Renewable Energy Co-op recently completed a report detailing the financial feasibility of a solar PV Co-operative in the GTA. This study is the first step towards the building of a functioning PV project to be called SolarShare. SolarShare is a project model with a community ownership structure that would allow Ontario residents to invest in and co-own, a medium to large, centrally located solar PV electrical generation facility. For more details, visit the TREC Web site.