Thanks to a $40,000 endowment, four senior living units in Naramata, British Columbia, have recently switched to solar power.
The Centennial House, a 2007-built four-plex, is run by the Naramata Seniors Housing Society.
Earlier this year, the society applied for a grant through Canada-based SkyFire Energy Systems to have a new solar system. They were awarded the endowment and officially flipped the switches on Saturday.
“So during the summer months, when the sun in the Okanagan is plentiful, it will generate power and get credits from FortisBC, said Vince Boutilier with the Naramata Seniors Housing Society.
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In the off season, when the sun is not so prevalent, we’ll use those credits to offset the power demands of the centre for the full year basically.
“According to the society, residents are in charge of paying for their own power and heating, and the solar system is intended to lower monthly costs.
One of our residents recently reported that his summer expenses were $0, for the entire summer, and that he had building credits for the winter, according to Boutilier.
“So, for seniors who are obviously on a fixed income, that greatly offsets the expense of electricity.
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Boutilier continued by stating that without the assistance of the community, this facility would not have been finished and many elders would have been forced to move.
People from the neighbourhood showed up to swing hammers, paintbrushes, and shovels, and when building was underway, they contributed money, said Boutilier.
“The community sold $220,000 worth of bonds, thus this project was essentially built by the community.
The Summerland Solar and Storage Project, which is expected to begin next year, will be developed by SkyFire, the solar system’s creator.
New solar energy system unveiled at a seniors’ complex in Naramata, British Columbia
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