Solar energy success

Q: Where can I learn more about making solar energy a reality in a country home I'm planning? I need facts about the cost of various systems, different suppliers and technologies, plus some sense of maintenance costs.

A: There's a lot of interest in solar energy these days because Ontario has just become the most progressive jurisdiction in all of North America as far as the promotion of photovoltaics goes.

Photovoltaics is a technology that turns sunlight directly into electricity, and our own provincial government has taken serious steps to make it mainstream. Under a program that's still being fine-tuned, homeowners can now sign up to sell power back to the utility grid for a price of 42 cents per kilowatt-hour. And this price is guaranteed for the next 20 years. This is a great start, but you certainly need more information to make solar a reality. And beyond photovoltaics, there are also the issues of solar water heating and space heating. The Canadian Solar Industries Association is an industry association of solar technology suppliers and their website is an excellent starting point for your quest.