Social Housing - solar electricity and hot water renewable energy systems

Sustainable Energy for Social Housing

The government's release of REI grants for renewable energy systems is providing funds for many Not-for-Profit institutions across the province, to cover the costs of installing solar PV and solar thermal projects.

Coupled with the OPA's MicroFIT incentives this is a significant opportunity. Not only are these facilities enhancing their environmental responsibilities but they are adding a significant income stream to their operating budgets.

Who Are We?

Sunrise Solar is an integrator of renewable solar

energy technologies actively engaged in the Social

Housing sector. We provide project management,

design and consultation, sales, installation,

system monitoring with front lobby applications,

financing options, staff training and tenant

educational programs.

The bulk of our products are produced by local

Ontario manufacturers including SolGate, Solectria

and Enphase, giving us 68% Ontario content

that far surpasses the stringent OPA compliance

requirements becoming effective January 1, 2011.

We work exclusively with seasoned service

partners who bring specialized expertise, proven

track records and full accreditation in the areas of

roofing, engineering, electrical connection and roof

anchor placement.

Sunrise's executive team has years of senior

experience in project management and customer

satisfaction within the banking sector, wealth

management, retailing, packaged goods marketing

and renewable energies. The balance of Sunrise

associates function in a variety of field-sales

capacities, and are located in core areas across

Southern Ontario close to large pockets of the

population and in primary commercial areas.

For Those Not on the $70 Million Grant List

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has just released conditional grants across Ontario for social housing energy projects.

For those facilities who have not received grants but may still be interested in solar energy there is still good news.

Several financing packages are available that make renewable technologies a very viable and rewarding opportunity, some of which require no-money-down and no monthly payments.

Sunrise can introduce these options to you and give you a better understanding of how they work and how big the advantages are.

Give us a call and we'll have some get back to you immediately 1-877-390-4786.

Frequently asked Renewable Energy Initiatives (REI) questions

Call Sunrise Solar Today

For more information or to submit an RFP Proposal.

1-877-390-4SUN (4786)

Note: Only qualified vendors appearing on the OPA's Vendor of Record (VOR) list can work with Social Housing facilities to install renewable energy technologies.

Sunrise Poised to Help REI Project Managers

With the Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) in full swing many Social Housing facilities have received conditional allocations, have issued RFP's and are now reviewing their list of possible solar vendors.

Sunrise has been actively engaged with a number of these RFP's and have provided a litany of responses demonstrating our expertise and enthusiasm:

We have experience delivering a number of very innovative and creative solutions that place your staff, Tenant Board and tenants in a position of better understanding how solar energy works, how to properly assess it's benefits and how to optimize the social advantages of going green within the community.

We have a strong understanding of working along side consultants that may be driving your solar energy project or with other building trades that we may be working in unison with.

We know how to manage existing roofing anchors that often hinder the installation of a planned solar application.

We have solutions to motivate your tenants to consider self reduction techniques during their personal energy use.

Our timing forecasts spell out exactly when and where we are during the installation process, and we are experienced in staging pre-planned status meetings through-out the project to keep you better informed.

We can provide the combination of Solar PV and Solar Thermal under a single proposal.

And there is so much more depending on any given situation or any given project.

Please give us a call and we'll respond immediately because we understand what "crunch time" means.

You can reach Sunrise at 1-877-390-4786

Multiple Options for Co Ops to Consider under MicroFIT

Service Managers are free to decide which type of renewable energy project they wish to install, from a list of 5 options.

Two of these options (Solar PV and Solar Thermal) appear to be the leading candidates through-out the province.

One of these options (Solar PV) qualifies for the OPA MicroFIT program and pays 80.2 / kWh of energy production* that's sold back to the grid.

* For Solar PV that meets Ontario content requirements (40% until Dec 31, 2010 / 60% as of Jan 1, 2011) and that is under 10 kW in size. Small Wind also qualify's for the MicroFIT program at incentive levels of 13.5 cents / kW produced and sold back.

Renewable Energy Checklist

Once you've secured financing for your renewable energy project there are some important considerations that should be taken into account, that will provide a starting point for discussion with your solar provider:

1. The optimum time a system should be put in is when the roof is new or has recently been replaced. Removing already installed solar panels is a fairly easy task (solar panels will outlast most new roofs anyway and this operation will be required at some point), but if it can be avoided early it's obviously better.

2. Solar panels add about 4 lbs per square foot and can be accommodated by most roofs (consider the weight of anyone walking on the roof and the much smaller footprint they apply), yet older facilities might require some structural work.

3. Thought must be given to avoiding the disturbance of any vents, HVAC equipment, roof anchors or other structures.

4. Be mindful of trees or other sun barriers when designing your array as they might cause shading. Shade dramatically impairs power output, and tree pruning or landscaping may need to be addressed.

5. Systems installed facing south will deliver the optimum amount of sunlight and provide a more efficient power return.

6. Systems are optimally installed on pitched or flat roofs with brackets that ensure an appropriate tilt, as they are positioned to face south. Balasts will also be used on flat roofs with membranes.

7. When reviewing solar quotes be sure the costs include everything from building permits to grid hookup and system monitoring programs. Making sure the supplier is only using accredited roofers, licensed elctricians and registered engineers will help the process run smoothly, and checking to see what levels of workmanship warranties and insurance coverage are provided will add to your piece of mind.

Guideline to MMAH $70.4 million Renewable Energy Initiative (REI)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Renewable Energy Vendor List 2

MMAH Housing Programs 3

REI Eligible Expenditures 3

Ineligible Expenditures 4

Funding 4

Addition Funding Sources 5

Program Timing 5

Project Approvals 6

Renewable Energy Approvals 7

Funding Agreements 7

Ministerial Consents 7

Payments for Projects 7

Reporting 8

From roof mount to ground mount call Sunrise

Residential and

Solutions for a brighter day!