Building - Going Solar 2012

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Shine A Light Profiling the benefits and advantages of solar power in the building sector

Going Solar 2012

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“The business case for solar just keeps getting better,” says Jim McLellan, Director of Real Estate for Purolator Courier Ltd., after the Canadian-based shipping giant announced on August 9 that five of its Ontario facilities would be outfitted with rooftop photovoltaic solar modules. “The cost of the systems keeps going down, they are more efficient and often backed by blue chip companies, making them more reliable.“ McLellan is not alone in his assessment. Property managers across Canada eager to reduce environmental footprints while improving bottom lines are finding the solution lies with solar. Acute public interest, solid government support and slick technological advances all collide to make now a great time to integrate solar photovoltaic power generation into property and business plans.

Solar is the perfect energy source; it is abundant, free and clean. No one can assert ownership rights or tighten political grips on the radiation the sun emits. In fact, it is so perfect the earth has been feasting elegantly on solar energy for billions of years, and for the proportional speck of time that humans have co-habited the place, we followed the cue.

But somehow, during our rapid industrialization in the 20th century, we got distracted – seriously distracted. Mary Guzowski, 2

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in her 2010 book Towards Zero Energy Architecture: New Solar Design, blames improved distribution, and suggests that the development of wide networks of roads, pipelines and shipping routes momentarily made the transport of energy in the form of fossil fuels more attractive than other energy sources. With oil reserves exhausting, though, that moment may be over and renewable energies like solar are returning to focus, especially for property managers.

Space = Profit Property managers control the one commodity needed to make solar power generation profitable: space. In one hour, more solar energy hits the Earth than our planet’s population uses in an entire year and therefore our ability to capture and convert radiation into a useable format is the only barrier to an almost endless supply of clean electricity.

Although there are many affordable and popular methods to employ passive solar capture with building design, active forms like solar photovoltaics (PV), which convert sunlight to electricity, typically require more expense and effort. But because electricity can be stored for later use or distributed into a community grid, solar PV also has wider appeal in the business context.

NEW OLD ENERGY

The New Old Energy Acute public interest, solid government support and slick technological advances all collide to make now a great time to integrate solar photovoltaic power generation into property and business plans.

By Andrew Sobchak

A Devil’s Circle Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s in Canada, levels of government support for the solar industry lagged far behind those received by other domestic energy industries like fossil fuels or nuclear. The playing field was not level and advancements in solar PV technology consequently languished. The industry was caught in what Bob Johnstone describes as a ‘devil’s circle’ in his 2011 book Switching to Solar: What We Can Learn From Germany’s Success In Harnessing Clean Energy: the perpetually high cost of PV modules drove down demand; few orders meant economies of scale in production were not achieved; and inefficient production in turn lead back to higher consumer costs. To spark success an external catalyst was necessary to break the cycle and make solar PV competitive.

Feed-in Tariff: The Solar Saviour The game-changer was the Feed-in Tariff (FIT). First employed in the U.S. in 1978, but popularized in Germany throughout the past two decades, FIT programs paid energy entrepreneurs for the surplus power they pumped into community grids. People were handsomely compensated to produce clean energy above their domestic needs. Grid access was guaranteed, long term contracts between micro producer and power authority were struck and unit prices fixed at rates proportional to the methods of generation. The playing field had been levelled and suddenly solar was competitive. In 1990s Germany, demand for solar technology exploded, costs plummeted and now Johnstone estimates half of the planet’s solar installations are in that country.

Stimulus in Canada Due to the unparalleled success of the German model, the FIT phenomenon spread around the world, currently employed in over 15 countries including Canada. But even today, Canada’s attempts at solar industry stimulus are seeing mixed results, employing an oft-confusing array of net-metering incentives, tariffs

and straightforward equipment subsidies. While Alberta, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island currently employ a FITstyle incentive, with Saskatchewan kicking the tires on a similar program, Ontario’s version is the most advanced in the nation.

A major plank in Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Green Energy Act platform, the Ontario FIT program was designed to help the province phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2014 and is billed as the largest program of its kind in North America. By August 5, 2011 over eight thousand applications to the program had been submitted to the Ontario Power Authority, of which 94 per cent were for solar PV projects, accounting for 19,730 MW of clean electricity. Of those already reviewed, 74 per cent were approved and offered contracts.

The price paid to micro producers for solar PV generated electricity as of June 3, 2011 ranged from $0.443/kWh for groundmounted systems with capacities less than 10 MW to $0.713/ kWh for rooftop modules with capacities less than 250 MW. The FIT program guarantees the OPA will compensate at these rates for the duration of typically 20 year contracts, but the rates applied to new contracts will decline as system capacities adjust and grid parity is approached.

Tariffs by nature are exclusionary trade practices that har-

“In one hour, more solar energy hits Earth than our planet’s population uses in an entire year, which means our ability to capture and convert radiation into a useable format is the only barrier to an almost endless supply of clean electricity.”

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bour an often fledgling and weak corner of a local economy.

Despite the eco-friendly undertones, the Ontario FIT program is no exception. The Green Energy Act was passed, in part, to fuel domestic job creation in green manufacturing and make Ontario the solar capital of Canada. The program appears to be working. 51 per cent of the 650 solar equipment manufacturers and industry service providers represented by the national trade organization Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) are located in Ontario. Additionally, a study released in July by research group ClearSky Advisors Inc. suggests private investment in Ontario solar will reach $12.8 billion by 2018, supporting 74,000 person years of employment. By the end of 2012, employment in the sector is expected to increase by a staggering 40 per cent over 2011 rates.

Purolator: Achieving Triple Bottom Line Helping grow Ontario’s green economy is a priority for Purolator, too. “[The Solar Rooftop project] creates a triple benefit,” states McLellan. “The generated revenue assists with investments in future capabilities; it produces clean energy and creates green jobs.” Over 20 years, the company projects the initiative will generate 22.4 million kWh of energy and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide contributions in a quantity equivalent to taking 1,000 cars off the road for a year. “The program is an important element of our sustainability efforts,” adds McLellan, acknowledging Purolator’s commitment to ethical 4

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operation and stewardship, but the “revenue in the pockets of those organizations willing to commit to solar” is a bonus, too.

But Purolator is not in the business of solar harvesting and what makes the project viable for them is their ability to tap into external expertise. The company signed a lease agreement with project partner SunEdison that allows Purolator to monetize their roof space immediately, while SunEdison oversees all installation, operation and maintenance of the rooftop modules.

SunEdison absorbs the variable profits while paying Purolator a set fee for the right to use their space. Besides giving the keys to SunEdison, Purolator does not expect to sink any additional resources into the project.

TDSB: Solar Funds School Repair On May 19, the Toronto District School Board announced it would be using a similar partnership model that would see the deployment of solar panels on hundreds of school rooftops. When fully implemented, the project, serviced by AMP Solar LP, is expected to yield close to 66 MW of electricity each year -- or roughly the equivalent annual usage of 6,000 Toronto households -- with TDSB’s lease fees being put towards roof repair for 450 schools.

AMP Solar has already assessed over 150 schools from the board’s portfolio, and found 61 that are in need of repair. However, they might fix a roof, but not necessarily use it to install solar panels on. “Part of this deal is that the roofing [repairs] and

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Left page: the widely-acclaimed Drake Landing master planned neighbourhood in Okotoks, Alta. has successfully integrated solar PV technology as part of district heating system designed to store solar energy underground during the summer months and distribute it to each home for space heating needs during winter months. Above: Solar PV roof panels like these from SunEdison may improve the building’s LEED score and generate significant income.

Photo courtesy of SunEdison.

where the panels go is not linked directly. There are roofs that we will fix that we do not put solar panels on because the structural assembly of the building cannot hold the weight,” says Dave Rogers, president and CEO of AMP Solar Group. AMP Solar Group is in joint venture with Potential Solar Inc. as AMP Solar LP for the contract.

This arrangement works because the solar company already knows that even if some school buildings can’t support panels, across the board there are roofs able to install 300,000 panels, enough to generate 66 MW of electricity.

The TDSB project is unique not only because of the additional revenue stream it creates for the perpetually cashstrapped school board, but as José Etcheverry, president of the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance notes, “At 66 megawatts, the project is in the same league as the world’s leading solar projects...and represents an historic educational and innovation landmark for public institutions across Canada and North America.”

Project partnership is not the only option for property managers. For example, in 2010 IKEA Canada installed and internally operates $4.6 million worth of solar PV modules on three of their furniture retail stores in Etobicoke, North York and Vaughan, but the low maintenance alternatives pursued by Purolator and the TDSB are trending popular in the FIT-induced solar climate of Ontario. The compromise in revenue is the price of peace of mind in this rapidly advancing industry.

A FIT Future Despite these promising cases, the unveiling of Ontario’s FIT has been bumpy. Because of the unexpectedly high level of interest in the program, applicants typically endure prolonged review times, increasing administration fees and delayed connections to the grid.

The uneven rate of approvals reverberates right through the supply chain as some solar equipment manufacturers contemplate layoffs to deal with irregular demand, while delayed grid connections force micro-producers to bear the weight of significant capital costs before the first kW of power trickles in. Tim Wohlgemut of ClearSky Advisors thinks we are facing the make or break year for solar. “[Soon] it will become clear whether the Ontario market will be a flash in the pan or will gain the momentum to become a longterm sustainable industry,” he says.

CanSIA president Elizabeth McDonald’s advice to property managers interested in solar: do the homework. “Solar is a big investment,” she notes. The Canadian solar PV industry is young and with youth comes some instability and risk. However, it is under these conditions that early adopters like Purolator stand to reap the greatest benefit. So impressed with solar’s ability to improve their triple bottom line, McLellan and company are already considering a future expansion of their Solar Rooftop program to an additional six facilities. The continuing government support of solar PV makes these programs possible now, but when the industry reaches grid parity, Purolator will be well ahead of the curve, having reduced their environmental footprint and made money along the way.

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The new Green Energy Act has created a tremendous opportunity for individuals and businesses to implement solar PV systems in a way that not only benefits the environment but also benefits the bottom line. However, as building and land owners with space for solar panels begin to examine the practical considerations of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, they realize that implementation can be complex.

At the outset, there are all of the project implementation complexities that must be considered ranging from initial feasibility studies to the technology to be installed. Next, there are the short and long-term financing issues as well as the upfront capital commitments. Then, there is installation, maintenance, monitoring and upkeep requirements over the 20 year term of the Feed-in Tariff contract -- on top of running their core businesses.

But don’t be dissuaded. The payoff can be substantial and worth the time and effort. Under Ontario’s new Feed-in Tariff Program, you can build a new revenue stream for your organization and reap dividends for environmental leader6

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ship. The best part is that through a standard solar services model, you can participate in solar without disruption to your business or the headaches of financing and implementation issues.

In general, these are the top four “high level” things to consider when solidifying your solar strategy: 1. Is Your Location Viable?

Many factors determine whether your site is well suited for the installation of a solar PV system. These include but are not limited to: available roof/land space; roof height; roof age and condition; available structural capacity; local wind exposure; local and environmental permitting requirements, among others.

The rule of thumb we use is that you need at least 40,000 square feet of roof space or 50 acres of vacant land for a commercial-scale PV project. If you meet these basic criteria, then get the ball rolling by having a solar developer analyze your property’s characteristics.

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS

Step into the Sun Thinking about installing a large-scale solar project?

Here are the top four things to consider.

By Jason Gray

Image ©ATB Becker

2. Experienced Partner(s) Solar services companies are popping up all over Ontario as a direct result of the Feed-in Tariff Program. Some are start-ups; some have provided other energy-related services and are diversifying into solar; others have been around for awhile but only provide one piece of the solution; others are full-service.

Make sure you choose a partner(s) who can implement all the pieces you want. Though the structure of the Feed-in Tariff makes implementation seem relatively simple and straightforward, actual project implementation remains fairly complex.

Experienced companies will understand how best to navigate the technological, regulatory, permitting and financing complexities to bring your project to fruition. Find out how many successful solar PV systems they’ve completed in the last one year, three years, and five years. Check their references.

3. Financing Structure There are two primary business models to consider when evaluating a potential solar PV program. The first is the traditional direct sale model involving significant capital expenditure to purchase the actual equipment. The second model is the solar services model where a solar company will own and operate the system and simply pay the host a roof lease. Key considerations are a host organization’s access to capital and method for evaluating returns.

Customers with access to significant capital sources may elect to own the systems outright and collect the FIT revenue. This puts your organization’s capital dollars at risk in the solar project but does offer the benefits of ownership. Typical unlevered returns are in the neighborhood of 10 per cent. Under the lease model, there is an immediate no cost revenue stream that goes straight to the bottom line. No investment means the host has an infinite ROI with an NPV that is higher than the ownership option in most cases.

What most organizations don’t appreciate about solar PV projects is that financing is one of the most crucial elements of

long-term success. With FIT providing a 20-year revenue stream from the solar energy generated on your site(s), ensure you align yourself with partner(s)/supplier(s) with strong relationships with financial institutions and the ability to secure the best rates possible (and therefore, the greatest returns to you).

4. You’re In It for the Long-Term Just as important as making sure that your solar project is properly launched is making sure that it is supported with the utmost care. Whether owning the system outright or participating in a rooftop lease, choose a maintenance partner that has very specific experience with your equipment. Ensure they have 24/7 monitoring capabilities and can very quickly make the adjustments necessary to maximize the system’s efficiency – this is key for sustaining maximum financial benefit from the investment. Ask potential suppliers to itemize the kinds of preventative maintenance they will perform, how they will minimize disruption to your business and how they plan to help you capitalize on the “green” value of the project through various marketing initiatives.

The future of solar power is assured. The question isn’t whether we will all be involved in the movement toward this powerful, clean energy source, but when.

Jason Gray, Director of Canadian Operations for SunEdison, works closely with provincial regulatory entities to help develop the marketplace and make solar energy a viable renewable energy solution for Canada. Recently Gray played a major role in the development and activation of First Light; Canada’s first operational solar energy park, a 9.1 MW ground-mount power plant located in Stone Mills, Ontario.

For more information on Ontario’s Feed-In Tarif f Program, go to http://fit.powerauthority.on.ca.

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Rooftop Risks Installing a solar PV system on your building’s roof can be ‘green’ and profitable, but the project requires careful planning and awareness of the risks.

By Vladimir Naoumov

Solar energy generation is quickly becoming a mainstream business. It contributes to sustainability and can be done profitably with appropriate incentives. Installing a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) system on your roof may improve the building’s LEED score or generate significant income. The financial side of solar PV projects has been a hot topic lately, while risks and their mitigation are commonly neglected.

The current life expectancy of a solar PV system is 25 to 30 years. Two major questions must be considered prior to asking for quotes: is the roof suitable for a solar PV installation; and how do you want to be involved in this solar project?

A good roof should have several characteristics, the most crucial one being sufficient space. Roof space is often used up for air handling units, gas pipes and other equipment. Future building upgrades that require roof space should also be carefully considered. As a ball park number, a 100 kW system would require about 20,000 square feet of unobstructed space on a flat roof or half of that on a tilted one. This space should be shadow free, as even a small shade will cause significant loss of energy production.

Apart from having the required space the roof should also be 8

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new or due for re-roofing. The cost of installation is up to a quarter of the project cost. Temporarily removing the system for reroofing or repairs will cost dearly. An ideal roof has enough life left to outlive the solar system, or is old enough to be replaced prior to installation. The roof should also be structurally sound.

The installation will contribute to the dead load, wind load and snow accumulation, thus the roof ’s structural integrity should be verified prior to the installation.

The final consideration that you need to make when assessing the site is grid capacity. If the system is to be connected to the grid, the local distribution company should be consulted to ensure smooth integration.

“Feasibility level” roof assessment is often offered by solar developers free of charge, but there is a price to pay. When accepting a free assessment you commit to making your decision based on information provided by a salesman.

Now you must consider how you want to be involved in the project. There are three common options on which a variety of practical solutions are based: leasing the roof; owning a system built by someone else; and building your own.

ROOFTOP RISKS Lease your roof In this case another company designs, builds, owns and operates the system while paying you rent. Although most risks would lie with the new tenant, responsibility for roof condition through the project life, as well as for other uses of the roof, stays with the owner. No investment is required, but financial gain is also low.

In some cases solar projects can be structured in ways that the developer finances re-roofing in lieu of lease payments.

Own a system designed and built by another company In addition to roof-related risks, the owner will be exposed to the energy production and system malfunction risks. This option requires substantial investment, but can offer savings from using electricity or revenues by selling it to the grid.

between the highest potential energy output and actual roof location, structure and condition, as well as between different panel, racking and inverter technologies. Although panels are becoming a commodity, one should look at their bankability, efficiency versus cost and track record in other projects. The same goes for inverters. Racking should be tuned to roof location and structure.

Regardless of the design chosen it should be properly installed.

Apart from the concerns about your roof during the installation period, one should be wary that the system is installed as designed and without damage to the cabling or the panels themselves.

Once the system is on the roof, its operation requires care. A maintenance schedule is a must, as some electrical components should be regularly inspected. The owner should expect to replace a central inverter in about 10 years, while micro inverters will need replacement much more often due to their large number and shorter life expectancy. To help with operating the system we recommend having a monitoring system. Such system

Design, build and own the system Additional profit comes from margins on equipment procurement, design and installation. This option may interest owners of a big portfolio of roofs. It offers the highest profits but comes with the highest risks.

Whichever option you choose, installation may affect your ability to access the roof for many years.

The cheapest system, or the most advanced one, To allow for work to be done on the roof carrying a solar system, be by no means ensures the best ROI. An unbiased it roof repair or installation of professional analysis of available options and risks, HVAC equipment, the property owner should plan the installation as well as careful project planning and implementation, keeping several things in mind.

System design may affect the ease provides for a profitable worry-free solar project. of access and repairs – some systems are easier to relocate than others. Some systems allow roof access even in the under-panel allows you to keep track of energy production and helps identify area. Then there are legal considerations -- if you lease the problems as soon as they arise. This in turn leads to lower downroof, ensure that your contract allows you access to the areas of time and less money and efforts spent on repairs. the roof you may need -- as well as organizational and financial Even if the property owner chooses to lease the roof, system – who will relocate the equipment if necessary and who will design and quality of components still matter. Along with pospay for it? And finally insurance – are you insured against the sible damage to the roof structure and membrane, inadequate potential losses in the case of system malfunction or tempodesign may cause excessive maintenance traffic on the roof and rary relocation? even the inability of solar tenant to pay the lease.

Solar installation may also affect the roof warranty due to The cheapest system, or the most advanced one, by no means damage of the membrane during installation, additional wear ensures the best ROI. An unbiased professional analysis of and tear resulting from unforeseen traffic on the roof, or from available options and risks, as well as careful project planning excessive loads on the roof structure due to system weight, wind and implementation, provides for a profitable worry-free solar load or snow accumulation. This risk can be mitigated through project. adequate system design, contracting and co-operation with your current roofer.

Vladimir Naoumov B.A.Sci, LEED GA, is a project manager with If the property owner chooses to own a PV system fully or GreenQ Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in helping landpartially, energy production equals revenue. Energy production lords set up rooftop solar PV projects to maximize their ROI and can depend on a variety of factors. System design and used comlower project risks. He can be reached at vnaoumov@greenq.ca ponents are key to a good energy yield. The design is a balance Going Solar 2012

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SOLAR AND ARCHITECTURE

Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture An ongoing international survey is looking at the integration of solar energy systems and architecture in order to identify barriers that architects are facing in incorporating active solar technologies in their design.

By Miljana Horvat

International Energy Agency - Solar Heating and Cooling Programme’s Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture is a threeyear long project that involves more than 45 researchers, academics, professionals and graduate students from 14 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The ultimate goal of the project is to make architecture a driving force for the use of solar energy in buildings, to instigate high-quality, inspiring architecture that utilizes active and passive solar strategies, to identify obstacles that architects are facing in the implementation of these strategies, improve their qualifications and interactions with engineers, manufacturers and clients.

In order to do so, IEA-SHC Task 41 is divided into the three subtasks: Subtask A deals with developing criteria for architectural integration of solar energy systems; Subtask B investigates methods and tools for solar design, their adequacy and accessibility to architects; Subtask C develops educational tools, by establishing relevant concepts, guidelines and case studies.

Out of 48 current and past (completed) Tasks that have been done under the umbrella of IEA-SHC Programme, this is the first one that addresses the issues of utilization of solar energy in buildings purely from the architects’ point of view. This is important research, because we know that up to 80 per cent of design decisions that could influence a building’s energy performance, such as form (shape), orientation, façade design, materiality, glazing, etc., are made at the early design stage by architects. Integration of both passive strategies and active solar technologies can truly be effective only if they are dealt with from the earliest stages of the design process and conceptual design stage done by architects. The question is, however, whether architects have the right tools to do it.

In order to identify the obstacles that architects are facing in the implementation of solar strategies in their designs, two international surveys were conducted concurrently throughout 2010. One survey was related to Subtask A and architectural

integration of solar energy systems, and the other with Subtask B and methods and tools for solar design. Both surveys were developed jointly by experts from all participating countries and were translated into 10 languages.

Unfortunately, due to the uneven funding supports, the distribution of surveys varied from country to country: from posting the links on architectural professional associations’ websites and in newsletters, to direct contact by e-mail to architectural offices. Therefore, for many countries it is impossible to determine the response rates with absolute certainty. It is also possible that received responses are somewhat biased: it can be assumed that architects who are interested in solar design in the first place actually took the time to respond to surveys. However, the received answers can still provide good indications of general needs and obstacles that architects interested in actively utilizing solar strategies in their design are facing in different countries. The confirmation for these findings also stemmed from the literature review of similar studies done in the past.

Although, in general, it seems that many issues raised by architects between all 14 participating countries are common, some regional differences can be noticed. This article will present the preliminary responses of both surveys from Canadian architects and show how they relate in comparison with overall international survey results.

Subtask A: Architectural integration of solar components In Canada, both surveys were distributed in English and French; for the most part, the responses are comparable, although in some cases the influence of the context can be easily observed.

Quebec’s very unique advantage of having inexpensive supply of electricity from renewable sources can make a difference in the popularity of solar electricity generation technologies.

In general, the majority (72 per cent) of all Canadian architects who responded consider the use of solar energy an important part of their practice. However, when asked how often they Going Solar 2012 11

SOLAR AND ARCHITECTURE incorporate some of the solar strategies in their designs, the most common votes were for passive heating and daylighting strategies, while active solar systems are only used sporadically. When used, building-added systems are utilized considerably more than building-integrated components, although building integrated solar thermal systems have some advantage over BIPVs. As main obstacles to better utilization of active solar technologies, the architects in Canada listed the following (in order of significance): economic feasibility (payback time too long); then lack of interest from client; lack of clear information on existing incentives (subsidies, feed-in-tariffs); as well as lack of sufficient technical knowledge by architect and lack of sufficient knowledge from client/developer. Interestingly, “lack of government incentives” category was selected more often in Quebec (55 per cent) then in the rest of Canada (30 per cent). As a comparison, on the international level, the main barriers are identified in knowledge and available information categories, while economy is in third place. In addition, the architects in surveyed countries other than Canada are much more demanding in the attractiveness of active solar systems and their ability to be truly integrated into building envelopes as a component.

As a strategy to overcome these barriers, Canadian architects would like to see: lower product prices (53 per cent); government incentives, i.e. subsidies and/ or feed-in-tariffs (50 per cent); availability of architecturally appealing products designed for better building integration (29 per cent); availability of simplified computer tools for architects (28 per cent); availability of architecturally orientated information, such as handbooks, seminars, etc. (30 per cent). While economy is still the dominant strategy to encourage the use of solar strategies in architecture on the international level (42 per cent), improved design processes and better tools rank second place (26 per cent), while availability of aesthetically pleasing products suitable for better architectural integration and availability of information on products ranked lower with 12 per cent and 11 per cent responses respectively. This can be explained by the broader variety of available products and lower prices in countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark and especially Switzerland, who have a deeper and broader history of utilizing solar technologies.

The full detailed report on Subtask A survey is under final revisions and will soon be available on the IEA-SHC Task 41 website: http://www.iea-shc.org/task41/index.html

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Subtask B: Methods and tools for solar design This survey intended to find out if and how existing design methods and design tools are suitable for the successful utilization of both active and passive solar strategies at the early design phase (EDP). Identified challenges include insufficient skills in solar or energy simulation tools, and commonly held perceptions that these tools are too complex, expensive, and time-consuming, are not well-integrated into CAD software, or simply not suitable for the early design stage. Finally, the results show that tools need to be simpler, that the interoperability between software needs to be improved, that tools should provide key data about solar energy aspects as well as explicit feedback to the architect, and that tools need a better visualization especially for active solar energy systems.

Concerning design methods, results indicate that in the majority of cases, architects handled solar integration by themselves. In some cases, in the EDP, they consulted a colleague architect with specific experience, a building science specialist, or an external and internal solar energy consultant. In addition, results show that respondents used mostly Integrated Design Process-IDP which means that respondents are involved with other professionals, such as engineers and experts, in multidisciplinary teams. They also used intuitive design process which refers to their own experiences. Lastly, energy-oriented design method is used, which indicates that the interest about solar energy utilization is real. The respondents’ design method was often based on experiences, interactions with the owner, collaboration with others, design guidelines and computer simulations. These design methods were used more often than the utilization of several propositions to evaluate possibilities, interactions with future users of the building, rules of thumb and expert systems architecture. Current barriers were that methods were unsystematic, did not support decision-making process in a satisfactory manner and did not improve the knowledge about solar technologies.

A report on the results of the international survey has just been published and placed on the IEA-SHC Task 41 website.

This research has yielded important insights about how to improve digital tools for architects to make it easier to integrate solar installations into building designs.

Subtask C: concepts, guidelines, case studies An international committee of professional architects, educators and researchers are collecting a series of successful examples of built projects and conceptual designs that are unifying superior performance of both active and passive applied solar strategies with exceptional architectural expression. These case studies will be organised in an interactive database that will serve as an educational tool for architectural students and professionals interested in solar design.

SOLAR AND ARCHITECTURE Next steps The final stage of Task 41 includes distribution and dissemination of findings. In the planning are a series of seminars that will be given through local professional associations and/ or university lecture series in order to increase awareness of importance and accessibility of solar strategies and instigate better and innovative architectural designs. The other outcomes/publications will include guidelines for better architectural integrations of active solar components, guidelines for architects on tools for solar design, and guidelines to software developers in order to improve current digital tools for solar design.

Miljana Horvat, M.Arch, Ph.D (Bldg.Eng.), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson University. She can be reached at 416-979-5000, ex. 6512 or mhorvat@ryerson.ca

Team Canada participants

National Team Canada in the IEA-SHC Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture are represented by: • Dr. Miljana Horvat, professor, Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson University; • Dr. Marie-Claude Dubois, formerly of the École d’Architecture at the Université Laval in Quebec, now at the Division of Energy and Building Design, Lund University, Sweden (Dr. Horvat and Dr. Dubois are also co-leaders of the entire Subtask B); Current students: • Émilie Bouffard, Master of Architecture, Université Laval, Québec; • Andrew Colucci, Master of Building Science, Ryerson University, Toronto; • Caroline Hachem, PhD student, Concordia University, Montréal; • Shirley Gagnon, Master of Architecture, Université Laval, Québec; Former members (graduates and now professionals): • Alissa Laporte, graduate of B.Arch.Sci, Ryerson University; • Michael Clesle, graduate of M.Arch, Ryerson University.

Each country involved in the International Energy Agency’s Solar Heating and Cooling Program must secure its own research funding.

Financial support for Team Canada’s participation in Task 41 is provided by Natural Resources Canada: CanmetENERGY/Sustainable Buildings and Communities Group.

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SOLAR SCHOOLS

An Educated Approach to Solar Three schools across Canada have incorporated advanced solar technology as both renewable energy solutions and teaching tools for the budding eco-conscious generation.

By Rhys Phillips

If Canada’s federal government has sometimes appeared ambivalent about the need for green technology, the provincial jurisdictions have been more aggressive in investing in alternative energy sources. The three educational institutions profiled below, one in Nova Scotia and two in Ontario, have all incorporated advanced solar technology as renewable energy solutions while two have also done so to generate income and to provide sophisticated teaching tools.

Bluenose Academy: Harvesting a sometimes elusive sun If you intend to build within the boundaries of a UNESCO World Heritage District, an acute sensitivity to the existing built environment is a must. The distinctive maritime vernacular architecture of Lunenburg, N.S. is justifiably renowned.

The town’s vibrant colours and intimate scale, as well as the nearby and very visible presence of the historic Lunenburg Academy (1906), presented John Crace of Halifax-based WHW Architects with a challenge when designing the Bluenose Academy, a new grade 1-9 school. In replacing a bland 1960s structure, however, the design hill was made even steeper by a requirement to obtain LEED Gold certification. By integrating SolarWall, a Canadian-invented solar heating technology, the school is a fine contextual yet modern addition to the heritage village that unobtrusively integrates its impressive green technology.

The approach, say the architects, was to respect Lunenburg’s character “by taking cues from the domestic wooden buildings…and interpreting them in a contemporary way.” The 80,000-sq.-ft. school is composed of a split, single- and doublestorey block containing administrative services, a gym and a cafeteria on the first level that all encircle a double height, lightfilled atrium. A library boasting an impressive glazed corner wall overlooks the Lunenburg harbour where the school’s namesake can be seen at its mooring. A bridge across the atrium joins the library to the three-storey academic wing at level

two. To approximate residential scale, each pair of classrooms is staggered so that the wing’s façade reads as a series of bays that relate to those found in many local historic buildings.

Double hung, black framed windows arranged in the same 1:2:1 pattern found in the nearby historic Academy, masonry treatment of the first level and flashes of strong Lunenburg red in the glazing are just some of the devices used to tie the otherwise modern building back into the community.

To respond to its green agenda, the building’s envelope uses enhanced insulation and large, high-performance windows to increase available natural light. Occupancy sensors minimize electricity use and a back-up heating system employs local renewable wood pellets. Despite the region’s notorious reputation for cloudy days, however, the real star is the sun. At a modest level, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels provide energy for hot water and a modest “solar television” demonstrator. The school has also been hardwired to generate electricity from the sun once it becomes economically viable. But the use of SolarWall (in red of course), on the south wall provides the most significant solar punch.

This solar air heating system, invented and successfully commercialized by Conserval Engineering starting in the 1980s, has helped propel Canada into the world lead for solar heat, says Heather MacAuley, principle of My Generation Green Technology Solutions in Halifax and a consultant on the school. Perforated metal collector panels are installed several inches from the south facing wall allowing solar radiation to heat the panels. Ventilation fans create negative pressure in the cavity to draw in the heated air, which is then drawn off at the top and distributed by the HVAV system. Since the school wanted 100 per cent fresh air turnover, a demand that brings in lots of cold air, says MacAuley, this system was ideal. With average winter temperatures in the 0 to -5 degrees Celsius range, SolarWall will raise the incoming air temperature by approximately 20 degrees Celsius despite only indirect (cloud) and reflected light. Conversely, in the summer this unique and Going Solar 2012 15

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very effective rain screen prevents solar radiation from hitting the south wall. Warm air created in the cavity is vented through holes at the top. Meanwhile, fresh air enters the building through by-pass dampers.

Although not used at Bluenose, Conserval also markets a SolarWall/PV combination that produces a win-win situation. By racking PV modules just above the SolarWall surface, the excessive heat generated by the panels is drawn off to be used to heat the building. At the same time, this cools the panels and by so doing increases the PV’s efficiency by 10 per cent. “The cooling effect allows the PV panels to operate at their rated electrical output and also prevents damage to PV modules caused by overheating,” states the company.

By integrating solar thermal heat technology seamlessly into the school as an appropriate red wall, the architects have been able to avoid jarring components that might have otherwise compromised their interpretive design.

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Dr. David Suzuki Public School is a ‘living classroom’ with many features that help illustrate green building technologies to students so sustainable design can be actively integrated into the curriculum.

For example, (right) walls of the mechanical room are transparent to allow teachers to explain how the various types of energy-efficient equipment work, and a transparent floor panel (far right) allows students to see the radiant floor heating technology below.

SOLAR SCHOOLS Previous spread: Dr. David Suzuki Public School includes several types of renewable energy technology, such as 36 kW of mounted PV panels, to both compare their effectiveness and serve as a learning tool for students. Left: St Lawrence College’s Plumbing Trades building utilizes SolarWall heating technology (diagram left below).

St Lawrence College: Using solar technology for profit and education “It’s getting easier to be green — at least when it comes to a career,” wrote Jacqueline Louie last May as the introduction to her article, Future looks Bright for those Seeking Green Careers, a profile of the environmental careers organization ECO Canada. Ontario’s St Lawrence College, with campuses in Kingston and Brockville, has embraced this belief that green technology jobs have a bright future. “We are building a cluster of programs around careers in green technology and renewable resources,” states Blayne MacKey, Director of Facilities Management Services at the College. An ambitious initiative, now in implementation, to install a large solar energy generation system at its two campuses, would seem to indicate that St Lawrence has also bought into Ted Turner’s 2008 statement that “Solar is the greatest business opportunity in the history of humanity.” As the David Suzuki Foundations notes, Germany has almost 80,000 employed in solar technology while Canada lags far behind. Thus, not only will the system generate significant income for the college, it will provide a state-of-the-art student training resource.

In 2009, St Lawrence College became Ontario’s first college to offer a Wind Turbine Technician/Industrial Electrician Coop Diploma Apprenticeship program. The new training facility constructed for the program included not only a full-size wind turbine but also employed SolarWall on its south wall to assist with heating. SolarWall was also used for the plumbing shop building as an applied research experiment for radiant floor heating and more conventionally in a student residence. A year later, in October 2010, the college announced its intention to install the largest PV rooftop installation at any post-secondary institution in Canada at its Kingston and Brockville campuses.

This system will join more modest solar power projects already in place including two PV panels on the wind turbine building used in a joint experiment with Queen’s University to study the impact of snow loads on panels. Two panels on the college’s Energy House, an off-grid “living lab,” uses solar for hot water and lighting.

At Kingston the system will generate 250 kW from more than 1,200 solar modules installed on three separate flat rooftops, while 442 panels on the campus’ main building in Brockvile will produce100 kW. A large television screen in the main building foyer at Kingston will provide a constant read out of how many tonnes of green house gas emissions have been displaced by the clean output of the new solar panel system. The total expected revenue generated by both operations is estimated at $280,000 annually based on a now-signed agreement with the Ontario Power Authority Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) Program. This

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program ensures an Ontario government commitment to purchase energy generated by the system over the next 20 years at a fixed rate. For the St Lawrence College operation, the agreement sets the rate at 72 cents per kW hour. “There will be a six to seven year payback,” reports MacKey. Ainsworth Inc., a Canada-wide, single-source contractor for supply and installation of technical building services with an increasing focus on green technologies, is responsible through a design-build relationship for putting the system in place. The three-busbar cell panels selected by Ainsworth will be provided

by Conergy of Cambridge, Ont. with over 70 per cent Canadian materials. Installation began this fall. (In November 2010, it was announced that Ainsworth would also be installing 2,000 PV panels on nearby Belleville’s Qunite Sports Centre under the FIT program.)

In addition to providing a significant income stream, the new PV solar generation system will serve double duty as an interactive student learning resource. “Students in our Energy Systems Engineering program will be able to gather real-time solar data and learn how tilt angles, flat versus sloped rooftops, different types of inverters and different geographic locations impact the generation of solar power” states MacKey. This data will assist students in learning how to optimize the design of solar systems. This is a rare situation in the college curriculum where students will work with analytical research to assist with 18 Going Solar 2012

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Rooftop solar trackers are visible from a rooftop classroom (left), and to create a superior indoor environment for students and staff, the school includes a living wall as well as several innovative fresh air strategies (far left).

applied technology. Not incidentally, it will also provide the solar industry with information on design efficiencies in the sometimes harsh eastern Ontario climate.

Within the college’s cluster of green technology programs, solar is part of a three year Renewable Energy Systems Program. In addition, at the Brockville campus a three year “Sunnyside” partnership involves St. Lawrence College with Upper Canada Solar Limited, the local Employment and Education Centre and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It will train 48 to 60 installers for their Solar Photovoltaic System Installer Certificate and the Installer/Manufacturing Certificate. Trillium is providing a $503,300 grant for this mixed, in-class and paid intern program but the college will continue the courses on a cost recovery basis after the partnership agreement ends.

In line with the new economy, it is hoped the availability of a trained workforce will attract solar technology businesses to locate or expand into Eastern Ontario. Supporting this objective, St Lawrence students have a partnership with SWITCH Kingston in a social marketing program for the “Solar Rooftop Challenge.” The objective is to make the city the most sustainable in Canada, in part by having the city, businesses and institutions install roof top solar systems.

David Suzuki Public School: Living up to its name If you are going to name a school after an internationally renowned scientist and environmental advocate, it better be green and then some. The Dr. David Suzuki Public School in Windsor, Ont., the first LEED Platinum certified educational institution in Canada, meets that standard. Developed by the Greater Essex County District School Board and designed by McLean and Associates Architects, the 60,000-sq.-ft. school boasts solar PV panels for hot water and electrical generation, a windmill, grey water recovery and reuse systems, non-potable rain water capture and use, light harvesting through GPS tracking skylights and solar light tubes, custom designed highefficiency widows, natural light sensors to moderate artificial light use, a highly reflective white and green roofs. These are just some of the means used to achieve an energy consumption level 60 to 65 per cent less than the current building code.

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “the most promising solar technologies in the short term are those that capture the energy of the sun’s rays to heat indoor space or water and use the sun to generate electricity.” It is clear that harvesting the sun plays a key role in his namesake school.

The integration of these solar technologies has been extensively used with funding from the Ontario Green Schools Initiative. As in the Bluenose School and at St Lawrence College, the Canadian product SolarWall has been incorporated.

A 172-sq.-ft. SolarWall has been seamlessly blended into the school’s striking façade on the south-facing exterior of the second level science classroom. A duct connection with one of the air handling units draws outside air in through the sun-heated perforated metal wall, thus warming the air before entering the unit. An assessment based on an alternative electric boiler in place suggests an annual savings of 5,200 kWh. Solar PV panels have been used for two purposes. On the roof, two south-facing 30-sq.-ft. solar collectors developed and installed by London, Ont.-based Smylie & Crow Associates heat fluid servicing a 4.5 kW electric hot water heater, and generates an annual savings of 4,280 kWh. The largest component, however, is the 165 Sharp 224W PV modules installed by Carmanah Technologies Corporation, Canada’s largest solar integrator headquartered in Victoria, B.C. Able to generate an estimated 50,000 kWh of electricity annually, the system is tied into the grid through the FIT program and able to meet 10 per cent of the facility’s total energy needs.

Annual savings are estimated to be 50,359 kWh. With a FIT buy fee of 71 cents per kWh, the system will generate approximately $34,000 annually allowing for a 10 year pay back period. By considering the solar panel requirements from the start, the architects were able to integrate the system as a dramatic blade that seems to slice down through the south-facing façade while acting as a partial canopy to the entrance. Thus, it serves as both a design element and a very public reminder of the school’s objectives. As at St Lawrence College, students will be able to monitor performance from the lobby.

The Future is Bright With such technologies so conspicuously used in our education systems, one can expect an emerging generation that is solar and environmentally savvy, and who will expect — even demand — green in their entire built environment.

To view more sustainable building features of Dr. David Suzuki Public School, visit

www.building.ca Going Solar 2012 19