Wellness Talks GOOD REASONS TO GO SOLAR Shannon Klassen, independent solar power advisor at Whistler, has three good reasons to go solar—her kids. These photovoltaic solar panels on parking kiosks at the day skier parking lot will help. Photo by Shannon Klassen
Nesters Market and Pharmacy offers wellness talks at its Whistler location. Join RHN and Certified Plant Based Chef Sarah Uy, Carissa Beu, RHN and Post Partum Doula Dana Lemmon and Jasmin Wong each week for inspirational whole health ideas.
SO WHY DON’T WE SEE MORE SOLAR AT WHISTLER? Besides the ones used on Whistler Blackcomb, case didn’t add up,” says Richard Wyne, who which are largely invisible to most of us, loves that their B.C. Hydro bill for February people think there are a lot of solar panels and March was only $18. “We knew we were used in Whistler, and there are. Sort of. But going to spend a bunch of extra money to do first an explanation. this, but Jen and I are both very happy with There are two types of solar panels with our decision to power our house with solar very different technologies: Solar thermal panels, and we’d absolutely do it again.” and solar photovoltaic, or PV for short. Solar Through net metering, such as the thermal technology collects sunlight and Wynes have, people with solar systems only transforms it into heat that’s stored; it can be pay for the electricity they use, getting a transformed into electricity, but it’s usually rebate for any power they add to the grid. used for heating water, like the 15 panels on “Net metering allows our residential Meadow Park Sports Centre in Whistler. and commercial customers to connect It’s these thermal solar panels for a small electricity-generating unit (up to heating hot water that people see the most 100 kilowatts) that uses clean or renewable on Whistler homes, largely in Rainbow resources to our distribution system,” subdivision where about 10 to 15 homes explained B.C. Hydro’s Tanya Fish via email. are using it. It’s also a technology Bob “When customers generate more electricity Deeks, head of RDC Fine Homes and one than they need, they can sell the excess of Whistler’s most sustainable builders, power back to us and get a bill credit towards describes as being “past its best-before date.” their future electricity use. If they don’t Photovoltaic solar panels use technology generate enough to meet their power needs, to capture sunlight and convert it into they buy power from us.” electricity. That’s the type of application B.C. Hydro currently has about 1,850 netwe’re mostly concerned with in this article, metered customers, the majority of them on not thermal; it’s also the type of panel barely solar photovoltaic. Previously, more robust used in the Sea to Sky corridor. buy-back programs were available through Besides the dozen or so solar PV panels net metering, but these were cancelled when on WB and powering municipal parking it became apparent some private operators kiosks, there are only three or four homes were acting like unlicensed commercial using them in Whistler along with one on power plants, selling up to $30,000 worth of Judd Road in Squamish. (Whistler doesn’t power annually back to the grid. track solar panel usage.) Whistler’s Official Community Plan, An average residential solar PV power Community Energy and Climate Action Plan system is around 14 to 24 solar panels or and net-zero ready building standard all about 4 to 6kW. The UBC team anticipates encourage renewable energy like solar. But that their biogenic cells could be easily other than net metering, the only financial linked into such conventional solar panel incentive in Whistler (and the rest of B.C.) systems to supplement them, not necessarily for homeowners is a $250 rebate on an replace them. energy evaluation for your home. When it comes to solar panels (the PV So why don’t we see more solar panels in type), the iconic example most Whistlerites use at Whistler? cite is the Wyne home in Rainbow Cost, says Rod Nadeau, managing partner subdivision mentioned earlier. Built by RDC of Innovation Building Group (IBG), which in time to be a showcase of sustainability has 40-plus years at Whistler. Cost, the lack during the 2010 Winter Olympics, the of incentives, financial or otherwise, and the owners couldn’t be more pleased with the fact that B.C. is 98 per cent powered by cheap, results, even though the panels are only clean hydroelectricity all play a role. about 12 per cent efficient. (Today’s panels “We have cheap hydro, and so the are about double that.) [return on investment] isn’t there yet,” “For us, the convenience is there but when says Nadeau. He explains that in a place we first engaged in this project, the business like Germany or California, where you’re
Kick the Sugar Habit THURSDAY JUNE 13, 10:30 A.M. WITH MELISSA DEALLY, HEALTH COACH Do you wonder why you crave sugar at certain times? Are you done reinventing the wheel and do you want someone to tell you what really works and what doesn’t when it comes to kicking the sugar habit? Learn the 3 main challenges to kicking the sugar habit and then 7 tips you can implement that will curb your sugar cravings, helping you not only kick the sugar habit, but reduce inflammation in your body, thereby reducing the risk of future chronic illness in your brain and gut.
Melissa Deally is a registered Health Coach and the owner of Better Brain Health, which focuses on concussion recovery support, optimizing brain performance, as well as mastering your mindset to have positive impact on your life, in addition to focusing on your 2nd brain - your gut. Melissa coaches on all aspects of gut and brain health to give you the education and tools you need, to live a long and healthy life. Prevention is the best remedy, as you can’t enjoy your wealth if you don’t have your health!
Wellness Desk 604-932-3545 Ext 322
7019 Nesters Rd. Whistler, B.C.
JUNE 6, 2019
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