Photo courtesy Ben Marans

Mayor David Miller introduces the Solar Neighbourhoods pilot program at Withrow Park on May 12.

Toronto Mayor David Miller has introduced a new program that aims to install more than 100 solar hot water systems on houses in the city's Ward 30 (Toronto-Danforth) neighbourhood, with hopes to expand further across Toronto.

Solar Neighbourhoods, a joint initiative of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF), Toronto Energy Efficiency Office (EEO), Toronto Environment Office (TEO), and Toronto Hydro, promotes the use of solar hot water systems to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance local air quality. Currently at the pilot program stage, the program provides incentives for installations of qualified solar hot water systems on low-rise, single-family residential homes—including townhouses, co-ops, and social housing—in Ward 30.

Miller also welcomed a new Solar Water Heating Program, launched by Bullfrog Power, Enbridge Gas Distribution, EnerWorks, and the Government of Canada. With a $1.4 million government investment, this program gives homeowners in the Enbridge Gas Distribution franchise area the opportunity to save up to 50 per cent on their own solar water heating systems.

Tom Heintzman, president of Bullfrog Power, acknowledged that although the program's current incentives and rebates only apply to residential dwellings, the technology itself has commercial applications.

"Utilizing solar water heating technology on a commercial scale is entirely feasible and something EnerWorks is already doing. For example, they have completed four-collector installations for laundromats and a 640-collector installation on a warehouse/office space for both solar heating and cooling," he told Construction Canada Online. "They have also seen extensive use in multi-resident accommodations such as condos and hotels."

In Toronto's sunny climate—the city has better solar conditions than Germany, the world leader in solar hot water use—these systems can provide more than half a house's hot water using the sun's warmth alone.

Generally, solar collectors are mounted on a south-facing sloped or flat roof. Liquid (water or glycol) heated by the sun flows down to a solar storage tank connected to the existing hot water heater—which only activates if the solar-heated water is not hot enough.

At this time, the two programs do not cover larger, commercial buildings. However, incentives are available for commercial solar hot water installations through other complementary programs, such as Sustainable Energy Fund (Toronto), the Ontario Solar Thermal Incentive Program, and the federal government's ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat.