Solar

Solar energy can be either passive or active. Passive solar is absorbed directly from the sun and used immediately.  Active solar energy involves capturing the sun’s energy through the use of solar thermal panels or PV (photovoltaic) cells and converting to hot water for use in home heating or as domestic hot water or, alternatively, to electricity.  Studies have found that mild winters and cold clear winter days combine to give Halifax the third best solar climate in Canada.

Passive Solar
Most buildings obtain some free heat from the sun. Capturing the sun's energy through south-facing windows can provide 30 to 60 per cent of annual heating requirements. The key components for superior solar performance are careful design, energy-efficient windows, and an energy-efficient building.

Passive solar construction is cost-effective at today's energy prices, but it requires the thoughtful integration of building design with the natural features and topography of the building lot. Hundreds of passive solar houses have been built over the past few decades in Nova Scotia.

Initiatives to support the design of passive solar houses have included the Solar Shelter design manual, a 20- minute video, and an ENERinfo fact sheet outlining basic design principles. Solar Nova Scotia offers courses on passive solar home design and construction on an ongoing basis.

Active Solar
Solar thermal systems are usually best suited to lower-temperature applications, such as domestic hot water, pool heating or in floor radiant distribution systems. The largest solar panel manufacturer in Canada, Thermo Dynamics Ltd., is located in the Burnside Industrial Park.  

The Federal government has launched the ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat Initiative for the industrial, commercial and institutional sector. 

Visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/ for more information.

The incentive will be set at 25% of the purchase, installation and certain other costs of a qualifying system.  This 25% rebate can be combined with the existing 10% rebate being proposed by the Provincial government.  

Interested parties can contact the Solar Gain Project, www.solargain.ca, for assistance in analysing the technical and economic feasibility of solar thermal for your application.


Photovoltaic Cells
Photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy. A worldwide research effort continues to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic systems, but per-kWh costs continue to be higher than for electricity purchased from a utility.

Photovoltaic systems have proven to be a dependable, easy-to-maintain source of electricity for off-grid applications. Typical uses include personal electronic devices, navigational aids, outdoor lighting, marine applications, water pumping, and camp or cottage use. World wide installed capacity is growing quickly as a result of utility and government incentive programs in the United States, especially in hot climates where the peak output of a solar panel exactly coincides with system peaks caused by air conditioning loads.  

If you have additional information relevant to this page please send it to info@energyconsultant.ca noting that it will be reviewed for content prior to any posting.

We acknowledge the NS Department of Energy for contributing information to this page.
Their website is www.gov.ns.ca/energy/AbsPage.aspx.