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Page 26

The sun is ‘the
answer to all of B.C.’s
energy problems. The
sun is not the answer
to all of B.C.’s energy
problems.

Which if . those
statements is true?

Neither, really. But’
they represent — the

extremes of confusion.

that can: arise when
‘people get involved in

a discussion on. solar
energy. Some people

believe that energy —
from -. the sun,
properly harnessed,

could provide us with
all the low-cost energy
“we ‘will ever require.
-. Opponents of this
idea pop up
umbrellas and stomp
off into the -rain,
mumbling, ‘‘What! In
this climate!’ A
Each group has a
point. But , at the
"moment, the .truth
rests. .somewhere
‘between these :

Solar energy itself is

- devised away to
: impose a tax or a’price

their -

two.

... free. Essentially, it’s :
> just sunlight, and no .
political body has. yet -

“tions:

9813 Tid Sa

benefits we derive
from sunlight,

however, | we still
haven’t figured out

how to make it do our
bidding when it comes
to heating our homes,
boiling our water or
powering our vacuum

_ cleaners, lawn mowers

and automobiles.
No, that’s not quite

_true. We have figured

out
make

some ways. to
sunlight. do

many of those things. ©

But devices to collect
and store energy from
the sun and convert it
into usable forms. is

still largely complex.

and expensive.
Actually;

a solar collector at this
very moment. The
chances are that the
house,
condominium you live

_in is one.
Sunlight entering
windows .. provides.

solar heating to every

° house in B.C. in fact.

This’. is. called
‘passive’? solar
heating, and the more

south-facing windows © §
= a house has the more --
-On-. that.: ‘For. all alte 7

it. ‘will benefit from the

ary” depending upon s ‘suc

We update older voaldences and |
commercial bulldings with now |
electrical wiring for: microwave
~ ovens, alr conditioners and other
heavy-duty ‘Appliances.

rsidonia/comvnotca/industi

"Thorne-d ennon Electric (1976)
td, (conrRAcTORS) |
_ Teenie 6 656. 205

Siney B, ad

you’ are -
-probably the owner of

apartment or.

actors as. your” driving §
~. habits, weight of car; op- @
road, : weather: and #

vehicle condition... &

} © Rani Lecar.

"More than Just economy
ee _at American Motors. Ab

~ would be: more

These solar panels. were incorporated i in
the design. for a ‘small group™ of:
peta a at. t MacDonald St and Pt. :

solar »:.energy.. “to

design: the house: SO
«that it)-is located on

the lot: with most of

the glass. area facing
south. :

} Glass. ° areas
should. be . double-

glazed © at. minimum, :

and . triple-glazing

: it. viously
attract lesser amounts
“eh of heat.:-

eTf:. you “are. “con-
_ sidering anew ‘home,”"
the easiest: and. most-
economical way . use.

ap.

_ walls,
“water,

© requiting

winters 3
southerly, window
“exposures. _ ‘be:

shaded from excessive
‘summer heat by ‘an
overhang or a trellis
with: pine ‘If the ~
house . is “properly
~ designed, the cost;,of:
-this'type of system is
normally. not. much
‘greater. than. for. a
‘conventional - house.»
With: passive space’

“heating the interior of

the house has to have
-an increased mass, in
order to provide some’

form of heat storage.

for times when there is |
no sunlight. This mass
usually takes the form
of heavy concrete or -

masonry floors and
or. drums of.

A disadvantage or
the “passive. solar
“system is thatit tends:
to. cause wide -flue--
“tuations in the home's ©
temperature,
can. range from 18°C
1035°C: over the day,
. “personal.
adjustment. ~Ahe
changes, Conerete ore

/ masonry floors may:

bea disadvantage too, ©
if you. prefer. walking
-on-something softer,
as most people do. If.
“carpets are installed,

~~ however, they insulate

the. floor.» against
“properly receiving the

solar heat for storage,

In a) typical. ‘ac-
tive’. solar: system,

designed to provide a.

household with | hot
Waller, solar collectors

“on the roof heat the

water and a cir-

‘culation pump sends it

to n. storage tank In
the basement, -

While solar energy,
either of the passive or:
“ yetive variety, cannot
as yel be employed on

the.

These: -

THE REVIEW

-active. system,. they supplement. space eee
heating during: the .cold. season and |
-water ‘ heating during the warm season. me

“he

Wednesday, June 3, 1981

t] 1e 1 eC

specialists in the field

Surrey. some promises for our
- . Solar energy, at its For the moment, . energy future. We just
“ present stage of. however, none of us have-.to find out how
- development, does can. see a_ solar- to turn it to our full
have its applications activated province advantage.
“but there are many just around . the. There are a number

~ positives and
negatives to consider.
Whether one day the
_ sun can supply B.C.
’ with

corner. On the other
hand, don’t look toa
leaden sky and
conclude’ that ” solar

of solar suppliers in
B.C. who’ ll be glad to.
give you . further
information. on_ this

inexpensive powerisoflittle useto form of energy, and
energy depends on us in the Pacific you ‘can obtain -
research and  ex- Northwest. - considerable  in-
perimentation, some . The 2,000 odd formation on it from

of -which is taking —
place at B. C. Hydro’s
research facilities in

hours of sunshine that
falls on B.C. in every
year does hold out

B.C. Hydro’s Energy
‘Conservation Division
in Vancouver.

Lae

HEAT YOUR
SWIMMING
POOL

j Put the sun to work heating your pool
i — it's practical and affordable!:A solar
- system extends your season and
pays for itself.in 3-5 years. Ask us
about hot tub installations too! Free
-—f estimates. 5 year warranty on our
—  Solarsystems* collectors.

| Ark Solar Products Lid. 2676 Quadra at Hillside/ 386- 7643 - 3}

“dows,

domestic hot water.” :

The: swimming pool ; :

“application “the
best.” In- the Pacific
“Northwest: we: ~ get
most. of our’ sun.»

during the swimming.

season, 75% or more -
‘asa matter of fact...
~Pool-owners would be:

‘wise. to consider: in-
- stalling unglazed solar

_tollectors: which .can™

keep the pool water in.
comfortable
swimming. temp-

crature range of 23.
. to 28 degrees Celsius.

‘Ina solar-heated
pool the filter pump.
acts as’ the pumping
system and the water.
in the pool stores the
sheat.. The pool should

be kept covered when

not in use,
that
‘preserves

a measure
Nol. :
cheat

and) the. loss’: of
chemical con-
. ditioners,

by. means
earlier, ;

‘the ~ins
roof-top

this. involves

collectors

from which pipes lead.

to a bascment storage
tank.

It has been found m5

that this: system can
furnish a home with
anywhere from 30 to

70 percent of Its hot

water, and can. even

‘operate: effectively in

winters when there ts
less than. the ‘average
amount of suniight.
The costs involved
in” building a» solar

home with some, or

‘all, oof | these ~ ap-

plications. Is a

necessary cane
sideration, of course.

“Wf you decide to build 1

with. double-glazed,
south-facing win

6. $4: hundred. ‘perins
‘stalled ‘Square metre.
of collector. surface. AS

“system —
‘supplement. your hot.”

cost $3.to. $4

‘to $5. thousand would ~. |

provide. a. solar
heating system for

_ your pool. . :
The. payback

‘period, based on these.
_ current costs, requires —

‘by. the builder. or

‘the re-sale ‘value, and

only |
but
prevents evaportation.

Domestic hot water 4 A
“ean be supplemented 7 uy —
of solar) Fe ae

cenergy.As mentioned , fe Oe ae Portable Heaters -

dnstallation.-- of.

thousand “CO

“heating system would =.

ikely cost from $2 to:

o - See u us for insulation
‘and energy. saving heating |
~ unit loans to save money
“though, reduced fuel bills.

that. would

water supply would |

- Call in and meet our
new Personal Loan Officer

thousand. Another $3 Moira Mather

a major commitment - 7 : ROYAL BANK
© OF CANADA
mm ~=«: 2464 Beacon Ave.,
~~. Sidney, B.C.

owner. Analyse your
needs, the: effect on

study the available» ae
information... Then: 656-3947

talk with several

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