Vancouver Island is a long way from East Asia but for Hazelmere farm owner Lijen Hua it was a small world move. Back in 1999, Lijen was working as an Engineer in his home of Taiwan, dreaming up a different life as a farmer. During his free time, when he wasn't researching farming, he studied Tai Chi. As part of these studies he signed up for a summer camp in Courtenay, BC, where fellow Taiwanese Tai Chi master Harry Wong was living and working in the area.
Once Lijen spent the summer in the Comox Valley, he was hooked. "I thought this was a very good, nice place," he says with enthusiasm. Lijen then brought his wife and young daughter over for a visit and they too appreciated the small town way of life. "The people are very friendly," he says. "We're happy we made that decision."
Over the last 13 years the family has cultivated a thriving, certified-organic produce farm, growing a mixture of fruits and vegetables and specializing in Asian greens. Two years ago, they made the choice to install solar hot water and solar PV to offset their water usage and electricity. "We want to use green energy," says Lijen. "I think, with the issue of global warming, everyone should."
He found out about Teratek Energy Solutions, the company that installed their systems, after he and his daughter stopped by a demo at Terratek's Courtenay headquarters. "Every time I call them about something they get back to me right away," he says. He appreciates how easy the systems have been to maintain since installation and adds that they've been a hit with friends and customers who come for visits and tours of the farm. "Everyone is very excited!" he exclaims, referring to the feedback they receive.
Lijen admits that the two systems were expensive and that for many local farmers the investment might seem high, but he believes it's important to at least look into the possibility of renewables and see what options might work. "We need to do it for the environment," he says.
According to Landon Aldridge, Principal of Terratek, the benefits of installing solar for farm use are extensive. "We really need to look at a few factors to understand the real ROI, such as escalating energy cost, increased value and – like Lijen says – peace of mind." He explains that hot water is the second highest energy cost in a typical household, representing about 35% of total energy consumption. With a farm, that percentage is quite a bit higher, so offsetting the hot water usage with energy from the sun can have a significant impact. "Dairy farms especially can benefit from solar thermal."
Terratek also deals with Dankoff Solar Pumps for irrigation systems and they've provided these pumps to a number of orchards in the province.
As for Hazelmere Farm, the Hua's can be found every weekend at their popular farmer's market stand, where the engaging couple provide a variety of fresh goodies that includes edamame, burdock root, bok choi, wontons and berry sodas. Visit their blog or Flicker photo gallery for more information.