A lot of people are concerned about the potential problems the continued warming of the Earth’s atmosphere might cause. To curb the rise of global temperatures, many governments have instituted policy changes designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to the warming phenomenon.
To the dismay of many, Stephen Harper’s government has, as of yet, not taken any concrete measures to reduce emissions pursuant to the standards of the Copenhagen Accord, which the country committed to in December 2009. According to Environment Canada, the country is not on track to meet its 2020 target of 17 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than its 2005 levels. While the government may not be taking satisfactory action, each Canuck, on their own, can.
People Power: Individual clean energy production.
Talking to The Globe and Mail, Chris McCluskey, spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford, said, “Through our support for energy efficiency, climate change adaptation and clean technologies we are helping increase the resilience of Canada’s communities and enhancing the competitiveness of our industries.”
While the statement was a remark on the ministry’s actions, individual Canadians and Canadian organizations can also contribute to long-term solutions by taking action themselves. One great way to do this is to support the use of solar energy in Vancouver by hiring companies like Terratek Energy to install photovoltaic solar systems to power homes or businesses, and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
People Power: Clean energy benefits you directly
However, aside from increasing “the resilience of Canada’s communities and enhancing the competitiveness of… industries,” household and business use of solar power in Vancouver also benefits residents and business owners directly. The most obvious benefit is that solar power is an energy source that eventually pays for itself.
According to the Canadian Electricity Association, the average residential hydro bill is $72 per month, or $864 per year. Smaller solar power systems can retail at around $10,000, so the typical Canadian family can expect a return on their investment in about 10 to 12 years. Additionally, selling power back to the grid can shorten turnaround times for returns, down to eight to 10 years by some estimates.
Solar panels become less efficient over time, however most manufacturers guarantee their panels for 80 per cent efficiency at 25 years. This means that, when selling power back to the grid, solar adopters can expect to make a sizeable profit from their systems annually after recovering costs.
Also, using solar or other clean energy systems can help to shield against unexpected hydro rate hikes. This can help families and businesses take control of their finances during times of natural calamity or major financial upheavals that might drastically spike prices.
(Source: Canada Is Warming At Twice The Global Average And We Still Don’t Have A National Plan, HuffPost Politics Canada, June 27, 2014)