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Twenty-kilowatt solar panel array now powering Barrhead Senior Citizens Drop-in Centre

Fifty-eight-panel array, which cost $46,000, was installed over the summer
Solar Panel Array
In this photo provided by Eldon Krikke, workers install solar panels at the Barrhead Senior Citizens Drop-in Centre earlier this summer. The members of the Barrhead and District Senior Citizens Society held a ribbon-cutting Dec. 6 to celebrate the installation of the 20-kilowatt array, which will provide most of the centre's energy needs.

BARRHEAD - Seniors who regularly use the Barrhead Senior Citizens Drop-in Centre came together Dec. 6 to celebrate the installation of a new 20-kilowatt (kW) solar array which will provide as much as 85 to 95 per cent of the building’s electricity needs.

“It is a day to celebrate, a day we officially start using solar power at the drop-in,” said Eldon Krikke, president of the Barrhead and District Senior Citizens Society, which operates the drop-in.

The installation of the $46,000 58-panel array, which occurred over the summer, was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the various partners in the project.

In his address, Krikke noted that one of the biggest impacts on the health of seniors is isolation, as they’re no longer going to work every day like they used to.

Fortunately, there is something happening at the centre on most days of the week, whether it is table tennis, cards, billiards, carpet bowling, floor shuffleboard or choir practices.

“We’re very happy this drop-in centre is available for so many seniors in our district,” he said, recalling one lady who had once remarked to him that she didn’t know what she would do without the centre.

Krikke said they applied to Energy Efficiency Alberta last year for an audit of the facility’s use. Their assessment report indicated several low-cost measures to reduce the centre’s power usage, such as upgrading exterior door weather stripping, improving aerators on water taps, insulating the building’s hot water pipes and replacing fluorescent bulbs with LED lights.

“This was unique in that this retrofit was project managed and financed completely by Energy Efficiency Alberta,” he noted.

But along with these minor changes, Energy Efficiency Alberta also recommended investigating solar power as a way to save money and reduce the facility’s carbon footprint.

“We had been considering the use of solar power as a way to reduce our power bill, so the board agreed to investigate the installation of solar power,” he said.

In the fall of 2018, an energy transition subcommittee — Cliff Osberg, Sharon Setterington and Vern Besler — was established to spearhead the project.

“I would like to acknowledge the significant work of this committee in doing research related to solar energy generation,” Krikke said.

During the AGM of the Senior Citizens Society in February, the membership gave its support for installing a solar array. The subcommittee then sought quotes from a list of government-endorsed contractors and Dandelion Renewables was selected.

The approximate cost of the 20-kW solar array was $46,000, not including $2,000 in GST (which the drop-in centre will be reimbursed for).

To help pay for the array, the Barrhead Senior’s Drop-in Centre received $18,870 from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC), which was formed through the partnership of the Alberta government and the two provincial associations that represent urban and rural municipalities.

Stephanie Ripley, renewables project co-ordinator for the MCCAC, was on hand to congratulate the society members.

“It has been truly inspirational to work with the Barrhead seniors on this project and to see them increase their knowledge of solar electricity and solar energy and the technology involved, and to push forward with the vision of setting a great example for your children, your grandchildren and the community at large,” she said.

Ripley noted the MCAC has been assisting municipalities, non-profit organizations and schools across Alberta since 2009 with reducing their energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions with the development of climate action plans, energy efficiency programs and renewable energy projects.

“We have delivered hundreds of projects in almost 40 per cent of Alberta’s communities and municipalities, generating millions of dollars in lifetime energy savings for those places,” she said.

It should be noted that the money was actually provided to the drop-in centre through the MCCAC’s Municipal Solar Program. In order to receive the money, the Town of Barrhead acted as a signatory on the centre’s application for a grant, and forwarded the money to the centre.

While bringing congratulations on behalf of the municipality, Town of Barrhead Coun. Leslie Penny pointed out that many non-profit organizations struggle with rising utility bills.

“I don’t know how many organizations that I’ve talked to who have said that one of the things that causes their association or their organization to be in jeopardy is the cost of utilities,” she said.

“That’s what the solar panels are: they are an investment in the future, to enable this organization to be a vital and important part of our community.”

Besides providing recreational activities for seniors, Penny noted the drop-in centre is used for many other functions, such as political forums and conferences.

“And I can see other facilities in this community saying, ‘Well, if the drop-in centre can do it, so can we,’” she said.

Shannon Giebelhaus of Dandelion Renewables said the array will hopefully produce between 85 to 95 per cent of the facility’s energy needs.

This is partly due to the fact that, in addition to the steps taken to improve energy efficiency at the centre, the building was designed in such a way as to reduce energy losses, such as not having any large windows.

“As a contractor, it’s just very exciting that you guys are bringing so many people to this building and showing them what’s possible. And as seniors, I think that’s what is really amazing and you’re going to pass that down to your kids and your grandkids,” she said.

MLA offers congrats

Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken noted that a lot of the work he does as MLA is helping organizations like the Senior Citizens Society to identify funding programs that can help them to continue to provide services in their community.

“I say congratulations and thank you for all the hard work that you’re doing so that you can ensure you keep facilities like this operational for the people who are able to enjoy them and make use of them,” he said.

Ted Krysa, treasurer of the Barrhead Elks, also congratulated the society for the installation of the solar array, noting that the Elks meet at the facility on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.

When the Elks were approached to contribute towards the project, Krysa said they opted to increase the rent they pay to help pay for the project.

While also offering congratulations, County of Barrhead reeve Doug Drozd noted that he also served on the board of directors for the Rural Electrification Association (REA) known as EQUS Alberta.

“I’ve been privileged to have a front seat to the evolution of the electrical industry here in Alberta, and based on my experience, I would say that your board is on the right track,” he said.

Drozd noted EQUS draws energy from its own 30 kW solar-power system in Innisfail and is installing an additional 55 kW system on its new corporate office.

It is also installing a 35 kW combined heat and power system that will be used to generate electricity, heat the building, produce hot water and direct waste heat to melt snow on sidewalks.

“So why am I telling you this? Well, because I believe it’s important for leaders to lead by example. The EQUS board led by example and the senior’s club board leads by example as well.”

He noted the building’s two-way meter is in large part due to the fact that EQUS worked with the Department of Energy to change the previous regulations to make it possible to become a micro-generator.

“You must understand the importance of a two-way meter. By the day, of course, the solar array is producing electricity and pushing it into the grid, effectively rolling the meter backwards. When the sun goes down and demand ramps up, it pulls the energy from the grid, thus moving the meter forward,” he said.

“The grid becomes your battery. The result is what they call net metering, and you pay the difference between what you produce and what you use.”

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