Your home’s renewable energy system: An investment with dividends
By: Tim Brien

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There are a couple of ways you can re-coup your investment, and eventually earn income: First, for every 1000 watts of installed PV, you can expect to earn an average of about $1000.00 per year from the OPA through the FIT program, whether you use the power yourself or send it into the grid for another customer to use. This means that after about 10 years, your investment will be paid off. After that, the income you earn is pure profit. The second way to make money is that by investing in solar PV, your home’s value will increase. Let’s just say you need to sell your home: the buyer will be able to make money by assuming your FIT contract. This is worth a premium over a similar home with no PV system installed. Finally, until early next year, if you purchase a PV system, you will qualify for the home renovation tax credit, which provides up to $1350.00 in tax refunds for any home improvements done by a qualified contractor.

Leaving all this aside, by investing in PV, you’ll be providing jobs for local energy consultants and electrical contractors, and even workers in our local manufacturing industry, if you insist on buying solar panels made in Ontario. In today’s world, the manufacturing industry could use some help. By investing in solar PV, you’ll be growing the provincial economy, and helping to turn Ontario into a world leader in renewable energy technology. Being a world leader will undoubtedly make Ontario even more attractive to foreign investors, which will in turn bring more jobs and prosperity. The most wonderful thing is that all these benefits are secondary to the fact that you will be providing a healthier environment for future generations. We are truly on the cusp of a renewable energy revolution, and when you join this revolution, it will pay you dividends in a multitude of ways.

For more information on this topic, check out the following websites:

http://www.powerauthority.on.ca/FIT/  (Ontario Power Authority Feed-In-Tariff Program)
http://www.greenenergyact.ca/  (Green Energy Act Alliance)


Tim Brien is an energy consultant and licensed electrician based in Guelph. His company, EcoAge Technologies, specializes in PV and wind energy, and provides free, no obligation information seminars which are designed to help you, the home or business owner profit from the coming revolution in renewable energy.