Solar Patio at Historic Site Provides Shade and Power
The Solar Patio at this National Historic Site is not only stunning to look at, but showcases the simplicity of greening onsite electricity without compromising building design.
Located at the Visitor Reception Centre at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site in Manitoba, the Solar Patio uses photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof, to collect the sun's energy and to covert that energy into electrical power. Photovoltaic panels, also called "solar cells" are essentially semiconductor devices that convert solar light (photons from the sun) into electricity. With the installation of photovoltaic panels, electricity can be generated whenever the sun shines, even in places where no other forms of electricity can be obtained. At Lower Fort Garry, the Solar Patio produces 5% of the power required to run the Visitor Reception Centre.
While the incorporation of solar panels at the historic site may seem like a novel idea to many people, the reality is that across the globe photovoltaic technology, or solar energy, is being used more and more regularly to produce electricity. It is now estimated that annual worldwide sales of solar energy systems have increased by nearly 30% per year over the last decade. Japan and Europe lead the way as the first and second largest manufacturers of photovoltaic systems. Over one billion dollars per year are being spent on the incorporation of solar energy systems into residential and commercial buildings.
Originally developed for space applications in the 1960's photovoltaic technology has many advantages. Solar energy systems can be installed almost anywhere and the electricity produced by the system can be used directly or fed into a pre-existing electricity grid. Most importantly, solar power systems produce clean energy and are easy to maintain once installed. It is estimated that the Solar Patio at Lower Fort Garry will last between 25 to 30 years.
For more information on solar energy visit:
- www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry
- www.worldenergy.org
- www.canren.gc.ca/solar
