At first glance, Bert Rose’s solar system may seem awkwardly placed. Not exactly a low-profile design-but, the couple hasn’t paid more than a few cents for power all summer.
According to the Iqaluit homeowner, their electric bill was 1 cent in May, 2 cents in June and 1 cent again in July.
Before installing the ten solar panels on his home, their electricity bill was about $200.00 a month. It’s quite the annual reduction in electricity fees for the couple.
Iqaluit gets nearly 21 hours of light during the summer solstice in June, so the couple’s solar panels yield more power than their household needs in the bright summer months.
Since their system is connected to the grid, the energy surplus goes back to Qulliq Energy Corporation‘s power grid (through its net metering system), and a credit is applied to Rose’s account for the extra energy produced.
Having the credit on their account to draw from will be perfect in the low sunlight months when Iqaluit only gets around 5 to 6 hours of sunlight each day.
Rose expects the credit to considerably reduce their electricity bill in the winter months.
In the hopes of making solar more accessible and widely utilized, the Nunavut Housing Corporation covers up to 50% of qualifying solar systems, up to $30,000.
The couple took advantage of the grant available to help make solar systems more accessible for Nunavut homeowners.
According to Rose, the cost of their solar system was $26,000, including installation. However, they qualified to receive a $12,000 non-repayable grant from the Government of Nunavut.
According to Rose, the couple’s biggest motivation to make the switch was to cut down on their household’s environmental footprint and do their part to help make the world a better place for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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