Many Ontarians are feeling the chill, as January comes to a close and the historically bleaker February looms on the horizon. If you've got a solar system set up on your home or property, how do you deal with the snow that will inevitably wind up covering your precious panels?

This article provides some really great pointers on how you can maintain your panels as best as possible in the midst of a winter wonderland. Most panels, including those installed by Clearly Solar, are angled to avoid collecting snow. If the snowfall is light, be patient and wait for the snow to slough right off. If it's heavier, you have some options: sweep the snow off with a soft broom (being careful, of course, to avoid falling off your no-doubt incredibly slippery ladder and/or roof) or use the ingenious "Nerf football method", which involves clearing a small patch of snow and letting the sun do the rest.

If you have any questions about how to tackle winter's worries, please don't hesitate to drop us a line, and we'll provide you with everything you need to know. Have you got any solar snow removal tips or tricks? Let us know!

Think Clearly!

Have you struggled with the financial side of solar? If yes, you're not alone, because many Ontarians find the current property tax treatment of solar (and other renewable energy sources) baffling. There's good news, though, because the Ontario government recently issued a new set of property tax clarifications that will seek to clear the muddied waters around solar generation and tax rules.

According to this article, the main reason for these statements, in addition to simple elucidation, is to ensure that property tax did not act as a disincentive to landowners who declined the opportunity to place solar panels on their property because of restrictive and confusing tax costs. 

There are new rules in two categories of solar systems: roof-top and ground-mount. Each will depend on numerous factors, including specific assessment of your property and the system you own (or intend to own).

If you've ever had questions about how putting solar on your property will affect your taxes, visit the above link for some quick info. Further answers can be provided by our capable Clearly Solar staff, who are always happy to eliminate your confusion and guide you in the right direction.

Think Clearly!

In this article from the Ottawa Citizen, Bert Hill explores how our city's National Research Council (NRC) has been slaving away at a slew of solar-related research projects, intended to push the envelope to new ways to take advantage of solar energy, and produce easier, simpler, and more commonplace methods of keeping it green.

Thin-film organic polymer plastics are seeing huge boosts in efficiency, and may well see the light of day implemented as part of shopping bags, or other household items. Improvements are being made, too, to the industry-standard rigid cell panels. 

The verdict seems to be that whatever doubts people may have about the status of the Canadian solar industry, it remains a field ripe with advancement, interest, and deep potential. Every day new steps are taken in the right direction - and it's people like you who can actually make a difference.

Think Clearly!

Check out our Portfolio page for some updated shots of Clearly Solar FIT and microFIT installations across Ontario! These images are updated often, so check back and see what solar really looks like. Try to imagine how it would look on your roof or property...pretty snazzy, right? And on top of the ultramodern look, profit flowing directly from the sky into your piggy bank doesn't hurt either! There's never been a better time to go solar - as you look at these photos and dream of your green future, why not give us a call and make it a reality!

Think Clearly!

Howdy y'all! We wanted to share some images with you of some recent Clearly Solar installations across Ontario. 

Check out these shots of one of our recent roof-mounted Ottawa projects, and these two shots of one of our ground mount tracking systems near Smiths Falls. These photos, as well as many more of Clearly Solar's installations (both commercial and residential) will soon be available on the Portfolio section of the Clearly Solar site. Take a look to see what a solar system could look like on your house or property!

**

In other news, it's common knowledge that the global solar industry is in a bit of a slump, and it's perfectly understandable that this tumult could shake one's faith in renewable energy as a viable option - especially given Ontario's most recent provincial election, "during which the opposition Conservatives vowed to kill of key parts of green-friendly legislation". Thankfully, that didn't happen, but it certainly didn't help solar's reputation either.

Well, folks, as always we're here to remind you that things are never as black as they seem, and the difficulty solar's had over the last little while is perfectly natural for a growing industry. As stated in the Globe & Mail article linked above, green energy's struggle is "part of a boom-bust cycle that hits many technologies", comparing this industry reconstruction to the personal computer market in the last few decades. According to the article, solar energy business will succeed over the longer term because there is “huge demand for free energy from the sun". That's certainly something that won't disappear in the foreseeable future! In fact, solar is really just the beginnings of a massive new industry, like "the oil of the 21st century".

So don't despair! And if you have any questions or lingering doubts, don't hesitate to give us a call.

Think Clearly!

Hello everyone! Time for a special announcement: Clearly Solar is proud to announce its new partnership with BMO Financial Group, who will be helping our clients with solar financing questions and concerns. It's a great honour to partner with yet another of Canada's sterling financial institutions, and we hope they can help you make your solar aspirations a reality!

In related news, our next Solar Seminar is coming up fast! In addition to our stellar Clearly Solar staff, representatives from BMO will be on hand to field all your questions about solar and solar financing. Drop by and find out how you can get involved in the green revolution! The seminar will be held at our offices at 110-35 Auriga Dr. in Ottawa on Thursday, November 17 from 7PM-9PM. Refreshments will be provided. Check out the above link for driving directions and other info - and don't forget to register so we know you're coming. Registration and admission are free, so bring the whole family! We hope to see you there!

Think Clearly!

Here's a great link to the Pembina Institute's website, where the director of renewable energy and efficiency policy, Tim Weis, has released a very useful FAQ about green energy that will surely answer any questions you have at this pivotal point in the solar game.

The FAQ makes Ontario's green energy situation very clear, stating in simple terms the true reasons why your hydro rates are rising, and what will happen to electricity pricing if the Green Energy Act is discontinued. It also makes a point of defending solar as an increasingly feasible renewable energy option for Ontarians who want to turn their province's energy issues in the right direction.

Take a look, and if you still have questions, don't forget to give us a call! 

Think Clearly!

Clearly Solar will be attending the Ottawa River Institute's upcoming sustainable energy discussion/workshop in Cobden, ON on Wednesday October 19th. The event is a partnership between ORI and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) and will feature live webinars, discussion panels, and workshops designed to encourage and inspire green energy projects in small communities.

No prior knowledge about renewable energy is necessary; just bring your questions and you'll find answers. Clearly Solar staff members will be in attendance and will be thrilled to talk to you about implementing solar in your community! Visit the event page for more information and don't forget to take a look at the PDF flyer attached about halfway down the page. 

We hope to see you there!

Think Clearly!

According to this article from Platts.com, solar PV is catching up to grid electricity and could become fully competitive within ten years!

Of course, this prediction applies only to Europe - Italy leading the pack with parity possible by 2013, with Spain, Germany and the UK expecting to reach the same point by 2020 or so. The competition solar could provide to the grid is described as "dynamic grid parity", and is defined as "the point at which the value of the long-term electricity revenues from a PV installation equals the long-term cost of traditionally produced grid power" - basically, when your solar system becomes financially equivalent to buying power from the grid.

Economies of scale and falling solar tech prices are the main reasons cited for this expansive growth. The question is, will Ontario experience the same possibility for parity within the decade? That's up to you - and other Ontario voters who need to decide whether Tim Hudak's promise to kill the Green Energy Act is worth the cost of never sharing (or surpassing) Europe's solar success. 

Think Clearly!

You heard it here first: Korean megaconglomerate Samsung is committing to the construction and implementation of a solar panel manufacturing plant in London, Ontario. What makes this extra exciting is the promise of at least 200 green energy jobs created to help the economically-troubled London (which is apparently "home to the highest big-city unemployment rate in the country").

Of course, if a Conservative government is elected in October - and PC leader Tim Hudak sticks to his promises - the construction of the plant will not go through, and Hudak himself will be responsible for killing those jobs. But London Mayor Joe Fontana is hopeful that "good sense will prevail", and Samsung claims the plant will be built no matter which government is elected.

The plant is expected to be ready to produce by 2012.

Think Clearly!