Heather Jackson

College of the Rockies

College of the Rockies (COTR) has begun work on a new solar project at the Cranbrook main campus’ Kootenay Centre building. Kootenay Centre is the main campus’ biggest consumer of electricity and has the best physical space for the solar panels with less shadowing than other campus buildings.

The solar photovoltaic panels installed on the building’s roof will allow the College to produce electricity year-round, which they will then sell back to BC Hydro.

“As a facility, we want to be leaders in alternative energies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and hydroelectricity,” says COTR facilities manager, Allan Knibbs.  “There are a few other installs in the province but our area has the biggest potential for solar due to the number of sunny days we experience.”

The solar technology, which is expected to be complete by mid-November, will produce 109,000 kilowatt-hours per year of electricity — enough electricity to operate 14 houses for a year — while reducing the College’s greenhouse gas emissions by 12,000 kilograms of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).

It also provides a teaching tool for COTR students both during construction and once the system is up and running.

The latest solar project comes on the heels of the installation of two types of solar technology at the College’s residence building, providing a renewable energy source for heating the building. A solar wall was also mounted at the Cranbrook campus’ Pinnacle Hall building which helps to draw heat into the building, improving air quality and reducing heating and operating costs.

“The Ministry of Advanced Education has been supportive of our solar initiatives through funding programs and I hope we are able to continue to expand our use of solar technologies throughout our regional campuses as well as here in Cranbrook,” Knibbs concludes.

Learn more about College of the Rockies at www.cotr.ca