Looking out over the horizon in Palm Springs, California, one would assume that obtaining solar power for a residential real estate project would be a breeze.
However, Kevin Lesowski, asset coordinator at Gatehouse Design and Developments in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and his team encountered difficulties with their project in La Quinta, California. This experience underscores the importance of alternative energy solutions in housing, both in Canada and beyond.
No Power Available, $20 Million Cost for Substation Upgrade
On average, a typical home requires around 200 amps of electricity to function properly. After a year of negotiations with the Imperial Irrigation District, the organization responsible for energy services in the area, they were informed that there was simply no power available.
“The lack of power was a known issue in the area, but it took us by surprise,” admitted Lesowski.
Gatehouse and other developers in the Palm Springs region were informed that they would need to upgrade a substation to provide power to the homes, at a cost of $20 million.
In developing a smaller project consisting of 34 single-family homes, the Gatehouse team realized that unconventional thinking was required to solve this problem.
A Solution: Solar Panels Connected to Batteries Boost Power for Community Grid
A year later, in collaboration with a group of developers in the area, Lesowski discovered Block Energy, a company specializing in residential micro-grid communities.
“They utilize solar panels on the roofs that store energy in batteries in the garages,” he explained. “The entire community is connected to a communal grid – excess power from the garage batteries is transferred to a community battery bank.”
Vancouver: Sustainable Project Turning Profit – Too Good to Be True?
Despite Vancouver receiving less sunlight compared to California, Graham Carter of Vertex Developments explored alternative energy solutions suitable for projects in British Columbia.
This led Carter to research geothermal energy, which involves harnessing energy from the Earth’s crust.
Carter envisioned an environmentally sustainable real estate project that could generate income for its future residents. However, the reality was different.
“We found that the costs were prohibitive, especially in Vancouver with the already high building costs. We couldn’t justify adding an additional ‘nice to have’ feature,” he shared.
Actual and Hidden Costs: A Major Consideration Everywhere
Carlos Gamez Ruiz, associate partner at Berry Architecture, emphasized that cost is a significant factor for clients when deciding on energy options for their projects in British Columbia or Alberta.
Ruiz highlighted the importance of considering both the upfront and hidden costs associated with implementing an energy system. For multi-residential units, the investment must make sense in the long run.
Alberta: Exploring Wind Energy
Parts of Alberta are currently exploring wind energy due to the region’s topography being conducive to this renewable energy source.
Efforts are being made to leverage the open landscapes and high winds in certain areas, such as Medicine Hat, where a wind farm is being developed as an alternative energy solution for communities in Red Deer.
Bioenergy: More Research and Education Needed for Long-Term Viability
Bioenergy is another potential alternative energy source that could gain traction in the future.
Ruiz explained that bioenergy can be derived from various biological sources like industrial by-products or waste. However, further research and education are necessary for bioenergy to become a viable long-term energy option.
Implementing alternative energy solutions into residential real estate projects will be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Despite the obstacles faced in Palm Springs, Lesowski remains optimistic about the…
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