David Egles is founder of Home Energy Solutions Ltd. a leading distributor of solar electric equipment with facilities in Barrie, ON and Victoria, BC. David also founded Soltek Solar Energy in 1988, which grew to become Canada’s largest distributor of PV products, so his experience with solar electric power systems goes right back to the beginning of the photovoltaics industry. Home Energy Solutions has powered LEED homes, commercial building and hundreds of off-grid residences in Canada. Mr. Egles, holding a BSc in Physics from the UVic, an MSc in Physical Oceanography from the UBC, has also been a director and past chair of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), publishing over 20 papers in the solar field. David will present a short overview on CanSIA followed by an update on how the use of solar electric power is progressing on Vancouver Island.
Andrew Moore is trained as an architect and specializes in community development. He has worked extensively with all levels of government, the private sector and grass roots organizations in the UK, Canada and S. Africa. For the last five years Andrew has worked for the T’Sou-ke Nation developing a comprehensive community plan and implementing many of the priority activities. One of these projects is an innovation and demonstration project creating clean renewable energy from the sun assisting T’Sou-ke to become the most solar intensive community in Canada. Another current project is a $4M Greenhouse to provide food for the Nation and large proportion of the surrounding community. All programs are aimed at leading the way back to a sustainable community once more.
Judith Cullington, a City of Colwood Councillor is lead for the City’s award-winning Solar Colwood program. She has been a passionate advocate in her community for many years, helping to develop the City’s Official Community Plan. In her ‘other’ life she is a consultant who works with communities to help them achieve their sustainability goals. She is also the proud owner of an electric vehicle, solar hot water system and smart home! Judith will talk about the Solar Colwood program and the City of Colwood’s municipal leadership towards whole community change to energy conservation and renewable clean energy, including solar thermal, solar PV and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Kent Rathwell is President and Founder at Sun Country Highway; a progressive Canadian owned company. Kent has developed and owned several successful companies, acquiring Sun Country Farms and building it in to the first green powered company in Saskatchewan in 2007. Kent will present his vision for Canada’s green & sustainable economy, outlining his company’s plan to build the most sustainable electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in the world by first creating the infrastructure to support EV adoption right across Canada.
John Wabel is President of Sunreps LLC based near Seattle, Washington is designer and licensee of fabric solar spacing-heating collectors. Sunreps LLC, WCTA 2012 semifinalist, has built and installed the world's most cost-effective solar air collector and has worldwide exclusivity for the non-conductive transpired solar collector patent - a patent that is owned by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory a division of the Department of Energy. Sunreps' fabric collectors pre-heat required fresh air in commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings. John will present an overview of their low-tech, low cost but tough and tested product line – their installations, those planned and future projected market potential.