Clean Energy/Blog

Building Integrated Photo Voltaic - A Promising Future

Chris Chopik — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:23:20 +0000

I first wrote about BIPV ten years ago in Outpost Magazine. I finished my article with "imagine the south facing facade of every high-rise in your city covered with solar panels generating enough energy to offset the building's air conditioning use." Tomorrow I have the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion about building integrated PV with industry leaders. The conversation is hosted by the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, the City of Toronto, the CaGBC Toronto Chapter, the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Please consider joining the call, it promises to be a great conversation offering a glimpse of the future of building and building retrofits with Building Integrated Solar.

A constant debate with one answer - conservation and alternatives

Chris Chopik — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:47:34 +0000

The question of Nuclear and its Alternatives - debated TED style.

In Ontario I understand that we do not pay the real price for uninsurable nuclear power, and that we externalize all prospective costs from disposal. Maximum insurability of Nuclear is just 75,000,000 - I have personal liability on my vehicle for 2,000,000. Why do we continue the debate as opposed to delivering a dose of reality to the lights always on public...?

300 second history of 300 year energy legacy

Chris Chopik — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:43:32 +0000

OSEA Webinar Series - The Smart Grid October 25th

Chris Chopik — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:43:20 +0000

Presenters:

Marion Fraser, Fraser & Company

With 30 years of experience in the Ontario energy sector, Marion has worked for and consulted with a wide range of energy companies, associations and energy consumers. She understands the Ontario energy sector, its recent evolution and future challenges. She has earned a reputation as a leader in the sector with a strong record of participation on boards and committees at the national, provincial and municipal level.

Marion is considered one of the foremost practitioners of sustainable energy policy and programs in Ontario. With 30 years of experience in the energy sector, she pioneered conservation programs at Ontario Hydro contributing to saving over 1200 MW of electricity from 1989 to 1993. She applied this experience to an active consulting practice until she was recruited to head Enbridge Gas Distribution's conservation efforts where she spearheaded programs saving customers $700 million over three years and delivering a shareholder incentive of $13 million under an innovative regulatory framework which she helped establish. When the McGuinty government was elected in 2003, although she had not been active politically, it hired Marion to ensure that sustainability was a key element in energy policy.

Joe Mulhall, Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (www.cusw.ca)

Joe brings over 40 years experience in the energy sector. With a Masters Degree in Labour Studies from McMaster University, he is an electrician by trade. As President and the only full-time representative of Canadian Union of Skilled Workers, Joe has been successful in seeing CUSW celebrate its 10th year of being a strong and truly democratic union in 2009.

The ongoing restructuring of the Canadian economy with its emerging industries and technology propelled, constantly changing work environment simultaneously creates many new career opportunities, and changes the scope of skills necessary for workers to participate in the workplace. In response to the changing environment around us, members of CUSW have kept pace through involvement, training and education.

CUSW members are educating themselves to be and are committed to working towards a safe and sustainable future.

Jatin Nathwani, PhD, P.Eng., Professor and Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy and Sustainable Energy Management, Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Executive Director WISE (http://www.wise.uwaterloo.ca/)

Dr. Nathwani has extensive experience in the energy sector at the corporate level focusing on strategy and policy development, business planning for long term initiatives, contributions to the evolution of industry structure, management of regulatory affairs and environmental issues and timely integration of strategic R&D into business practice. Recently, he has been a contributor to the development of Ontario Power Authority's 'Integrated Power System Plan' focusing on the environmental and sustainability issues relevant to the planning process.

In support of the government policies on energy conservation and demand management and to create a true conservation culture in Ontario, he spearheaded the first major conservation and demand management initiative, including the largest North American pilot test of consumer propensity to conserve energy, and subsequent large scale deployment of the technology that enables reduction in energy use through "real time-feedback" of energy consumption.

Dr. Nathwani is also a member of the Ontario Smart Grid Forum, with members from Ontario's utility sector, industry associations, public agencies and universities. The Forum's most recent report was released in May 2011 and makes a series of recommendations that focus on removing barriers to smart grid development and taking full advantage of its intended benefits.

Moderator:

Chris Chopik (http://www.chrischopik.com) is a trusted writer, speaker and leader. A career in sales and communications combined with a passion for technology and the environment contribute to Chris' unique framework for profitable thinking about sustainability. Chris' recent pioneering work in the green real estate marketplace have provided a strong understanding of the confluence of issues facing the economy and ecology that underpin our quality of life.

Chris offers dynamic perspectives of conventional business challenges in the hyper-evolutionary space of sustainability, energy-efficiency, and commercialization. Chris consults with many organizations to overcome obstacles, achieve commercialization milestones, and to tackle emerging markets. (http://evolutiongreen.com/speakers/chris-chopik/)

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Chris Chopik — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:40:26 +0000

OSEA FIT Webinar Series: OPA FIT Review – Discussing the Future of the Feed-in Tariff program and wind power development in Ontario When: Thursday, July 14, 1:00 - 2:30 pm Where: Online webinar. Log-in information provided upon registration. Register: http://oseawebinars.eventbrite.com/ Description: The Ontario Power Authority is expected to begin its review of the Feed-in Tariff programs within the next several weeks. To get the sector engaged we have created an exciting webinar series on the future of the FIT. Join our panel of experts, on Thursday, July 14, for an engaging discussion. The panel will address a series of important questions, including the following: Has the Feed-in Tariff program helped to increase wind power development in Ontario? What challenges and barriers is the wind industry faced with today? Should Ontario introduce a tariff for small wind? What can developers do to engage the public and overcome local opposition to developments? Why should communities consider developing their own or partnering with commercial partners to develop wind projects? How does political uncertainty impact the wind sector?

Green Living Show TD Energy Stage Presentations

Chris Chopik — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:48:59 +0000

Chris Chopik

Farhaneh Haque

Saturday, April 16, 2011 11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Chris Chopik, Realtor and Home Energy Expert
Farhaneh Haque, Regional Sales Manager, TD Real Estate Secured Lending

Q&A: Renewable Energy and Home Resale Value

Farhaneh Haque and Chris Chopik will tackle important questions about financial benefits associated with renewable energy upgrades, including their impact on residential real estate.

Sunday, April 17, 2011 12:00 P.M – 12:30 P.M.

Chris Chopik, Realtor and Home Energy Expert

Renewable Energy and Home Resale Value

Join Chris Chopik as he examines the financial benefits associated with residential renewable energy upgrades, particularly what impact renewable energy has in the residential real estate market.

Real Estate Values Increase with Solar Panels, Report Says

Chris Chopik — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:50:30 +0000

Real Estate Values are growing as keeping up with the Jones' just got greener according to Burkely report.

The report used a data set of 72,000 homes including 2,000 homes with solar. Research shows that hoses with solar in California sell for a consistent premium.

I expect to see similar results in the Ontario marketplace as data begins to accumulate. If you know a realtor who needs to learn more about solar please send them to the Toronto Real Estate Board where I teach a course on the Green Energy Act and building labeling.

The original report

Thanks to the Good folks at Venturebeat.com for putting me onto this report with this article entitled:

Listen Up Realtors, Solar Panels Increase Home Values.

So much for the not-in-my-backyard argument: California homes with solar panels installed on them sell for more than their panel-free counterparts, according to a study by the University of California at Berkeley.

The study found that homes with solar panels sold for an extra $5.50 per watt of solar power installed, for an average of $17,000 more per house.

Read the whole article

Clean Energy is a Gigantic Emerging Economic Opportunity

Chris Chopik — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:51:38 +0000

North America governments need to take this opportunity as seriously as it does the protection and propogation of traditional energies including Oil, Coal and Nuclear if we are going to maintain a leadership role in the global economy. Read the PEW report.

Tom Rand Discusses Profitable Opportunities For Ontario Business

Chris Chopik — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:16:35 +0000

Chris Chopik of EvolutionGreen speaks with Tom Rand at the Community Power Conference 2010, Toronto.