Green$aver Wise Solar Hot Water Package FAQ

1. Who is WISE?
2. How can I be a part of WISE?
3. What if I don't live in Ward 21?
4. Are you planning to provide this service beyond Toronto, Peel and York?
5. Is there enough sunshine here to make this worthwhile?
6. How do I know if my home is right for solar?
7. What if I've already had an ecoENERGY audit, can I still get a grant for this?
8. How long does the solar audit take?
9. How long does the installation take?
10. What are the payment terms?
11. Is there any government rebate for installation of Solar Thermal?
12. What if I am planning to replace my roof soon?
13. How is it attached to my roof? Will that cause leaks?
14. How can I get the community discount?
15. Can I put on my garage instead of my roof?
16. Do you have to rewire my house?
17. Do I need to do any changes to my plumbing?
18. What happens if my home is not suitable for solar hot water?
19. Why was Globe Solar the selected manufacturer?
20. What if I have an electric water heater?
21. Is any maintenance required and if so, who do I call?
22. Can this unit be used beyond hot water?
23. How big are the panels/how will they look on my house?
24. Is Green$aver qualified to conduct solar hot water audits and installations?
25. Should I do both the solar hot water audit and ecoENERGY audit at the same time?
26. What happens if the weather is bad during the solar hot water audit or installation?
27. Do these units work for MURBs?

1. Who is WISE?
   West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) is a community-led renewable energy project to organize the bulk purchase of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems (to produce electricity) and Solar Hot Water (SHW) systems by residents of West Toronto. They create the opportunity for participants to decrease their personal environmental footprint while contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto.

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2. How can I be a part of WISE?
   If you live in Ward 21 you automatically qualify for the WISE price.

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3. What if I don't live in Ward 21?
   If you live within the M postal code area, the price is slightly higher $3,299+taxes. If you live outside the M postal code area, the price is $3,499+taxes for PEEL and YORK regions (the price does NOT include the permit for locations outside the M postal area). We recommend Ward 30 residents wait until the Riverdale Solar program is launched.

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4. Are you planning to provide this service beyond Toronto, Peel and York?
   We will be exploring expansion plans in the future.

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5. Is there enough sunshine here to make this worthwhile?
   There is enough sunshine in this region to make solar a worthwhile investment. In fact there is more solar energy available in Toronto than Frankfurt, Germany. However, we recommend conducting a solar audit first to assess your specific installation conditions.

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6. How do I know if my home is right for solar?
   There are a number of factors that must be professionally inspected to assess whether your home is right for solar. Roof condition, shading, facing and other elements are factored in when recommending solar. A professional solar audit is always recommended first.

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7. What if I've already had an ecoENERGY audit, can I still get a grant for this?
   Yes, if you have not conducted your post assessment and submitted for your grant, and are within the 18 months since you had your initial assessment. If your ecoENERGY audit was with Green$aver, you are eligible for the $40 credit if you purchase the solar package.

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8. How long does the solar audit take?
   The solar audit usually takes approximately 1.5 hours and requires some access inside and outside your home. You will be given a report which includes payback period and savings based on your current water usage.

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9. How long does the installation take?
   Installation time varies from house to house. The average installation time is 1 day but an additional day may be required depending on the roof and weather conditions.

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10. What are the payment terms?
    A 50% deposit is required upon signing the agreement (but will not be billed until the day your solar audit takes place). The balance due upon installation. Cash, cheque and Visa/MC accepted. A cancellation fee of $50 will be charged if the solar audit or solar installation is not cancelled within 24 hours of your appointment. If your solar auditor does not recommend an installation, nothing will be billed.

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11. Is there any government rebate for installation of Solar Thermal?
    Yes. ecoENERGY provides $500 and the Province of Ontario matches that amount totaling $1,000 in grants.

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12. What if I am planning to replace my roof soon?
    It's best to replace your roof first before your solar audit for many reasons including that you will have to pay for it to be removed and reinstalled by a trained solar panel installer.

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13. How is it attached to my roof? Will that cause leaks?
    Each unit is professionally installed to ensure no leakage occurs. The installation warrantee included is for 1 year. If your roof is in poor condition, the solar auditor may not recommend a unit for your home.

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14. How can I get the community discount?
    Community groups with 20 or more homeowners committed to purchasing will receive the package for a reduced rate based on their service area. An EcoENERGY audit is recommended to obtain the available Federal and Provincial rebates. Green$aver is offering the "D" assessment at a reduced rate of $300-$340 is charged and $40 credited back when the solar payment is processed) if the client has not already had one.

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15. Can I put on my garage instead of my roof?
    A solar audit will allow us to assess that option best.

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16. Do you have to rewire my house?
    No electrical work is required for the solar installation.

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17. Do I need to do any changes to my plumbing?
    The solar audit will determine the requirements for your home.

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18. What happens if my home is not suitable for solar hot water?
    The solar audit is free. There is no obligation. If you are scheduled for an ecoENERGY audit and weren't planning to do any other upgrades, you may want to cancel within 24 hours of your appointment to avoid the cancellation charge. If you proceed with the ecoENERGY audit, the solar hot water package $40 rebate no longer applies. The ecoENERGY audit will be $340+GST.

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19. Why was Globe Solar the selected manufacturer?
    G$ did not select Globe Solar, we are responsible exclusively for solar hot water audits and installations. WISE conducted a thorough investigation of solar manufacturers through an extensive process. It included a visit to Globe's manufacturing plant in China to ensure ethical business practices. For more information on the selection process please contact: Ken Traynor WISE Project Coordinator (416) 654-7362

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20. What if I have an electric water heater?
    This system is compatible with any water heating system. In fact, savings are even bigger for those with electric water heaters.

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21. Is any maintenance required and if so, who do I call?
    Minimal maintenance is required and will be reviewed during the installation process including contacts for maintenance.

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22. Can this unit be used beyond hot water?
    No, this unit is designed exclusively for solar hot water.

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23. How big are the panels/how will they look on my house?
    The unit is approximately 5' length x 6' width x 5' high. The approximate total filled weight is 260kg.

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24. Is Green$aver qualified to conduct solar hot water audits and installations?
    Green$aver staff have undergone CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industries Association) training and extensive installation training with our own staff. We do not use subcontractors to ensure consistent quality service for our clients.

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25. Should I do both the solar hot water audit and ecoENERGY audit at the same time?
    We recommend you do the solar audit alone if you do not plan on doing any other energy efficiency upgrades. If you plan to do more than just the solar hot water, you should have the audits done at the same time.

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26. What happens if the weather is bad during the solar hot water audit or installation?
    Because we require safe access to the roof during the audit and installation, Green$aver reserves the right to reschedule both due to unsafe weather conditions.

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27. Do these units work for MURBs?
    These units are designed for single family use. It would not be recommended for MURBs. However if units in a MURB have their own separate water heater, then yes we can install. But again the solar audit will determine feasibility.

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