James Bay’s Capital Park will soon be home to one of the largest solar arrays on Vancouver Island.
The 251-panel system currently being installed atop two offices inside Capital Park will cost $200,000 and is expected to generate 114,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, according to developer Jawl Properties.
That’s an initial annual savings of nearly $10,000 in electricity costs, Karen Jawl, director of Jawl Properties, told CHEK News.
While solar power proved to be an unlikely alternative when developers first built the offices, Jawl always thought things would inevitably improve.
“It’s exciting to see that just five years ago, innovation and technological advancements have closed the gap to make solar power not only the right environmental choice but the right financial decision,” said he.
Capital Park is co-developed by Jawl Properties and Concert Properties, who jointly contracted with Shift Energy Group Inc. to develop and build the array.
The complex, a mixed-use development with rental, condominium, office and retail spaces, is located on Superior Street and is home to several provincial government ministries, including the Ministry of Environment.
Benchmark BC ranks the fourth complex in the province for GHG (Greenhouse gas) Emissions Intensity performance, with power generated by the array aimed at reducing electricity demand from the grid.
Both office buildings are also LEED premium.
Craig Watters, senior vice president of development at Concert, said Capital Park aims to transform the surrounding neighborhood into a thriving, sustainable and master-planned community.
“We are proud to have achieved that goal, and by partnering with Shift, we are excited to see that vision of a sustainable community deepen through the use of solar power,” added Watters.
The array should be available in mid to late September.
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