the next generation,” DeSota said.
THE PERKS OF GOING SOLAR
Going green is a win-win situation; car-
bon emissions and city pollution decrease
and long-term energy security stabiliz-
es. Although Ontario is a relatively clean
province, there are industrial cities like
Hamilton, which serves as a hub for man-
ufacturing, resulting in increased pollution
and smog days.
“There is a huge benefit to providing the
future generations a healthy, clean place
to live and it also saves money,” DeSota
said.
Solar energy can serve the average Cana-
dian homeowner in two major ways: it can
be a revenue-generating asset or it can
help offset energy costs through net me-
tering. In the latter scenario, the consum-
er becomes self-sufficient, generating the
energy that they use on an ongoing basis.
Essentially, the conversion to green ener-
gy is a business opportunity for the aver-
age Canadian, a 25-plus-year investment
that guarantees positive returns.
Depending on size, installation can cost an
average-sized home an estimated $25,000
to $28,000. The savings produced will be
double this amount, whereby the revenue
generated will cover the cost of the sys-
tem and entail a profit of approximately
$25,000 over the course of 20 years.
Solar energy serves as an insurance against
fluctuations in energy costs. For instance,
much of Toronto’s energy needs are sup-
plied by the Bruce nuclear plant, the larg-
est power plant in the world as measured
by output. Grid infrastructure maintenance
and energy transportation cost billions of
dollars. At the moment, as any homeown-
108 business elite canada
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