SWITCH, Kingston's Alternative Energy Cluster

The Sustainable Energy Bike Tour 2010
On Saturday August 14th, 2010 SWITCH Kingston and Cycle Kingston present the Sustainable Energy Bike Tour 2010. This free Tour starts at 10 AM at Energy House at St. Lawrence College, and ends at the K-Rock Centre around 12:30. Join us for a wonderful half day of cycling through Kingston's historic neighbourhoods, where sustainable energy technologies are finding a welcome home.

SWITCH is collaborating with Cycle Kingston, a grassroots charity which promotes and encourages safe cycling through education, on this fun, educational event promoting the value of sustainable energy and cycling in the Kingston region.

The bike Tour is a great opportunity for Kingstonians to explore their city neighbourhoods; learn about sustainable energy systems; and the positive impact they are having on how we live and work in Kingston. You will see the largest residential PV solar array in the downtown; learn how the K-Rock Centre earns its LEED design credits; and find out how a local laundromat has dramatically reduced its hot water costs by using sustainable energy technology. You will have the chance to visit installations that people wouldn't ordinarily have access to - in private homes, commercial and institutional settings.

This is a 13K tour and easily cycled by folks with a moderate level of fitness. Remember to bring your bike locks and helmets, and please ensure that your bike is in sound mechanical condition. Cycle Kingston marshals will carry only rudimentary tools in the event of minor mechanical issues, such as flat tires.

Only 25 spaces available. Please register early: info@cyclekingston.ca

(Route subject to change without notice. (Heavy) Rain Date: August 21st.)

SWITCH Call For Bids: IT Specialist
The 1000 Solar Rooftops Challenge is looking for an IT specialist to update the current SQL database. The deadline for bids is Friday, August 6th, 2010. Please submit all required materials to Tyson Champagne, the project coordinator. To read the call for bids Click here.

Community-financed renewable energy:
Options for Green Energy , a not-for-profit renewable energy project consultancy is helping investors form co-operatives that finance green energy options under the FIT program. Each member of the cooperative is paid a return on the loan that they make to the co-op, at 5% per year plus the rate of inflation for electricity in Toronto (capped at 5% p.a.), for 20 years. Options' first project is about to be built in Toronto and will be a 94 kW rooftop PV project. All surpluses generated will be reinvested into future green energy projects, with Options aiming to build 125% more renewable energy capacity per dollar than the for-profit sector. Any resident of Ontario is eligible to become a member, and projects will be located anywhere that the business case is solid and the promised returns can be achieved. For more information about Options, please visit their website Options for Green Energy. If you are interested in helping to finance a Kingston project, contact Ian Rowberry, ianrowberry@gmail.com.

SWITCH logo golf shirts are now available for sale:
Show off your affiliation and wear our brand with pride! Three different styles and many different colours available. Prices range from $28 to $35 plus tax. Payment can be made credit card, cash or cheque. To see the cotton sport shirt click here. For the cotton blend ("silk touch") sport shirt click here. And for the mesh wicking sport shirt click here. Prices can be viewed here.
Email your order (style, size, colour, quantity) to info@switchkingston.ca today! Click here to pay by credit card using the "Donate" button.

BioDiesel Equipment available for sale and for free. Please click here for a full list.

SWITCH has received a grant from the Community Adjustment Fund for Green Energy Economic Development. Please welcome Mark Gibson, Jennifer Kiwala, and Pierre Nadeau who have joined SWITCH from October 2009 to March 2010 to work on this important initiative.
SWITCH will be looking to help small and medium enterprises throughout Eastern Ontario become a part of the green energy supply chain, or benefit from being consumers of green energy technology. if you are or know of a small or medium enterprise that is or is potentially a provider or consumer in the renewable energy sector, please contact us. SWITCH is looking to apply its enhanced resources to help you succeed and grow.

Thank you for attending the Renewable Energy 'How To' Workshop for Homeowners organized by SWITCH members, and held at St. Lawrence College. To look at slides and video from previous sessions, Click Here.

Read SWITCH's 2009 Annual Report.

SWITCH's September 4^th, 2009 Open Meeting set an attendance record of 80. SWITCH is the place to keep in touch with members of the Kingston area's sustainable energy community

Wintergreen Studios, an off-grid education and retreat centre located in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, offers meeting and retreat facilities, as well as one and two-day workshops at a 10% discount to SWITCH members. Please advise them you are a SWITCH member when registering in order to receive the discount.

Interested in generating electricity from solar PV and participating in the new Feed-In tariff program? Or are you interested in solar hot water for your house? Contact our member firms that sell and install solar energy systems.

You may also wish to participate in the Utilities Kingston Solar Domestic Hot Water rental program. For general information to help you out, here are some answers to frequently asked questions from homeowners.

The Ontario Government, through the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Initiative (OSTHI), has increased the incentives available for solar hot water systems fivefold. OSTHI will now provide a maximum of $400,000 per project. For more information, please click here .

The Community Energy Partnerships Program, is offering one time financial assistance of up to $200,000 for project planning, environmental and engineering studies. The program is open to community groups, including cooperatives, non-profit groups and local partnerships. Projects are eligible to receive a graduated incentive, based on the percentage of local ownership, of up to 1 cent/kilowatt hour in addition to standard feed-in-tariff rates.

SWITCH is advocating on behalf of its members

On April 16, 2009 SWITCH made an oral presentation to the standing committee of the Ontario Legislature on the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in order to bring the concerns of its members to the attention of the committee.

In the spring of 2009, SWITCH made a submission to the City of Kingston's planning department regarding the new City Official Plan on behalf of its members, and specifically about the draft Official Plan's statements on the use of land for renewable energy.

SWITCH has been out making contacts in the community

SWITCH director Ted Hsu spoke at the 2009 Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario conference

SWITCH director Ted Hsu spoke at the KEDCO Going Green and Staying Profitable small business forum

SWITCH director Ted Hsu spoke at the 2009 Commerce and Engineering Environmental Conference.

SWITCH director Ted Hsu and SWITCH members spoke about SWITCH and local renewable energy projects to the 2009 Ontario East Municipal Conference in September.

Thanks for visiting our tables at Green-Up! 2008 and 2009, Attendance at Green Up! was over 1000 each year!

SWITCH was a Green Sponsor of Innovation 2009 in Kingston.

Thanks for visiting our tables at the 2008 and 2009 Quinte Conservation Sustainable Living Symposium. Attendance was over 500.