Achi news desk-
West Hillhurst Community Association’s carbon footprint may have shrunk slightly on Sunday.
Representatives from the City of Calgary and the community association itself were on hand, along with about a dozen residents, to mark the occasion as solar panels were installed on the busy community centre.
Ward 7 councillor, Terry Wong, was there, saying the installation was consistent with the community’s commitment to sustainability.
“The West Hillhurst Community Association has been doing this for quite some time,” Wong said, “whether it’s looking at this solar conversation or the kinds of things they’ve done around the park, like (planting) trees. and everything else as such.
“But today is the day,” he added, “that they want to celebrate the installation of solar panels, so you can generate electricity as part of the building and save operating costs.”
Julie Impey, chair of the West Hillhurst Community Association’s green committee, said the solar panels would give the community a huge power boost.
“This solar panel installation is the equivalent of powering 43 homes in our community,” Impey said. “So this energy is going to be used in the community and (that will generate) a lot of savings.
“Today, we come together to celebrate and raise awareness about solar energy,” he added.
Speakers from Enmax and Solar Alberta were also on hand to offer demonstrations of solar equipment at the event.
With files from Tyler Barrow
