Solar Energy 101

Background research on solar energy

In order to discern if you and solar make a good fit, first you need a basic understanding of appropriate solar applications. At this point, you should be reading as much as you can.

Please check out the following resources:

• About Solar Energy, Natural Resources Canada 
• About Solar Energy, World Energy Council 

If you already have a basic understanding of solar energy, please skip to the next step.

Pick your technology

Now that you have a basic understanding of solar technology, you may have an idea of what exactly you want solar to do for you.

Choose the application that you are most interested in learning more about:

• Solar Electricity 
• Solar Water Heating 
• Solar Pool Heating 
• Solar Air Heating

Learn more about how each technology works

Solar Electrical Installations

There are many great resources out there about solar electricity. Please check out the following:

• What is Solar Photovoltaics (PV)?, CanSIA 

Solar Water Heating Installations

There are many great resources out there about solar water heating. Please check out the following:

• What is Solar Thermal?, CanSIA 

Solar Air Heating Installations

There are many great resources out there about solar electricity. Please check out the following:

• What is Solar Air?, CanSIA 
• Heating your Home with Solar Air Solar thermal air heating for residential applications, costs, design

More details about commercial installations for solar air heating

At this point you may be interested in reading some of our case studies and fact sheets about solar installations.

• Published Solar Energy Case Studies, Natural Resources Canada
• Solar Air Heating in Industrial Facilities
  Applications in ICI facilities, financial impact, incentives 
• Active and Passive Solar For Apartment Buildings, CanSIA 
• Solar Air Heating For Municipal Garages, CanSIA 
• Solar Air Heating For Industrial Facilities,CanSIA 
• Solar Thermal and Electric Energy for municipal environmental education centres, CanSIA
  Airdrie Environmental Education Centre, Airdrie AB 
• Solar Air Heating for animal barns, CanSIA
  MEMO Farm, South Durham QC 
• Solar Heated Air and PV Powered Fans for school portables, CanSIA
  West Preparatory School, Toronto ON 

More details about residential installations for solar air heating

At this point you may be interested in reading some of our case studies and fact sheets about solar installations.

• Published Solar Energy Case Studies, Natural Resources Canada 
• Solar Air Heating for residential space heating, CanSIA Residence, Chertsey QC

Contact someone in the industry

Your final step will be to contact a solar professional to talk about your specific installation and get a specific estimate about how much your installation will cost and how much it will save you.

Go to CanSIA's on-line searchable Member Directory.

2008 CanSIA Industry Directory (Full Color Print Version) 

Now you can order a print version of the Canadian Solar Industry Directory which includes contact information and profile descriptions of all CanSIA Member organizations across Canada and beyond. Purchase the Directory and other great publications at our Solar Shop.

Further Information

For more information on solar energy please contact our members through our Member Industry
Directory .