The Drake Landing Solar Community Receives Three Prestigious Awards

CETC's Drake Landing Solar Community (DLSC) project has now been awarded three prestigious awards. First, the Town of Okotoks was presented with a Gold Award for the DLSC project in the Environmentally Sustainable Project Section of the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) program. Endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme, LivCom is the world's only awards competition focusing on best practices in the management of the local environment through the creation of 'liveable communities'. Second, the Alberta Home Builders Association presented Sterling Homes with the coveted Sales and Marketing Industry Achievement Award for Best New Idea of 2005 for the DLSC project. The third award, given out in June of this year, saw the Drake Landing Solar Community as the winning submission for the "Climate Change" category at the 15th annual Alberta Emerald Awards.

The DLSC is the largest subdivision of R-2000 single family homes in Canada . Each home is thirty percent more efficient than a conventionally built home. A first of its kind in the world, ninety percent of the residential space heating needs of the DLSC will be met by solar thermal energy and approximately 6 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be saved per home per year.

At this time, the DLSC is expected to be fully completed by the end of August. The remaining major component for completion is the final installation of the solar collectors on the garages. Only eight of the fifty-two homes remain to be released for sale to the public and there is a waiting list of eighty people wanting to purchase them.

The DLSC is an excellent example of CETC's ability to successfully collaborate with industry and accelerate the deployment of innovative, cross-cutting energy technologies and sustainable living. These distinguished awards strengthen NRCan's reputation as a leader in renewable and housing energy technology.

For more information, please contact Doug McClenahan at (613) 996-6078.