Okanagan Solar Limited is in the business of renewable energy, but theyâre also in the business of giving back.
Owner Rob Monteith said every year the company looks at supporting a local charity organization with free solar panels and installation.
After driving past the building so many times and noticing how perfect the roof is for solar panels, Monteith chose the BC SPCA Âé¶čAV branch to gift the solar panels to.
âWe do a lot of really large projects and buy in bulk, and sometimes we have leftover panels,â Monteith said. âWhen that happens I always look for a non-profit that could use some help.â Monteith said one of their previous gifts was to Âé¶čAVâs Gospel Mission.
One of the challenges in gifting solar panels is that the organization needs to own its building. With the SPCA building in Âé¶čAV being owned, not leased, and south facing, Monteith said it was an easy pick.
âFor a non-profit like the SPCA, obviously it didnât cost them anything for [the solar system], but that building uses a lot of power. Anything that we could produce lowers the cost of their annual bills, or their monthly bills for Fortis.â
Monteith has been in the Okanagan for about 50 years and said his kids were born and raised here. As a member of the community he has felt the need to give back to those around him.
âWeâre a small family-run, owned and operated company, and itâs always best to help everybody in your community. Weâve had a really good year and weâre in a very good business⊠Itâs been a profitable year, so it only makes sense that we pay it forward.â
The solar panels were installed back in October at an estimated value of $8,300.
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