What is SWITCH?

SWITCH is a network of businesses, research and educational institutions, public sector participants, and community-minded volunteers working together with a common mission: to position the Kingston region as a leading centre for sustainable energy.

SWITCH is an incorporated non-profit organization that depends crucially on the financial support of its members. To become a SWITCH member, please download and print out the membership package. You can contact us regarding your interest in the local alternative energy cluster. We can discuss what SWITCH can do for you or your organization, as well as provide more information about the benefits of membership.

 Residential Solar Panels
2008 1.7kW grid-tied solar PV installation by Eco-Alternative Energy.
 
Search on SWITCH web site:
Click to see <strong>Announcements</strong> 
 Click on «SWITCH News» button at left to reach SWITCH Announcements!!

The SWITCH e-newsletter goes out weekly via email Send us an e-mail to subscribe at: info@switchontario.ca
Click to see Open Meeting 
 Click on «Monthly SWITCH Meeting» button at left to access the Webcast presentation made at our Open Meeting on May 7, 2010. Dan Corbett spoke on how Sustainable Kingston can build community partnerships and citizen engagement to have clear measures of success in advancing Kingston as Canada's Most Sustainable City. Dan Corbett addressed the parts of the plan most relevant to SWITCH

Webcast of Opportunities in Facilities Energy Management presented by John Marriott of OSIsoft Canada ULC and Anton Driesse of PV Performance Labs, the details that can be extracted from operating PV plants, and how those can be used to maximize yield, Click here

Webcast of legalities for installers seminar presented by Tony Fleming and Andrew Bonham on, February 24, 2010, at Innovation Park, can be seen by Clicking here.

Webcast of Solar Installations and the Building Code seminar, presented by Del Stowe and Rachel Quittkat on February 10, 2010 can be seen by Clicking here and their Power Point presentation can be seen by Clicking here.

Click to see the wiki

 On May 14th, 2009 the Ontario Government passed The Green Energy Act. This Act directed the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to establish a feed-in-tariff (FIT) to purchase energy from renewable energy generators. Click on «Feed-in-Tariff» button to read more about it!
Click to see
 PRESENTATION: SWITCH is offering a series of business presentations on How your rooftop can make you money: The new Green Energy Act and your business. Click on «Your rooftop can make you money» button to view our presentation (power point format). It can takes few seconds to load...
Consult SWITCH's Energy Digest (switchontario.ca/wiki) for in-depth details on the microFIT program... including a calculator of returns, a list of installers and resellers, the latest info on monthly and meter installation fees, etc.
Solar Domestic Hot Water
 Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) systems provide more than 50% of the energy used each year for hot water, it reduces the impact of increases in energy prices and it can be purchased or rented. Click on «Solar Domestic Hot Water Info» button to read more about it!
Click to Watch Video 
 Click on «June SWITCH Meeting» button at left to watch a video about SWITCH featuring the June 2009 Open Meeting!

Watch our Open Meeting live on the web

SWITCH is experimenting with new ways to reach people who cannot attend our meeting in person but who would like to participate nonetheless.

The next SWITCH Open Meeting will take place on Friday, September 10th, 8 am, , Royal Kingston Curling Club, 130 Days Road, Guest speaker Jelle Vonk from ZinCo Canada Inc., a Canadian green roof specialist, will be explaining the integration of solar PV techniques into a green roof system, how it works, and what the benefits are.

If you would like to participate in the meeting from your home or your office (using your computer) you must register using the widget on the right. Note: all participants must register at least one hour before the event. Participants will be able to send questions or interact with the speaker, have a good view of the slides from the presentation and both hear and see the live open meeting. (The number of web participants is currently limited to 50. If you want to be one of them, register early!)

To register, please use the form on the right. Simply provide your email address and some identifying information and press Submit. The information you require to connect to the meeting will be sent by email. An email reminder will also be sent to you at the beginning of the meeting.