Case Study: Drake Landing Shines With Solar

"The area of Okotoks receives almost as much solar energy as Italy and Greece, making it an ideal location for solar-energy collection," says Rick Quail, the town's municipal manager. This abundance of solar energy is being harnessed in Drake Landing, a developer-driven, sustainable residential development. 

Completed in the summer of 2007, Drake Landing is the first community in North America to implement a technology known as seasonal thermal energy storage. The development's 52 single-detached homes receive 90 per cent of their heating and 60 per cent of their domestic hot water from solar energy.

Solar energy is collected by 800 solar panels, mounted on garage roofs. This unique placement provides a large sloped structure for the solar collectors, without impeding the design of the houses. A seasonal thermal energy storage system saves excess solar energy underground during summer months and distributes needed energy during winter months.

But as Quail says, "Drake Landing is more than just a collection of solar panels." It is part of Okotok's sustainability plan and currently is the largest subdivision of R-2000, Built Green^TM Alberta Gold Standard homes. With low-impact landscaping, locally manufactured materials, specialized air handler units, low-flush toilets, showerheads and faucets and ENERGY STAR^® appliances, these homes are 30 per cent more efficient than their conventional counterparts.

Drake Landing sets the stage for future sustainable residential developments, says Quail. "The key to its success was finding partners with a willingness to look towards alternative energy sources - partners such as the federal and provincial governments, the Town of Okotoks, Climate Change Central, United Communities, Sterling Homes, ATCO Gas and EnerWorks."