Some green home improvements will be offered and promoted at the Ridge Meadows Home Show, coming up May 3-5, including EV chargers, heat pumps, and solar panels.
Joel Winterburn of Solar Community HVAC Plus gives group presentations at home shows, and said the interest in these products is heating up.
“It’s unbelievable the number of people who show up,” he said.
He is currently based in Mission, but said Maple Ridge is one of his largest customer bases.
People here want to learn about the government financial incentives being offered for the installation of heat pumps.
They want to hear the latest about solar panels, and whether they should go off the grid (hint, he says they shouldn’t).
And they want the details about installing an EV charger at home.
Winterburn said if you can make sound financial case for people to go green, they are happy to do it.
“In the heart of every single Canadian, we want to do what’s good for the environment,” he said, adding that’s a line he uses to start seminars.
Heat pumps are highly regarded for their efficiency in heating and cooling homes, and he said there are government rebates of up to $6,000 for installing them, and even more for low-income homeowners.
He said seniors in particular need to know about these grants that could see them replace an old furnace and get up to $9,500 toward a new heat pump, because many of them would qualify.
Winterburn has been to massive solar trade shows in Germany – the country he considers the leader in this type of technology, due to a decades long head start. The majority of the energy produced there is from renewable sources. He keeps up with the latest technology and products.
Looking at on the number of solar panels that can be placed on a roof, and which direction they would face, he uses software to do a “solar analysis,” to determine how much energy they could capture from the sun. Some will produce enough energy that the homeowner can build up credits with BC Hydro, he said.
The representative for Flo EV, which is a major player in charger installation based in Quebec, says he also knows a lot about the grants available to charge electric cars.
He’s passionate about his work, and said these products cut pollution and are literally saving the planet. He likes to spread it around.
“When you show people they can make a difference, they get passionate about it too,” he said.
He will be dealing with customers one-on-one at the Maple Ridge show, which he said is his favourite event. Winterburn said the quality of traffic there is great, and he has gained 120 new customers from one show.
“It’s the best.”
The event will see 300 exhibitor booths, promoting a variety of products and services for home renovations, landscaping, backyard upgrades and more. There is a marketplace that has the latest gadgets and household products, for the foodies there is a sampling area with lots of flavours, and there are health and beauty products.
Whether you’re looking for blinds, roofing, flooring, hot tubs, home theatre, or virtually anything for your home, you’ll find it under one roof.
The home show costs $5 for singles and $8 for families, and the hours are Friday 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Walking through the Ridge Meadows Home Show brings home improvement ideas. (The News files)