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industry newsSchneider helps Team North create award-winning solar homeSchneider Electric (www.schneider-electric.ca)recently donated Xantrex inverters, Square D PowerlogicEnergy Management system, Veris currenttransformers, QO circuit breakers, a QO loadcentreand safety switches to Team North’s solar-poweredhome—North House.North House, which produces more energy than itconsumes, is a recipient of the 2010 Ontario Associationof Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award.The annual awards offer Ontario architects, studentsand interns an opportunity to showcase their bestwork and increase public appreciation of the servicesprovided by the architectural profession.“The products we received from SchneiderElectric were critical for both our energy productionand energy monitoring systems,” said LaurenBarhydt, Team North’s project manager (a graduatestudent at the University of Waterloo School ofArchitecture). “We were grateful for the products,but also for the kind and thoughtful advice fromSchneider Electric’s engineers—especially in thecrunch-time of our deadline!”Eaton and Takaoka to collaborateon electric vehicle chargingEaton Corp. (www.eaton.com) saysit will collaborate with TakaokaElectric Mfg. Co. Ltd. to developand launch DC Quick Chargers forcharging electric vehicle (EV) batterypacks. The collaboration will enableEaton to provide a complete line ofcharging stations across residential,commercial and industrial applicationsin North America.According to Eaton, Tokyo-basedTakaoka Electric is a leader in theinstallation and operation of EVchargers, and brings to the marketextensive technical knowledge of allaspects of electric vehicle charging.Eaton says it is currently workingto advance the EV charginginfrastructure in Burlington, Ont.,and many other communities acrossNorth America.Eaton Certified Contractoraims to go nationalEaton Corp. developed a program last yearthat provides certification to residentialelectrical service contractors; this year, thecompany aims to take the program national.In April of 2009, the Eaton CertifiedContractor Network (ECCN) program waslaunched in Ontario, and a total of 32 contractorswere certified by years end (myhome.eatonelectrical.ca). 2010 will see the programtake flight nationally, targeting a goal to certify100+ contractors from coast to coast.The five-year strategic plan for ECCNincludes the recruitment and certification ofover 300 electrical service and renovationcontractors that will provide homeowners inall cities and towns across Canada local accessto the benefits and advantages associated withhiring an ECCN contractor.The ultimate goal for Eaton is to have thetop 25% of electrical residential service andrenovation contractors in Canada enroll andengage in ECCN.Northland secures contracts for solarwind and hydro in OntarioNorthland Power Income Fund (www.npifund.com) has been awarded contractsunder the government’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT)program to build 216MW of renewable greenenergy projects in Ontario.The projects include 13 ground-mountedsolar projects totalling 130MW located acrossthe province, the 60MW Manitoulin Islandwind farm, and four run-of-river hydro projectson the Kabinakagami River totalling26 MW. Construction of the first projectscould begin this year—after all permittingis completed—and the total investment byNorthland is expected to reach almost $1 billionover the next four years.“These awards confirm the validity of Northland’sclean and green energy strategy. I am alsoespecially happy for the Constance Lake FirstNation, our partner in our water power projectson the Kabinakagami River. These projects representresponsible use of our natural resources andwill be an important source of income for ConstanceLake through their long-term ownershipinterest,” said John Brace, CEO of Northland.www.EBMag.com • June/July 2010 • 7