Inauguration Event

After a successful inauguration on November, 9, 2010, the Oxford Gardens Solar Thermal Cooling project is up and running, ensuring savings from the air conditioning up to 40%, or approximately $20,000 per year; for heat savings, up to 60% or approximately $40,000 per year”, according to Suni Ball from Proterra Solar.

With over 80 guests, the opening ceremony included renowned guests, such as Ontario's Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson, Dave MacKenzie, Member of Parliament for Oxford and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Sabine Sparwasser, Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Toronto.

"I think it's great. It shows the power of partnership," said Ontario's Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson, explaining the Oxford Garden project included input from the Canadian and German governments, the Ontario government, the City of Woodstock and the private sector.

Beautiful sunny weather conditions permitted all guests to visit the solar roof and get an explanation on how the system is working. Through an online performance board, interested parties can observe and analyze project energy savings every day. "It's very important to educate because if you have one project then you can educate other people, " insists Guenter Schaffron, president of S-Power, the German collector manufacturer. We do hope that this is going to be a lighthouse, that many people will come and see it from afar, and that it will sort of impress Canadians," German Consul General Sabine Sparwasser further emphasizes.