Carmanah Solar Rooftop PV Grid-Tied System Ready for 500 Dr. David Suzuki Public School Students this Fall

August 24, 2010
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VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (August 24, 2010) — Installation is complete for the 38 kW solar grid-tied photovoltaic system designed for the newly constructed Dr. David Suzuki Public School. The new solar system was engineered and installed by Canadian-based solar integrator, Carmanah Technologies (TSX: CMH) for the Greater Essex County District School Board of Windsor, Ontario, who received funding for the solar project through the Government of Ontario. Capable of delivering up to 10 per cent of the facility’s total energy needs, the new solar PV system is expected to serve as both a sustainable, revenue-generating power source as well as a functional learning tool for up to 500 students returning to classes in the fall. The new 58,000 square foot Public School, named after internationally renowned environmentalist, Dr. David Suzuki, is a standing demonstration of environmental design for the architectural and engineering community. The addition of the grid-tied solar PV system is supporting the School’s application for LEED (Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Design) Platinum-level certification, the nation’s highest level of certification for green building design. If the application is approved, the Dr. David Suzuki Public School would be the first school in Canada to receive the environmental honor.

Ted Lattimore, Carmanah CEO, comments that the interest in solar PV systems for Ontario school facilities is on the rise. “Solar technology presents a sustainable revenue-generating tool for Ontario school boards as well as a learning occasion for students, staff and community. Our systems include sophisticated monitoring software which allows both the Board and the public to view the systems’ performance and output on an interactive website. The opportunity for education in sustainable energy generation is therefore immediate and accessible.”

By including sustainable technology early in the building design process, the Greater Essex County District School Board hopes to incorporate the new technologies in both student academia and culture; the School is providing information kiosks throughout the building and a website that will inform students and guests about the energy and environmental technologies being employed.  “We believe it is important to teach children about alternative energy sources as well as energy conservation,” stated Giuliana Hinchliffe, Coordinator of Engineering, Facility Services Department, Greater Essex County District School Board.

The Greater Essex County School Board expects to activate the new Carmanah solar PV system as soon as the Ontario Power Authority Feed-In-Tariff process is complete. The OPA FIT program will reimburse the School Board for every kWh the solar system produces.

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About Carmanah Technologies Corporation

As Canada’s largest and most successful name in commercial photovoltaic projects, Carmanah has designed and installed more grid-tied solar power systems than any other integrator or contractor in Canada. Working directly with more than a dozen Ontario LDCs, including Hydro One, Whitby Hydro, Enersource, Powerstream, Toronto Hydro, Ottawa Hydro, and Enwin (Windsor), Carmanah has been entrusted with providing grid-tied solar PV systems for the City of Toronto Police Services and the Toronto Parking Authority facility under funding by the Ontario Government Feed In Tariff (FIT) Program. Carmanah is a publicly traded company, with common shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CMH”. For more information, visit www.carmanah.com.

About Greater Essex County District School Board

The Greater Essex County District School Board, in partnership with the community, provides learning opportunities which support, challenge, and inspire all students to achieve their full potential and enable them to participate meaningfully in their communities. With support from the Government of Ontario, the Greater Essex County District School Board of Windsor, Ontario, has upgraded many existing school facilities and opened four new elementary schools, as well as currently being in the design/construction phase of two additional elementary schools and one secondary school.

Please note: pictures are available by contacting David Davies, Public Relations Contact.

Carmanah Technologies Corporation

“Roland Sartorius”

Roland Sartorius
Chief Financial Officer

For further information, please contact:

Investors:
Investor Relations: Roland Sartorius
Toll-Free: 1.877.722.8877
investors@carmanah.com

Media:
Public Relations: David Davies
Tel: +1.250.382.4332
ddavies@carmanah.com
 

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intends,” “believes,” “could,” “might,” “will” or variations of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Carmanah to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which are described under the caption “Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements” and “Key Information – Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Carmanah’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in Carmanah’s Annual Report are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect Carmanah. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Carmanah does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.