The day a solar subdivision was announced in Okotoks
On 30 March 2005, government and industry unveiled plans for 52 solar-heated homes in Okotoks, Alberta, billed as a first for North America. The launch put figures on the idea: about 90 per cent of heating from the sun, a $220,000 house and roughly $5 million in public support.
Event date: 2005-03-31
What was unveiled
The announcement brought together federal, provincial and municipal backers with the builder and developer. Sterling Homes would build 52 houses, and the sun would supply nearly all of their warmth. Summer heat from rooftop collectors would be held underground and drawn back out in winter, an approach already tried in parts of Europe. Backers said they hoped other new neighbourhoods would copy it. The funding behind the launch is covered in the funding announcement.
The figures put on the table
The target was for 90 per cent of heating and hot-water needs to come from solar energy. The community was expected to use about 30 per cent less energy than conventional housing and to avoid around 260 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year.
A 1,600 square foot home was priced at $220,000, though the people behind the project were open that the price depended on about $5 million in subsidies. The solar system itself could add up to $40,000 per house. Payback over the life of a home was expected, possibly sooner if natural gas became dearer, and long-term monitoring was promised before anyone else copied the model. Show homes were due in July, with the heating system running that autumn.
What became of it
Ground was broken in spring 2005 and the Energy Centre and borehole storage went into service in 2007. Measured results ran ahead of the launch-day promise: 97 per cent solar heating by 2012 and 100 per cent in the 2015-16 heating season. See the performance results.
Problems with maintenance and deterioration appeared from about 2020, and decommissioning began in 2024, with most homes moving to natural-gas furnaces. For the current state of the equipment, check with the Town of Okotoks or ATCO.
Quick answers
When was Drake Landing announced?
The launch took place on 30 March 2005 in Alberta, and the plan was for 52 solar-heated homes in Okotoks.
How much did a Drake Landing home cost in 2005?
A 1,600 square foot house was priced at $220,000, which was possible only because of roughly $5 million in public funding for the pilot.
Did Drake Landing meet its 90 per cent target?
Yes. Monitoring showed 97 per cent solar heating by 2012 and 100 per cent in the 2015-16 heating season.