The Solar PVcast

Ian Casselman, drummer for Canadian rock band Marianas Trench, joins The Solar PVcast to share his experience as a solar homeowner. From obsessively checking his solar production app to adding a hybrid vehicle to the driveway, Ian talks about how solar has changed the way his family uses energy. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of incentives, the future of solar in Canada, and why he believes more people should make the switch. Whether you're a Marianas Trench fan (We touch on what they're up to as well!), considering solar for your home, or just curious about what it's actually like to own a solar system, this episode is for you. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years ago, we sat down with Lindsay Block-Glass of LBG Home and Royal LePage to talk about solar and real estate in Victoria, BC. Now she’s back — and the conversation has changed. When we first spoke, solar and home energy generation weren’t really things buyers were regularly asking about. Today, Lindsay says energy awareness is increasingly part of the real estate conversation. Homebuyers are asking more questions about energy efficiency, operating costs, solar and the ability for a home to generate some of its own electricity. In this follow-up episode of The Solar PVcast, we look at what has changed over the past three years, what Lindsay is hearing from buyers and sellers in the Victoria real estate market, and why energy is becoming another consideration when people think about a home. We discuss solar, energy costs, buyer awareness, what homeowners should consider when making energy upgrades, and where Lindsay sees the conversation heading next. Three years ago, we were asking whether energy would become part of the real estate conversation. Three years later, it is. Guest: Lindsay Block-Glass — LBG Home | Royal LePageLocation: Victoria, BCPodcast: The Solar PVcast Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time, British Columbia’s solar potential has been mapped in a powerful new open-source tool. On this episode of The Solar PVcast, Chris sits down with Connor McGookin, Research Associate at UBC, to talk about the project and the team behind it. They discuss how the map was created, the many factors considered when estimating solar potential across BC, and why having this data readily available matters. Similar solar mapping tools exist elsewhere in the world, but BC has been missing this kind of resource. Now it's freely available for anyone to explore — from researchers and communities to policymakers and utilities like BC Hydro. It's an exciting new tool for solar education, planning and understanding just how much potential exists across the province. Explore the map: BC Solar Potential Map Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does solar look like north of 60? On this episode of The Solar PVcast, Chris chats with Sebastian Jones, Wildlife Analyst with the Yukon Conservation Society, about the opportunities — and challenges — facing solar energy in the Yukon. They dig into electricity rates, the need to modernize the territory's grid, the end of the Micro-generation Program and why solar adoption can move frustratingly slowly. Sebastian also shares his experience living off-grid and why he believes Yukoners need more ways to generate their own electricity, including emerging ideas like balcony solar. And despite its northern location, the Yukon has some fascinating advantages for solar: incredibly long summer days and cold temperatures that can help solar panels perform efficiently. The potential is there. So what's holding solar back in the Yukon? Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and changing global supply chains are once again shaking up Canada's solar industry—but if you've spent enough time in solar, unpredictability is nothing new. Chris is joined by Rob Milliken, Vice President of Business Development at Charge Solar, who brings 25 years of experience riding the “solar coaster.” They break down what tariffs and changing trade policies mean for solar equipment, pricing, installers, and ultimately Canadian homeowners and businesses—and why an industry built on constant change knows how to adapt. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.