6/ MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER SUSAN DAHL’s MY SPIN: The Future Looks Bright - Literally By Susan Dahl.
I was doing some work outside my home recently when an unfamiliar van pulled up to my house. It was not unexpected as I often get people stopping who need directions. I live on a corner. I had never seen these elderly people from town before. They looked like they were out touring the neighbor- hood. It was a cute scene. Made me smile. The gentlemen in the front, the ladies in the back. All eager to make their inquiries. To my surprise, they wanted to know about the array of solar panels that I have which cover the whole south side of my indoor riding arena roof. 8400 sq. feet of panels in total. They had heard that I had had a fire and was surprised to see that I had put the solar panels back on the roof. I’m always making the comment that it was not the solar panels that caused the fire. It was electrical.
They had asked me how long it had taken to rebuild. Everything was completed by Dec. 30th. The rebuild started
Nov. 9th. The panels are feed- ing the grid now too as of Feb. 2nd. They were surprised. They were happy that everything went up so fast. I’ve received a lot of positive wishes from peo- ple and that’s nice to hear. They had asked me how I had got started originally. I have repeated this story many times as it’s an interesting one. I begin by explaining that it has taken me a few years to complete the project. It’s not your usual time frame. Barry Finn and I decided that it would be an interesting story to repeat here for the read- ers especially for anyone who is interested in finding another use for their indoor arena. So here’s the story I told my visitors… It all started when I was speaking to the engineer over the engineered drawings for the 1st indoor riding arena. While discussing where I wanted the doors to go, he asked me if I had considered putting solar panels on the roof. I had not heard of the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPAs) Feed In Tariff Program (or FIT) back then. I’m sure most people have
heard of the FIT or solar gov’t program by now. The website for more information is
www.powerauthority.on.ca. The feasibility study had proved successful if I build the arena back and away from the bank barn 75ft. It had been my dream to have the arena attached to the barn so I didn’t have to walk outside but this would interfere with the panels operation – the barn casting a shadow onto the panels. Oh
well! Now I have a big arena parking lot. The 2nd arena is built right on top of the 1st one – only with improvements. I decided to take the risk- try for a solar contract, and so the arena was designed and built to accommodate the solar pan- els. If you look up into the high arena ceiling today, it would appear like a dense wooded for- est with long grey pvc pipes along the full length of the south arena ceiling feeding into the top of the viewing longe. The arena roof has a 5:12 pitch and is reinforced by wood bracing to hold the weight of the solar pan- els. A crane was brought in to place the 2-part trusses – the trusses being too big to be trans- ported whole.
Everything went well the 1st and 2nd time. The first time I had built the arena, a neighbor came by, noticed all the clear Plexiglas on the walls and asked me if I was growing pot! I was pleased to work with the salesman Mark Dupuis & the president Bill Clancey of Fritz construction, who did the
solar. (
www.thefritzgroup.ca). On Jan.21st of this year, my friend Lynda and I waited in her truck trying to keep warm as the members of the local hydro crew threw the switch to con- nect my system to the grid. It was too cold for champagne so we all enjoyed a nice, hot cup of Tim Horton’s coffee to mark the occasion. Little did I know that I’d be celebrating a 2nd time. After a couple weeks of testing, the 2nd project was completed on Feb. 2nd, of this year.
The future is indeed looking bright!
Reinersue @KISS Reiners
I can assure anyone read- ing this that this is not the nor- mal length of time for a project like this. People getting involved now can benefit from Mark’s expertise as I did the 2nd time. For anyone interested in seeing the arena solar project, Fritz Construction is planning an open house here April, 26, 2013 from 5-8pm. Please con- tact me for more details. It’s on my facebook page. I hope to see you. For information on the solar, please contact Mark Dupuis at 226-230-1852.
Susan Dahl, now an ACTHA Canada judge, is celebrating 21 years in reining, 11 years in natural horsemanship & 6 years writing for TheRider. Proudly a member of Toklat’s Myler (Bit) Ride Team as a certified techni- cal bit clinician. She is a certi- fied professional horse trainer, NCCP coaching theory certi- fied, competitor, clinician and owner/operator of Foundation Reining Training Centre in Durham, On. She specializes in modern horsemanship, western performance horse development & reining training for horse & rider. She has trained & won numerous ORHA, NRHA, & Reining Canada Top 10 awards. For more information on her very innovative & fun approach to training, clinics, lessons, or coaching, please visit her on facebook, her website
www.reinersuehorsemanship.co m or
Reinersue@hotmail.com.
OPEN HOUSE Foundation Reining Training Centre
April 26, 5-8pm, Durham, ON Call for Directions: (519) 369-4631
Meal and refreshments provided Everyone welcome! View the 90 kw
roof top solar system!
“Congratulations to Susan Dahl”
- Fritz Construction Services Inc, General Contractor and Solar Installer
RR 1, 173 Conc. 6, Chepstow, ON 1-877-366-2253 •
info@thefritzgroup.ca www.thefritzgroup.ca info@thinklighting.ca www.thinklighting.ca
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72