boreholes, which stretch to a depth of . At the surface the pipes are joined together in groups of six to connect to the Energy Centre. The entire BTES is covered by a layer of insulation, on top of which a park is built. When the heated water is to be stored, it is pumped through the pipe series. The heat transfers to the surrounding soil as the water cools and returns to the Energy Centre. When the homes need heat, water flows to the centre of the BTES field and picks up the heat from the surrounding soil. The heated water then goes to the short-term energy tank in the Energy Centre and is pumped through the District Heating Loop to the homes. The BTES is in very close proximity to the Energy Center, and beyond pipes, also contains various temperature sensors. Construction started in 2005, and it was fully operational in 2007. It took about 4 years to fully charge with heat during summers, achieving maximum on 5th year. Sponsors and partners This project was conceived by Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY in partnership with governmental organizations and Canadian industries. Of the $7 million needed for this project this was the breakdown of funds: $2 million from federal government agencies. $2.9 million from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Green Municipal Investment Fund. $625,000 from the Alberta Government. Community members Homeowners were willing to pay for these energy efficient homes because it ensured high quality construction. Until the solar heating system began working, ATCO Gas (an Alberta-based natural gas distribution company) fixed heating costs at $60 per month for the homeowners at the Drake Landing Solar Community. With rising fuel costs, this was a powerful incentive for homeowners to support the DLSC project. Even if the project had failed, ATCO Gas would have replaced the special hot-water furnaces with traditional natural gas ones. There was limited risk to the homeowners and this encouraged them to support the project. Local sustainability The 52 homes in Drake Landing Solar Community are certified to Natural Resource Canada’s R-2000 Standard as well as the Built Green™ Alberta Gold Standard. Costs and financing Each house sold for an average of $380,000. Homeowners are receiving an average of $60 per month solar utility bill for heating. $7 million for the initial start up of the Drake Landing Solar Community project. If this project were repeated