A child’s dream that could change the world

iLAND is the first company in North America to offer prefabricated solar homes. The company thinks big – very big – and has decided to establish its factory, headquarters and training centre for architects and future dealers in Val-David. Let’s have a look.

iLAND ─ i is for intelligence, LAND is for living space….

An architect by training and the holder of twin master’s degrees in environmental engineering and in business administration, Dan Oppizzi built the first solar homes in Switzerland 30 years ago. “At the age of eight, I already had this idea, still vague, but fairly well-anchored in my head, that I would make my life and my living with solar energy,” says Dan Oppizzi, president of iLAND.

At the age of 15, Mr. Oppizzi started working in construction. He founded iLAND in 2008, investing in it his 30 years of experience and his 15 patents – all related to innovation in solar energy.

“It was here in Québec that I discovered the construction of a prefabricated house made of wood. At that point I found the way to integrate all my knowledge and experience in solar architecture into one unique product, the iLAND house,” Mr. Oppizzi adds.

“As for me,” says François Provost, vice-president of iLAND and marketing specialist, “my meeting with Dan was the catalyst. I quite literally fell in love with the possibility of changing the world – be it only one solar house at a time!”

Intelligent, healthy and profitable houses

Fully factory-built, the iLAND homes are delivered finished and functional. Installed and ready to receive their occupants in less than five days, the houses are made from local, ecological materials, free of any chemical products. They use intelligent systems, and integrated technologies allow for distance control of lighting, heating and even, as an option, surveillance.

In addition, the modular aspect means that the purchaser can obtain the house he or she wants, enlarge it when desired or, for example, when the children leave the nest, resell the modules that are no longer needed. It’s a unique, profitable concept.

“Our houses,” Mr. Provosts adds enthusiastically, “are CSA certified, which means that every stage is strictly controlled and carefully checked. With our roofs which can withstand nine feet of snow, our sleek, modern designs with their big windows, our R40-certified 2X8 walls and our perfectly insulated floors, our houses are built so that nothing moves during transportation and installation. An air tightness test is also done after the house has been installed.”

“The future is solar or there won’t be a future” – Dan Oppizzi  

“We have to change the paradigm,” Mr. Oppizzi declares. “Our solar homes are delivered self-sufficient, which means that the house produces the energy needed to compensate for its energy use and that at the end of the year, Hydro-Québec credits the owner, who ends up paying nothing for electricity.

At the rate things are going and considering that our houses are high-quality, ecological and priced the same as conventional homes, opting for solar becomes, more than ever, a matter of common sense.”

It should also be noted that the design of the houses is carefully adapted to the terrain to maximize solar efficiency. Mr. Oppizzi mentions, as well, that iLAND uses CIGS photovoltaic cells, made from a mix of copper, gallium, indium and selenium. This technology provides one of the best absorption coefficients, even on shady terrain. The cells are also without health-related or environmental toxicity.

SUNNY SKIES AHEAD FOR iland

With a well-filled order book and a 100 percent house as an option, iLAND has already been awarded several franchises in France, Switzerland, Spain and Africa.

Starting on Thursday, October 25, a model home will be available for public viewing at a “5 a 7”, at 1645 Rte. 117 in Val-David.

www.Ilandsolaire.com