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So for my many friends posting "Thank oil and gas for being able to survive these temperatures:" I don't disagree with you, BUT -- it's no longer the only way. We are nice and cozy here at -40 with NO gas line to the house. This is thanks to a few things: 1/n
#ableg #cdnpoli
#ableg #cdnpoli
1) great insulation: offset double stud walls for a total of 10" of thickness, insulated with dense-packed cellulose
2) an airtight building envelope rated at 0.6 air changes/hour
3) a @DettsonHVAC air-source heat pump coupled to backup electric furnace for very cold days 2/n
2) an airtight building envelope rated at 0.6 air changes/hour
3) a @DettsonHVAC air-source heat pump coupled to backup electric furnace for very cold days 2/n
4) Venmar heat-recovery ventilator, which brings fresh air in, while recovering most of the heat from exhaust air
5) air-source heat pump hot water tank, that extracts heat from basement air and transfers it to the water
6) solar PV (optional)
7) triple-paned windows
3/n
5) air-source heat pump hot water tank, that extracts heat from basement air and transfers it to the water
6) solar PV (optional)
7) triple-paned windows
3/n
IMO, retrofitting every existing building to be all-electric just isn't practical or affordable right now. However, our building codes should be modernized ASAP to mandate that ALL new buildings be "netzero-ready."
4/n
4/n
Insulation, airtightness, heat pumps where possible, electrical panels/wiring conduits/roof space ready for solar panels, heat recovery systems, triple-paned windows, etc should all be required. This would allow homeowners to go to full net-zero when able.
5/n
5/n
Recently announced financing options here in AB that allow you to pay off things like solar PV as an add-on to your property tax make it MUCH easier to "go solar." This is because when you sell the home, the unpaid cost transfers to the new owner.
6/n
6/n
And that extra amount on your tax bill is at least partially (maybe fully?) covered by the electrical cost saved by what the PV system generates.
So I encourage everyone in this situation to Google "PACE financing" and your location. It's a huge step forward 7/n
So I encourage everyone in this situation to Google "PACE financing" and your location. It's a huge step forward 7/n
in accessibility of clean energy and efficiency retrofits for your homes. *No money down required!!!*
Yes, we should thank oil and gas for keeping us warm. But it's time to slowly transition away from that, and toward cleaner ways of accomplishing the same things
/fin
Yes, we should thank oil and gas for keeping us warm. But it's time to slowly transition away from that, and toward cleaner ways of accomplishing the same things
/fin
P.S. right now at -30 to -40C, the electric furnace is required to raise the house temp by 2 degrees in the mornings. But the heat pump is able to maintain the temp during the day. And ours is a "budget" model. There are much better pumps available on the market.
And I forgot to mention -- the heat pump is an air conditioner in summer, and does a great job cooling the house 
Aaaand...there's always got to be one 
Everyone who's interested, please check out http://ecosolar.ca ( @EcoSolarTour). There's a great list of homes on the tour (including us), with a rundown of the different strategies used to improve energy efficiency.
#ableg #cdnpoli
#ableg #cdnpoli
List of prominent #yeg NetZero home builders. Ours was @AugustaHomesCGY (but in Edmonton). A conventional builder who did a great job with our requests. Feel free to add to this list. I don't know them all.
1. Habitat Studios
2. Rosecrest Homes
3. Carbon Busters
1. Habitat Studios
2. Rosecrest Homes
3. Carbon Busters
4. deWaal Developments
5. Effect Homes
6. Landmark Homes
7. Dolce Vita (conventional, but can do NetZero)
http://ecosolar.ca has more in the write-ups of each house on the tour this year.
5. Effect Homes
6. Landmark Homes
7. Dolce Vita (conventional, but can do NetZero)
http://ecosolar.ca has more in the write-ups of each house on the tour this year.
Here's a great explanation of how heat pumps extract heat from ambient air:
