Shivering and other ways to keep warm

[chuckChuck]

Alberta has a world-class solar resource. How we develop it matters.

The Alberta government has set an electrical energy generation target of 30-per-cent renewables (up from the current nine per cent) by 2030. We have some choices regarding how we accomplish this in the next 15 years, and fortunately we can look to the experiences of other jurisdictions for guidance. In 2000, the German government launched its Renewable Energy Sources Act. This visionary initiative enabled Germany to increase its percentage of renewable electricity from six to 31 in only 15 years.

Alberta’s Climate Change Panel has called for using both wind and solar to reach this target. Wind is the low‑hanging fruit. Wind electrical energy is now less expensive than new coal electrical energy. To meet our 30-per-cent renewable energy target, wind will undoubtedly do the majority of the work.

Yet in the long run, solar energy will likely be the electricity source of choice. Because solar works at both small and large scale, it has the potential to transform our grid like no other source. How much can solar actually contribute to that 30 per cent? And how do we best develop it?

A quick look at reality: Last year, Alberta’s 1,000 grid‑connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems generated only 0.01 per cent of the 80,342 gigawatt-hours of electricity our province required. We have a long way to go. What is encouraging is that our installed solar capacity doubled in 2013, and again in 2014. All signs point to continued exponential growth.

According to the Fraunhofer Institute, 6.8 per cent of Germany’s electrical energy in 2014 came from solar PV. Germany reached this level of market penetration in 15 years, using a solar resource that is only 60 per cent as good as Alberta’s, in a country with half the land area of Alberta, with almost 20 times the population, with technology that was less efficient and much more expensive than what’s available to us today. So, yes Alberta can generate at least six per cent — and likely significantly more — of its electricity from the sun by 2030.

Let’s do this in a way that most benefits Alberta. Solar development can take two forms. There are large centralized solar plants called solar farms. A solar farm is typically connected to the electricity transmission system and paid the hourly price of the Alberta Electric System Operator’s (AESO) wholesale electrical energy market. There are also smaller solar plants, often located on rooftops. Alberta’s Micro-Generation Regulation regulates these. Micro-generators receive a credit for electricity they export onto the grid equivalent to their Energy Retailer purchase price. To reach its climate targets, Alberta will need to expediently develop both solar farms and rooftop solar.

Large solar farms offer a lower installed cost due to economies of scale. As large oil, coal and utility companies cancel less-productive projects, big solar farm investments will look increasingly attractive. Large projects can quickly boost solar production numbers. We need to do this, but let’s not abandon the additional benefits that a network of small solar systems can provide.

Rooftop solar offers different, but distinct advantages. Many smaller solar systems with a multitude of owners unleash broad sources of local capital. Profits from smaller projects will tend to stay in our communities creating local jobs, and multiplying economic benefits. Rooftop solar will be installed by Alberta’s existing solar installation companies.

Prior to Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act, four large corporations controlled the country’s electricity. Fifteen years later, Germany has 1.3 million electricity generators. Their 63,000-megawatt renewable electricity market is owned by a broad mix of individuals, farmers, commercial and industrial players, co-operatives, and smaller municipal and regional utilities. Big utilities own a mere five per cent of this market.

If Alberta simply develops large, corporate-funded centralized solar farms, we will be operating from the same electricity generation and distribution paradigm we have now. We’ll miss the opportunity to include and leverage the entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens, including urban dwellers, farmers and small businesses. Our solar development program needs to encourage broad participation by Albertans to insure maximum benefits for everyone.

Rob Harlan is executive director of the Solar Energy Society of Alberta.

[boarderbloke]

Wow chucky, your really scraping the bottom of the barrel this morning posting from "From Wikipedia"

Both windmills and solar panels have been complete failures and money losers. And now those energies have to compete with $35 oil. haha
All those leftists that cheerlead the downfall of oil, now have to compete against the lower price with their panels. haha

[chuckChuck]

Renewables to lead world power market growth to 2020

As costs fall and emerging economies drive growth, IEA report sees major opportunities – but policy uncertainties remain

2 October 2015 Istanbul

Renewable energy will represent the largest single source of electricity growth over the next five years, driven by falling costs and aggressive expansion in emerging economies, the IEA said Friday in an annual market report. Pointing to the great promise renewables hold for affordably mitigating climate change and enhancing energy security, the report warns governments to reduce policy uncertainties that are acting as brakes on greater deployment.

“Renewables are poised to seize the crucial top spot in global power supply growth, but this is hardly time for complacency,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol as he released the IEA’s Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2015 (MTRMR) at the G20 Energy Ministers Meeting. “Governments must remove the question marks over renewables if these technologies are to achieve their full potential, and put our energy system on a more secure, sustainable path.”

Renewable electricity additions over the next five years will top 700 gigawatts (GW) – more than twice Japan’s current installed power capacity. They will account for almost two-thirds of net additions to global power capacity – that is, the amount of new capacity that is added, minus scheduled retirements of existing power plants. Non-hydro sources such as wind and solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV) will represent nearly half of the total global power capacity increase.

The report sees the share of renewable energy in global power generation rising to over 26% by 2020 from 22% in 2013 – a remarkable shift in a very limited period of time. By 2020, the amount of global electricity generation coming from renewable energy will be higher than today’s combined electricity demand of China, India and Brazil.

The report says the geography of deployment will increasingly shift to emerging economies and developing countries, which will make up two-thirds of the renewable electricity expansion to 2020. China alone will account for nearly 40% of total renewable power capacity growth and requires almost one-third of new investment to 2020.

Declining costs drive growth

Renewable generation costs have declined in many parts of the world due to sustained technology progress, improved financing conditions and expansion of deployment to newer markets with better resources. Announced prices for long-term generation contracts at reduced levels are emerging in areas as diverse as Brazil, India, the Middle East, South Africa and the United States. As such, some countries and regions now have the potential to leapfrog to a development paradigm mainly based on increasingly affordable renewable power. This is especially true in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Affordable renewables are set to dominate the emerging power systems of the world,” Dr. Birol said. “With excellent hydro, solar and wind resources, improving cost-effectiveness and policy momentum, renewables can play a critical role in supporting economic growth and energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, meeting almost two-thirds of the region’s new demand needs over the next five years.”

Still, the MTRMR highlights risks. Financing remains key to achieving sustained investment. Regulatory barriers, grid constraints, and macroeconomic conditions pose challenges in many emerging economies. In industrialised countries, the rapid deployment of renewables requires scaling down fossil-fired power plants, putting incumbent utilities under pressure. Wavering policy commitments to decarbonisation and diversification in response to such effects can undermine investor confidence and retroactive changes can destroy it. Consequently, global growth in the report’s main case forecast is not as fast as it could be – and annual installations level off, falling short of what’s needed to put renewables on track to meet longer-term climate change objectives.

The report includes an accelerated case that assesses the impacts of enhanced policy frameworks in key countries, finding that this could boost global cumulative renewable power growth by 25% above the main case, with rising annual installations. An improving picture for renewables can have positive ramifications for global climate change negotiations. At the same time, a clear, supportive outcome from the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris in December could create a virtuous cycle for renewable deployment by increasing long-term policy vision and predictability.

But the accelerated case requires more coherent and committed policy action. “To be sure, system and grid integration will be crucial for enabling high levels of wind and solar PV. The IEA remains at the forefront of addressing these issues, including possible impacts on electricity security,” concluded Dr. Birol. “But while variability of renewables is a challenge that energy systems can learn to adapt to, variability of policies poses a far greater risk.”

The Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2015 is part of a series of annual reports the IEA devotes to each of the main primary energy sources: oil, gas, coal, renewable energy and – as of 2013 – energy efficiency. The report is for sale by the IEA bookshop. Accredited journalists who would like more information or who wish to receive a complimentary copy should contact ieapressoffice@iea.org.

To download the executive summary of the Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2015, please click here. The executive summary is also available in Chinese here and Japanese here.

To view IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol's presentation at the launch of the Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2015, please click here.



About the IEA

The International Energy Agency is an autonomous organisation that works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 29 member countries and beyond. Founded in response to the 1973/4 oil crisis, the IEA’s initial role was to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in oil supply. While this remains a key aspect of its work, the IEA has evolved and expanded. It is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative research, statistics, analysis and recommendations.

[chuckChuck]

We are still going to need fossil fuels but change to renewables and cleaner forms of energy is happening rapidly.

[Hamloc]

Following the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011 Germany started shutting down 8 of its 17 nuclear power plants and has vowed to shut down the rest by 2022. While it is certainly true they have increased their use of renewables to replace the lost nuclear generation, they have also increased their use of coal power generation to fill the gap. Wind and solar are good forms of electricity generation but the wind doesn't always blow and the sun only shines so many hours a day. The efficiency of batteries to store power during times of low generation is increasing at about 6% per year, so the technology is coming but it is not there yet.

[chuckChuck]

BoarderBloke. Read on. Do you think oil is going to stay at $35 for the next 100 years?

Why is Saskatchewan investing in renewables? Did you vote for Brad? Why is he not listening to you? LOL


"Saskatchewan's Premier says in 15 years, the province will generate half of its power from renewable energy.

"I think that's achievable and that's what we're going to be moving towards," Brad Wall told reporters at the Legislature on Wednesday.

A target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 is more than twice the amount of electricity SaskPower can generate from renewable sources such as wind and hydro right now.

RELATED: SaskPower greenhouse gas emission targets going up in 2015

Brad Wall says the government's power company will release further details next week, but the boost will come primarily from solar, wind and some geothermal projects.

Wall says the biggest change will be in the number of small, solar projects on homes.

'We want it to be greater and we need it to be greater because as you know we have high emissions per capita in this province.'
- Premier Brad Wall

"We just think because of the advancements in renewable technologies, the mix towards renewables can be much greater," Wall said.

"We want it to be greater and we need it to be greater because as you know we have high emissions per capita in this province."

The Opposition NDP notes it proposed the exact same target in legislation it proposed in the spring sitting of the Legislature, but the government did not support it.
Opposition remains doubtful

Opposition leader Cam Broten says it is a good goal, if the government follows through on its promise.

"But I'll believe it when I see it," Broten said.

"You know, I want to see progress. This is the type of target that we outlined, that we said that we should be going towards and so what will really be required are the actions to make it become a reality."

Broten says the government has wasted a lot of time and money on carbon capture technology that is not working as well as expected.

RELATED: Problems with CO2-capture plant focus of debate at Legislature

Wall says that technology is still important, as Saskatchewan will require that kind of baseload power. "Which is natural gas, and it's coal and it's hydro," he said.

Wall says SaskPower is planning a detailed announcement on renewable energy for next Monday."

[Hamloc]

What percentage of the 30% of electrical generation of renewables in Germany is from bio-digesters. Germany has embraced using all forms of waste in bio-digesters which not only produce electricity but also reduce methane emissions substantially. Municipal waste is a great fuel stock for bio-digesters. Never hear about that in Canada.

[chuckChuck]

SaskPower to develop wind, solar and geothermal power to meet up to 50% renewable target

November 23, 2015

SaskPower is committed to reducing emissions for a more environmentally sustainable future, and today, Minister responsible for SaskPower Bill Boyd joined SaskPower President and CEO Mike Marsh to announce that the corporation has set a target to double the percentage of renewable electricity generation capacity in Saskatchewan by 2030.

“An objective of 50 per cent renewable power by 2030 is ambitious, but I’m confident SaskPower can meet the target by taking an ‘all of the above’ approach to planning,” said Minister Boyd. “That means a major expansion of wind power augmented by other renewables, such as solar, biomass, geothermal and hydro, to go along with the world leading Boundary Dam 3 carbon capture project and more natural gas generation. This is the framework for a responsible clean energy plan that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring Saskatchewan has a reliable, affordable supply of electricity for years to come.”

Today, about 25% of Saskatchewan’s generation capacity comes from renewable sources – 20% from hydro and 5% or 220 megawatts (MW) from wind. Three new wind power projects already approved or in development will add another 207 MW of renewable generation by 2020.

SaskPower is planning to move forward with utility scale solar power generation, which would include at least 60 MW of solar, with a competitive procurement beginning in 2016. In an effort to expand the number of customers generating solar power, the corporation is also reviewing its Net Metering program, which offers customers generating up to 100 kilowatts of renewable energy technology the opportunity to get credit for the unused portion of their excess electricity.

SaskPower has invested in geothermal technology pre-feasibility studies to evaluate its potential in Saskatchewan. The corporation is optimistic that it can be a part of our diversified energy future, and will continue to work with the industry to determine how the technology could work within our system.

SaskPower’s plans to expand wind could make the company a leader in Canada. However, SaskPower President and CEO Mike Marsh emphasized that adding wind and other renewables in a way that’s affordable for customers is what’s important.

“The key here is that wind power has become much more economic over the years as the technology has developed. We’ve been able to understand how wind operates on our grid so we can add it in a way that balances our priorities of maintaining a sustainable and diversified generation mix with the delivery of reliable and cost-effective power to our customers,” said Marsh. “We’ll take that same approach to adding other clean options to make our renewables target of up to 50% by 2030,” he said.

To meet the target of up to 50% of SaskPower’s generation capacity from renewable sources, the corporation will be moving forward with procurement of another 100 MW of wind generation in 2016 and will develop up to 1,600 MW of new wind generation between 2019 and 2030.

“SaskPower’s new wind energy targets represent an important step forward for wind energy in Saskatchewan and will enable the province to capture more of its plentiful and cost-effective wind energy resources,” said Robert Hornung, President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). “An initial procurement of 100 MW of new wind energy in 2016, followed by a series of planned future procurements for additional wind energy, will attract significant interest and ensure a highly competitive process that will produce low cost clean electricity generation for Saskatchewan ratepayers.”

Adding more clean electricity builds on SaskPower’s innovative carbon capture and storage initiatives, which the corporation will continue to explore in order to determine how to replace conventional coal-fired electricity generation in light of existing and emerging greenhouse gas emissions regulations.

Additional information can be found at http://www.saskpower.com/blog. Images can be found at: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZv57U3

[chuckChuck]

In the land of cheap energy we haven't had to be smart about how we design our systems.

There can be a lot of efficiency designed into the system. Energy efficient building design which is very cost effective is one easy option.

There are already home designs that are independent of outside energy sources. (this may not be cost effective yet)
From CMHC:

Net-Zero Energy Housing
What is a Net-Zero Energy House?

A net-zero energy (NZE) house is designed and built to reduce household energy needs to a minimum and includes on-site1 renewable energy systems, so that the house may produce as much energy as it consumes on a yearly basis. An NZE home is not necessarily an “energy autonomous” house or “off-grid” house, as it can be connected to the electricity grid, so that it can supply electricity to the grid when it is producing more than it needs and draw from the grid when household demands exceed the amount of electricity produced on site. Taken over the year, the energy supplied to the grid balances the energy drawn from the grid, thus achieving net- zero annual energy consumption.

A house with many windows and photovoltaic system.
Figure 1: NZE homes integrate energy efficiency and conservation with renewable energy systems.

Though the design and construction of NZE homes tend to focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, they may also include technologies and practices that enhance indoor air quality and comfort, reduce environmental impact, conserve natural resources and improve affordability.

Housing accounts for 17 per cent of secondary energy use in Canada and 16 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

(Source: NRCan, Energy Use Data Handbook, August 2006; Secondary Energy Use and GHG Emissions, Residential Sector, 2004.)
Why Net-Zero Energy Housing?

NZE housing provides a way to significantly reduce energy-related costs and protect against future energy cost increases. NZE houses also tend to be more resilient in that they can continue to offer shelter during power failures, as they need so little energy to operate and stay warm. NZE homes also reduce the impact of housing on the natural environment by reducing energy-related pollutant emissions to the land, water and air that contribute to climate change. Another advantage is that, to meet NZE levels of performance, houses have to be well designed and well built.

In addition, all of the features that make an NZE home possible can also provide a very comfortable, quiet and healthy indoor environment with plenty of natural lighting.

Living room and kitchen area which is very bright with lots of windows.
Figure 2: NZE homes also offer bright and comfortable indoor living environments.

Communities of NZE houses offer the potential to reduce the size and cost of the energy, water and sewer infrastructure that serve them. This can help to control the costs of building new infrastructure and to extend the life of existing services.
Achieving Net-Zero Energy

The CMHC EQuilibriumâ„¢ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative launched the first series of NZE sustainable housing projects built across Canada. Eleven projects were constructed between 2007 and 2012, opened to public and industry audiences, and then monitored for performance during occupancy, providing a wealth of information on how to achieve net-zero energy in Canadian housing. For more information, see www.cmhc.ca/equilibriumhousing.

In order to create a net-zero energy home, there are three basic elements or steps to consider when designing and building the house:

Reduce the home’s energy requirements.
Include renewable energy systems to provide the amount of energy required to operate the home.
Operate the home efficiently.

Reduce the Energy Requirements

NZE homes focus first on significantly reducing a home’s energy consumption. This is achieved through the integration of a wide range of design strategies, technologies, products and techniques:

Significant quantities of insulation will reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer (see table 1). Insulation should be provided all around the building envelope (beneath the slab, in all walls and in the roof), and special attention should be given to eliminate any thermal bridges that can conduct heat through the building envelope.

Construction workers putting up a wall frame of a house.
Figure 3: NZE homes feature airtight wall assemblies that can hold high quantities of insulation.

A robust continuous air barrier will reduce heat loss and heat gain due to air leakage into and out of the house. The effectiveness of the air barrier should be tested with a depressurization (“blower door”) airtightness test.
The orientation of the home on its building site and the selection and placement of the windows should allow the house to take full advantage of the sun’s free heat and light, as this can significantly reduce energy requirements and improve indoor esthetics.

Exterior of a house showing lots of windows with overhangs.
Figure 4: NZE homes are positioned on their sites to maximize solar energy gains and also have features such as awnings and overhangs to protect against overheating.

The provision of measures such as roof overhangs, shading devices and natural vegetation will prevent overheating inside the home and increasing cooling-related energy use and costs.
The installation of energy-efficient mechanical ventilation will help maintain a healthy indoor living environment through the provision of a continual exchange of stale indoor air with fresh outside air.
The use of heat recovery ventilation systems and drainwater heat recovery systems will recover energy otherwise wasted from outgoing exhaust air and from wastewater, respectively.
All space heating, cooling and water heating equipment, as well as appliances and lighting fixtures, must be properly designed and installed, given the low energy needs of the house. ENERGY STAR® ratings can provide guidance for choosing the most energy-efficient products.

How Airtight Should an NZE House be?

The airtightness level of a house can have a large impact on heating and cooling energy use, related costs and comfort. Leaky houses also tend to suffer more from moisture problems. Therefore, to achieve NZE levels of performance, it is important the house is as well sealed as possible.

The airtightness of houses is usually expressed in air changes per hour (ACH) at an indoor-outdoor pressure difference of 50 pascals (Pa). The airtightness of a house can be measured with specialized equipment commonly known as a “blower door.” For an NZE home, the targeted air change rate may be 1.0 ACH or less. In comparison, a typical code-built home would test at 2.5 to 3.5 air changes per hour or higher.
Table 1: Insulation levels that may be found in an NZE home Area Net-zero energy home insulation levels (effective RSI- / R-value)
Attic RSI-11 / R-60
Above-grade walls RSI-7 / R-40
Below-grade walls RSI-3.5 / R-20
Basement slab RSI-2 / R-10
Windows Triple- or quadruple-pane windows, low-e film, argon gas, insulated spacer, casements
Produce the Required Energy

Once the energy needs have been reduced with energy-efficient technologies and practices, it is time to consider renewable energy options to meet what energy demands remain. The most common option is a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system to provide electricity. By ensuring the electricity demands of the house are reduced as much as possible in step 1, the size, and hence cost, of the PV system needed to meet the energy needs can also be reduced. Experience has shown that PV systems work reliably and require little ongoing maintenance. Homeowners should be aware that PV electricity production can be reduced by existing, or future, shading from trees or neighbouring buildings. The annual electricity production from PV systems can be estimated, so the costs and benefits are well understood before the systems are purchased. Many NZE homes constructed in Canada have PV systems of up to 10 kilowatts.

A house with photovoltaic system.
Figure 5: NZE homes have photovoltaic systems to produce renewable energy on site.

Other renewable energy sources include rooftop solar thermal panels, which produce hot water, as well as wind and water turbines, which generate electricity.

For NZE houses connected to the grid, the PV system is usually connected in such a way that it can deliver electricity back to the grid. While this arrangement does not offer a power source during blackouts, it is simpler to install and maintain than a system that uses energy storage in batteries. Another advantage is that the home is still connected to the electrical grid, thereby ensuring a reliable and continuous supply of electricity, regardless of how much electricity the on-site PV system is generating.

Some jurisdictions provide the opportunity for the homeowner to sell the produced energy to the electricity grid for a fixed price over a specific period of time. Certain utilities allow the PV-generated electricity to be credited on the electricity bill. It is important to note that NZE homes that are connected to gas and electricity utilities will incur fixed system metering, connection and distribution charges — regardless of how much energy the house may consume. In such cases, it will not be possible to reduce the energy bills to zero.

Some NZE systems may store electricity generated on site to be used to directly power the home, and possibly also an electric vehicle. Energy stored in batteries can provide the home with power during blackouts. Battery storage of excess energy allows power to be drawn first from the stored energy and then from the grid, as required, allowing homeowners to take advantage of time-of-use electricity rates. However, a battery storage system is more complex and expensive to install and maintain, and requires dedicated space within the home.
Operate the Home Efficiently
Future-Proofing a House

The first costs of NZE can sometimes be discouraging. However, there are steps that can be taken to make a low-energy house “NZE-ready,” so that the features needed to achieve NZE performance can be added cost-effectively at a later date. For instance, wiring and piping conduits and roof reinforcement can be included in a new home construction project today, with a view to adding rooftop solar energy panels in the future.

While the home location, design and systems can go a long way toward determining whether a home can approach NZE consumption, NZE levels of performance can only be achieved by reducing the amount of energy used to run the house and making the most efficient use of the energy actually consumed. Even a house equipped with the latest technologies and built using best practices will fail to achieve NZE performance if its occupants do not pay attention to how they use energy.

This includes temperature settings for space heating and hot water and the number of electronics, appliances, entertainment centres and other energy-using devices that are plugged in and used. Even the way lights and hot water are used will impact annual energy use and the ability to meet NZE objectives.

In an NZE home, the energy required for appliances and other things plugged into electrical outlets can be more than half of the total energy requirements of the home. Even with a low-energy design, an NZE home may still require an average of 21GJ (5 kW) to simply cook, wash, bathe and operate lights, computers, TVs and video game consoles. Heating the home requires the most energy in a code-built home, while occupant base loads (operation of lights, electronics, appliances, etc.) can require the most in an NZE home.

A kitchen with high efficiency lighting.
Figure 6: NZE homes feature high-efficiency lighting, appliances and electronics to reduce electricity base loads.

Some NZE homes install a display or “dashboard” to provide occupants with real-time information on their home’s energy consumption and energy production. They can then check how their home is performing in regard to balancing energy use with energy generation and then choose to make changes in order to reduce energy consumption.
NZE: Not Just for New Homes

While NZE homes are often associated with modern, new home construction projects, the NZE design and construction principles can be applied to existing homes, as well. Obviously, it is far easier to build NZE features, such as increased insulation levels, superior airtightness, and efficient heating, appliance and lighting systems into new homes than into existing ones. Existing homes pose challenges, as they have fixed solar orientation, structure and floor plans. It can also be very difficult to find the space in existing homes to add insulation and install the continuous air barrier system needed to reduce air leakage to a minimum. Despite these challenges, some renovators have applied NZE principles to renovation projects and have managed to ensure a significant reduction in net household energy use.

Person straying in insulation between the studs on the outside of a house.
Figure 7: Existing houses can be retrofitted to approach near NZE performance.
Summary

NZE housing is a reality today and can offer a wide range of benefits and advantages, including the following:

Low utility bills — save money on energy costs all year round and be protected from future energy price increases.
More comfortable living space — enjoy better indoor air quality, stable temperatures, more natural light, and isolation from outdoor noise sources.
A greener choice for the environment — minimize the household’s greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprint, conserve resources and reduce pollution.
A better future — help make sure that future generations of Canadians have better housing choices, clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a safe, healthy world to live in.

1 Some definitions of NZE homes include off-site renewable energy sources.


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[blackjack]

Has anyone ever thought this through...all the discarded batteries...hmmm