Shivering and other ways to keep warm

[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

[tweety]

wow that's a lot of long posts!

And now a statement to make all those posts irrelevant, Asia has built 500 coal plants in the last year.

So ya, do your part, silly round eye!

[burnt]

Just a question, chuckchuck - do you run your operation on strictly renewables?

After all, the capability is there to do it.

So after your strongly stated support for renewables, it only stands to reason that you have made or have concrete plans to make the switch to all-renewable energy.

If you have, I commend you for not only talking it up, but for taking the lead and putting your money where your mouth is.

It would be so reassuring to see a proponent of "green energy" actually doing it and not just jetting off to Gay Paree to talk about it.

And then, they force others to both bear the unsustainable cost (including paying for their jet-setting) AND effect of going "green".

[furrowtickler]

Well chucky, that's all nice but simply tweety is right. We are going to be forced to spend every last dime of what disposable income we have - those of us few tax payers , all for such little gain.. Look at Saskatchewan's demographics - Brad Wall Knows this - we have to be very careful going forward unless a significant part of our population starts paying taxes we will be fuked. The same goes for all of Canada - and with Trudodo at the helm that will not happen. Just wait until he pulls every last dime out of our bank accounts on first Nation issues - he is just getting warmed up there.

[burnt]

furrowtickler - quit it, you're frightening the women and children.

And me!

If you want to take a look at the impact of a government that is committed to switching a country over to renewables, you could take a peak at this article describing Ontario's debt standing:

http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/quebec-and-ontario-the-great-debt-convergence

Then consider that many of Wynne's advisers were spotted on the 401 East in moving vans heading for Ottawa after the Trud libs won their majority...

Then consider that many Ontarioans were seen hauling their carpetbags west on the TransCanada to "help" Notley correct the path of the recalcitrant West.


Oh well, maybe someone will find a way to turn leftist bull$4!T into gold and the budget will balance itself. LOL! With huge surpluses! (Well, the raw product is available)

And the economy will grow "from the heart out".

Oh my, this is way too much to digest before lunch...

[furrowtickler]

Maybe Trudodo has plans to sell water to the U.S. and the middle east to raise the money ??
Maybe Ice Capachino's to the Russians - the might be a good money maker , eh??

[Oliver88]

Very good points burnt, we just need to look to Ontario to see what NOT to do. Ontario residents will be billed $38 billion extra for their power while exporting cheaper power due to their GREEN SCAM.

Also, hard to get around this fact:
Asia has built 500 coal plants in the last year.

While in Paris and their kids are looked after by several nannies, the leaders of the climate change cult come up with suggestions for the peasants.

[blackpowder]

No doubt R&D must continue and we cant know what new stuff is coming.
But is new wealth creation paying for it? Or is it wealth redistribution?
Shhhhhh! Theres a knock at my door!!

[sumdumguy]

Making a culprit of carbon, what a crock! How did we get here? The poor nations jumped on board and realized their opportunity to extort huge sums of money from Western nations and they thought maybe China and Russia too. Obama took the bait.... And sadly enough looks like we did too. Yuk shi my!

[cottonpicken]

We should just turn around and take it to them. No hot water in homes legislation. No plastic at all including Tupperware and garbage bags and paper. Just give the ****ers what they want and more and more. Make those ****ing pigs in orwells book squeal.

[burnt]

The title of this thread just kills me.