Energy gobbler to become lean and green


CSA Z462 Arc Flash Training – Electrical Safety Compliance Course

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 6 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$249
Coupon Price:
$199
Reserve Your Seat Today
Retrofitting a two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot house, basement included, will transform a 1946 East York structure from an energy gobbler to an energy generator.

The Now House, one of 12 winning CMHC EQuilibrium demonstration projects, will boast an energy rating of close to 100 after retrofitting, says Lorraine Gauthier, a principal of Work With Doing design studio and one of the all-volunteer team involved in the project.

Insulation and other energy conservation measures will bring the Topham Rd. house up to R84, Gauthier says.

Add solar power generation and solar thermal heating and that will bring it up to R94. She notes the homeowner spends about $1,300 a year to heat with natural gas.

Post-renovation, his annual bill will be less than $300 and the home will have better air quality. But even more important, Gauthier says the homeowner will be protected against future increases in energy costs.

In summer solar panels will produce electricity for the homeowner's own use with enough left over to feed into the hydro grid, for which he'll get credits, Gauthier says.

The Now House team chose a retrofit project in the CMHC competition, because Canada has more than 1 million similar postwar houses, all of them leaking energy.

"It's a target market. We don't need to build new subdivisions," Gauthier says.

"If we could reduce emissions by 6 tonnes a year for each house — from 9.7 tonnes to 3 tonnes – we'd contribute 3 per cent towards Kyoto targets."

Gauthier says the team had hoped to start work last fall, but they were unable to raise the $85,000 cost, not counting volunteer labour, which included all architectural work.

They now have the funds and once they get a minor variance from the city for a setback, they hope to finish the retrofit by Earth Day, April 22.

CMHC will monitor the energy performance of the house for a year.

Related News

BC Hydro says three LNG companies continue to demand electricity, justifying Site C

BC Hydro LNG Load Forecast signals rising electricity demand from LNG Canada, Woodfibre, and Tilbury,…
View more

Ontario's electric debacle: Liberal leadership candidates on how they'd fix power

Ontario Electricity Policy debates rates, subsidies, renewables, nuclear baseload, and Quebec hydro imports, highlighting grid…
View more

U.S. Announces $28 Million To Advance And Deploy Hydropower Technology

DOE Hydropower Funding advances clean energy R&D, pumped storage hydropower, retrofits for non-powered dams, and…
View more

Climate change poses high credit risks for nuclear power plants: Moody's

Nuclear Plant Climate Risks span flood risk, heat stress, and water scarcity, threatening operations, safety…
View more

WEC Energy Group to buy 80% stake in Illinois wind farm for $345 million

WEC Energy Blooming Grove Investment underscores Midwest renewable energy growth, with Invenergy, GE turbines, and…
View more

Ford deal to build electric cars in Oakville comes amid $500M government cash to upgrade plant

Ford Oakville EV investment secures government funding, Unifor deal, and plant retooling, channeling $500 million…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Live Online & In-person Group Training

Advantages To Instructor-Led Training – Instructor-Led Course, Customized Training, Multiple Locations, Economical, CEU Credits, Course Discounts.

Request For Quotation

Whether you would prefer Live Online or In-Person instruction, our electrical training courses can be tailored to meet your company's specific requirements and delivered to your employees in one location or at various locations.