For Immediate Release
Make electricity when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t
blowing.
By Greg Caldwell
2 May 2017
“Why did you retrofit your home this way?”
I work at ATCO and have a keen interest in technologies that provide emissions
reductions. So, when the opportunity came up at work to trial new energy
efficiency technology that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, I jumped at
the chance and volunteered to retrofit my house with a natural gas micro
combined heat and power (mCHP) unit.
To give you a bit of background, mCHP produces both heat and electricity from
natural gas. The goal of the retrofit trial on my house is to understand the
installation and operation of mCHP and more importantly, see if there are
emissions reductions and savings that could be achieved while still using natural
gas. mCHP is an economically viable energy efficient solution used in Europe and
Japan and starting to be available in residential sizes in North America. I believe
mCHP is ready to play a significant role in the reduction of GHG emissions. It’s
also a complementary low carbon technology to renewable energy generation
sources such as solar and wind. Natural gas, the fuel source of mCHP, is used to
make electricity when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing or when the
“grid” would be used.
“Where does your commitment to energy efficiency come from?”
I’m fortunate to combine my interest in energy efficiency with my work
responsibility of evaluating energy efficient technology. It’s generally accepted
that electricity produced in Alberta is not as environmentally friendly or energy
efficient compared to electricity produced using low carbon distributed
technologies such as combined heat and power, solar, and wind.
I’ve committed to increasing my home’s energy efficiency and changed the lights
to LED lights, upgraded to LED televisions, and installed high efficiency
appliances. I recently replaced my electric range with a natural gas unit. Also, to
reduce the carbon footprint of my house, I volunteered my home for ATCO to
install an mCHP unit. With mCHP technology, electricity gets produced at the
point of consumption and waste heat is captured and utilized to heat the home
or hot water supply. This distributed technology, alongside other renewable
energy sources like solar PV, provide a technology pathway for Albertans to
become environmentally sustainable to help meet emissions reductions such as
the targets at the Paris COP21 conference.
“What ideas are you hoping people will embrace from the tour of your home?”
I’m hoping to show tour visitors that mCHP can be part of the solution to reduce
GHG emissions in the home. With the addition of a mCHP in my house, I achieved
GHG reductions upwards of 55%, within the first 3-months of piloting mCHP
technology. The significant GHG emission reductions is largely due to my home’s
electricity generation, which is now primarily produced by the mCHP unit and not
coming from the electric grid (which in Alberta has some significant high-carbon
electricity generation).
mCHP is a complementary alternative energy technology to solar and wind.
Imagine the impact we could have on the environment if thousands of homes
were retrofitted with mCHP technology in addition to other distributed
renewables?
“What’s the most important thing you want to share about your home?”
I want to share that together with ATCO, I’ve taken my home - built in early-2000
- and retrofitted it with an alternative energy technology that is upwards of 90%
efficient and reduced GHG emissions by over 50%. The mCHP used in my house is
an available technology that can be retrofitted economically to an existing home
to deliver immediate GHG reductions. I want to also point out that additional
emission reductions are possible when integrating mCHP with renewable
technologies such as solar and wind.
People will be on-site to share what’s been done with mCHP and solar together
and discuss how you can do the same with your own home.
About the Eco-Solar Home Tour
The Eco-Solar Home Tour Society organizes an annual free tour of homes and
businesses that display practical and timely examples of sustainability. The Tour is
organized by a group of volunteers who have a passion for the environment and
sustainability. Through the tour they are able to share this passion and educate
and encourage others to consider the sustainable choices in new technologies
and building practices.
The 18th Eco-Solar Home Tour has 18 of Edmonton's most efficient homes to see
this year on Saturday June 3rd, and Sunday June 4th. The tour is free and you don't
need to pre-register. For times and details go to www.ecosolar.ca.
To Learn More Please Contact
Greg Caldwell, Homeowner
[email protected]
Charlesworth CHP Home
Eco-Solar Home Tour Site #14, Sunday June 4th
http://ecosolar.ca/open_houses.html
Andrew Mills * President * Eco-Solar Home Tour * www.ecosolar.ca
[email protected] * 780-451-7240 (daytime phone) * 780-918-3288 (cell)
Facebook: EcoSolarHomeTour Twitter: @EcoSolarTour
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The little gas generator on the side of the house.