It’s the first of its kind in Ontario: a home powered entirely by solar power.
WrightHaven Homes, a local home builder for the past 25 years, officially opened its “net zero energy home” on Sept. 4 on First Line, at its 220-home Southridge subdivision in the south end of Elora.
WrightHaven Homes is one of 19 builders from across Canada that was awarded the project under the Natural Resources Canada Ministry, president Steven Wright told the Advertiser.
The home was unveiled to politicians and trades people connected to the build on Sept. 4.
“The purpose of the project is to incorporate technologies that are readily available on the market today and implement them under the program’s strict modeling guidelines,” Wright said.
“The plan is to meet target energy usage demands, so that on an annual basis the net cost of operation is $0. Between the home’s own energy production, its usage and its consumption, the cost on an annual basis nets out to $0.”
Powered by solar panels and with energy stored in two lithium ion batteries, it’s expected the home will use about 10,000kWh of power each year and generate 15,000kWh.
According to Wright, the additional power can be sold back to the grid to minimize costs and even generate additional revenue for the homeowner.
Traditional buildings consume approximately 40 per cent of the total fossil fuel energy in Canada and other countries, contributing significantly to greenhouse gases, according to a ministry source. The “zero net energy consumption” principle is viewed as a means of reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
WrightHaven’s off-the-grid approach means harvesting solar energy on site.
“The net zero home utilizes photovoltaic energy (solar panels) to create enough energy to run the entire home for two days, which is stored in batteries ready for usage when demanded,” Wright said.
“The home has a gas generator backup in case of power outage, and relies on hydro utility only for supplemental supply in the event that the solar power is not sufficient to run the entire home.”
Wright adds that energy conservation has been achieved in the model home through super-high insulation values in the wall assembly, air-tight seals, triple-glazed windows, and attic insulation in excess of R60. R50 wall assemblies have been accomplished using foam spray and two-by-eight inch wall cavities.
Lighting in the home is 90% LED with some CFL super-high efficient appliances, while the home is heated and cooled using an air-to-air heat pump, and an air-to-water heat-source pump for domestic hot water supply and in-floor heating throughout the basement.
The home also features a drain water recovery unit to supplement hot water supply, and a rain water recovery unit, in which the water is used to flush toilets and supply exterior hose connections. The result is a 30% reduction on the home water bill.
The net zero home has been designed with the typical modern family in mind. It is approximately 2,300 square feet, featuring three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a fully finished 1,000 square foot basement.
Wellington Halton-Hills MPP Ted Arnott congratulated the company and said it should be proud of using “leading technology” for the home.
Centre Wellington deputy mayor Walter Visser also congratulated the company.
“[WrightHaven] has been setting the standard for 25 years,” Visser said of the company’s track record in the township. “Everyone should take a look at this home.”
The company held an open house on Sept. 6 with about 620 people viewing the home.
