1985 Calgary home goes net-zero
Peter Darlington of Solar Home Inc. transformed his 1985 home from a building with higher than average GHG emissions to net-zero with this site-built deep retrofit.
| Building Type | Single-Family 2+ Stories | Location | Calgary, AB |
| Year Built | 1985 | Foundation Type | Concrete (Full Basement) |
| Structure Type | Wood-Framed | Total Floor Area | 185.8m2 |
| Climate Zone | 7a | Heating Degree Days | 5000 |
| Retrofit Status | Complete | Year Completed | 2018 |
| Retrofit Phasing | No | Annual Energy Savings | 107.78% |
| Operational Carbon Savings | 12.81 tCO2eq/yt |
Project Team
- Solar Homes Inc. ( Builder )
Project Priorities
- Reduce Energy Consumption
- Achieve Net Zero or Net Zero Ready
- Reduce GHG Emissions
Upgrades
- Envelope: Insulation and airtightness
- High-performing windows
- Solar
- Air source heat pump
- Hot water tank heat pump
- Energy efficient appliances and lighting
Project Description
Peter Darlington of Solar Homes Inc. converted his high-emission 1985 detached single-family home to net-zero ready by making the building super-insulated and airtight and installing high-performing windows, energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
When the deep retrofit was done, Peter took the project to net-zero by installing solar panels on his garage.
After a year of monitoring, Peter confirmed the solar array produced slightly more energy than he and his family consumed. The solar panels powered the entire home, including lighting, appliances, electrical outlets, hot-water heating, as well as space heating and cooling.
In 2018, Peter acquired a 2014 Chevy Volt and installed more solar panels on the property. The vehicle is entirely solar-powered and carbon neutral.
The project was the Canadian Home Builder’s Association’s first CHBA Labelled Net Zero Renovation.
Before & After
Envelope |
Mechanical & Electrical |
Annual Energy Usage |
Carbon Emissions |
Technical Documents
Photos
