Pilot Homes
Skinner Residence
Foothills, Vernon BC
Goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and long-term costs.
3,740 sq ft home built in 2010
Retrofits: June 2024
RESULTS AND WHAT THEY LOVE THE MOST NOW
Total annual solar power generation:
14,303 kWh
Total emissions saved:
4 tons per year
What was most important
The Skinner household is passionate about eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and utility costs. They chose to eliminate their natural gas furnace and use electric resistance heating as a backup to their heat pump. This also allowed them to maximize their BC Hydro rebates. They
are always keen to help HomeZero make progress on the pilot, so that we can help many other residents to reduce emissions.
Clean energy solutions
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Cold climate air source heat pump with electrical resistance backup
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Hybrid electric hot water tank
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Solar photovoltaic system to power all appliances and new heating equipment
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Level 2 EV charging outlet
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Energy monitoring system
Challenges that arose
The Skinner residence was one of the easiest installations in the pilot project. They had enough capacity on their electrical panel to support an electric backup furnace, and their home was the most energy efficient out of all pilot homes.
Does a shower feel different when the water is heated with energy from the sun vs the unending maze of gas lines under the infrastructure of towns and cities?
The answer is unequivocally YES!!!
Does the heat and cooling feel different coming from the depths of the Earth vs the same unending maze of gas lines?