Fifty years ago, Emily and I moved into our first solar home – one that we had designed and built in Gladstone. Future focused and faith based, we wanted our lifestyle to reflect energy stewardship and conservation. Over 35 years of continually reducing our energy requirements and adding various forms of solar enhancements, we improved our consumption from 23,000 to net 8500 kilowatthours per year. A 63 % reduction!

But we were not at net zero – yet! In 2007 we decided to build a new home, using the newest technology and most efficient building techniques. We worked with Matthew O. Daby, architect, and Cellar Ridge Construction with the goal of achieving near net zero and with the hope of achieving LEED-Platinum Certification. Energy modeling by Earth Advantage helped fine tune the design for maximum energy performance. Choices we made included the extra expense of triple pane windows, a solar heated preheating tank to supplement the gas water heater, 8” exterior walls, installing an induction range, and adding solar PV panels.

Construction took place in 2009, and we’ve been metering every detail of our energy use since then. Initially our new home required a net purchase of 4000 kWh per year electricity. Our total consumption was about 9000 kWh, offset by 4.7kW of solar production. In 2014 as the price of photovoltaic solar panels dropped, we added 3.4 kW to our original array. To further lower consumption, we switched to more efficient LED lighting, replaced an aging freezer, and updated our computer.

The energy use of our house itself (8000 kWh) is now equal to our total solar production (8.1 kW) on an annual basis. However, replacing our internal combustion engine vehicle with an electric car meant trading burning gasoline for an additional electric load. Even with that, for ten months a year, our electric bill remains at the $16 basic charge. We now feel we’re doing our part in relieving the climate crisis.

Although we’ve achieved LEED Platinum and net zero for electricity use, I’m still not satisfied! Our tankless water heater still burns natural gas – but Emily is not giving up the gas fireplace!