Leading the way in energy production
Belgravia Green A hard working, net zero energy home in an older neighbourhood producing energy for its owners, now and long into the future. Net Zero Energy Video Belgravia Green Virtual Tour The Plan We challenged ourselves to build a net zero energy home in a mature neighbourhood at a time when this concept was […]
Edmonton’s first commercial building disconnected from the electrical grid
Our Office An extensive energy retrofit transformed a 70-year-old, energy-guzzling apartment into one of the most efficient office buildings in the city. The Plan We wanted a space where homeowners would feel comfortable sharing with us their needs and dreams and which would allow ideas to take shape as they collaborated with our team to […]
Subtle details enhance minimalist design
The Summit Intended to be experienced as a whole – subtlety is key in this contemporary design. The simple palette, limited dramatic features and attention to fine details bring it all together. The Plan Aging in place was a major consideration for the Summit. The goal was to build a refined, contemporary home that could […]
Rising from the ashes
The Phoenix Family home devastated by fire re-imagined into dream home. The Plan Making the most of a bad situation, our task was to re-imagine a fire damaged bungalow into a two storey family oasis. The wish list included changing the style from traditional to contemporary, adding a second storey with a roof deck, increasing main floor […]
Soaking Up The Sun
Idylwylde Net Zero Infused with artistic flair, this net zero energy home produces all the energy needed for the home PLUS powers two electric cars! The Plan Clear priorities from the start helped set the stage for this enjoyable project. The challenge was to create a net zero energy home that produces its own clean […]
Do Batteries Make Sense for Homes in Alberta?
Change is happening. More and more the world is moving towards a low-carbon energy future. With the increasing use of renewable energy in our electrical grid, plus advances in transition to Hydrogen fuel, our homes could soon be energized in a very different way than we see today. Let’s look at how we use energy […]
Perfect Time For Solar?
Now may be the perfect time to install solar based on environmental, economic, suitability and incentive considerations.
Net Zero Home Produces Energy for Home AND Electric Car!
Achieving Net Zero Energy for a house can be a challenge. But what about when more than the house that needs energy? Is it possible to generate enough renewable electricity to supply all the energy needs for a home and electric vehicle? The simple answer is “Yes, it can be done”, even in an urban […]
Upcoming Innovations in Battery Technology That Are Set to Make Home Battery Storage More Affordable
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, we’re guessing you’re already interested in home battery technology. However, it’s quite possible that you’ve held off on actually buying a home battery storage system for your home. That’s because such systems tend to be pretty pricey — at least, that’s a widely held belief. In reality, […]
Three Alternatives to the Tesla Powerwall
All across Canada, renewable energy is becoming a priority. Home and business owners alike are undertaking green renovations to save money and protect the environment, and concepts like the solar energy battery bank can make it easier to do both. Tesla’s Powerwall (now in its second iteration) is one of the most recognizable solar energy […]
Building Our Off-Grid Net-Zero Office
Finding the Right Property Converting an existing property into an off-grid, solar-cogen-powered building is a big project, and we knew the costs could add up quickly if we weren’t careful. To save time and money, we looked for a property that would allow us to make the necessary changes as smoothly as possible. The following […]
New Office Building Deep Energy Retrofit
Is the grass greener on the other side? In this case, yes! We’ve purchased the neighbouring lot to our current office and starting a deep energy retrofit of the building to create our newer, greener office space! Our renovation will turn this old apartment building into one of the most energy-efficient workplaces in Edmonton. Before […]
Alberta Government Announces Solar Rebate
Homeowners in Alberta can now receive up to 30 per cent off solar-panel installation costs, to a maximum rebate of $10,000. This is great news for homeowners looking to add solar to a new home or an existing home. More details can be found at Alberta Government Solar Rebate or by calling 780-450-1399.
Enjoy First Taste of Net Zero Living at Eco-Solar Tour this Weekend
The 18th annual Eco-Solar Home Tour is this weekend (June 3 and 4) in Edmonton. Join us at the Belgravia Green Net Zero Energy Home located at 11536-74 Avenue on Sunday June 4th from noon to 4pm for a taste of net zero living! EAT WHEN DONE How do you create promotional materials for a […]
The Tesla Solar Roof: A Good Option for Albertans?
Back in January we wrote about how Alberta is a great place for solar power generation. With the recent unveiling of the Tesla Solar Roof, we thought we would revisit the subject of rooftop solar and discuss whether or not rooftop solar – and the Tesla Solar Roof in particular – is a viable option […]
Is Alberta a Good Place to Have Solar Panels On Your Home?
Yes! For a variety of reasons, Alberta is a great place to have solar panels on your home. In this blog post, we will discuss why this is the case. Sunniest Province in Canada First of all, Alberta has the distinction of being one of the sunniest places in Canada, and even the world. This is naturally […]
What is a Net Zero Energy Home?
As the world moves toward more sustainable building and manufacturing processes, we are starting to enter a metaphoric “golden age” of sustainable construction. We aren’t going to get into the politics of it – frankly, that’s way outside our scope – but we thought we’d chime in on the value and capability offered by a […]
Eco-Solar Home Tour a Huge Success!
More than 3000 people attended the Eco-Solar Home Tour this year, which is about 1000 more than last year! It was held on Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31. Participants were able to experience a wide range of energy-efficient, sustainable homes first hand. Experts were on site to answer questions. Thank you to all […]
Eco-Solar Tour
Effect was pleased to have two homes in the free Eco-Solar Home Tour on Saturday June 1 from noon to 4pm. Both the Belgravia Green Net Zero Energy Home located at 11536 – 74 Avenue, Edmonton and the ultra-efficient duplex located at 6226-106 Street, Edmonton saw huge crowds during the event. There were 12 fabulous homes on the […]