We had our ecoENERGY audit completed on February 16th and within one week we had the report. Here's what the report told us about the energy efficiency of our home:



"The results of your pre-retrofit energy evaluation show that your house rates 54 points on the EnerGuide scale. If you implement all of the recommendations in this report, you could reduce your energy consumption by up to 58% and increase your home's energy efficiency rating to 81 points. The average energy efficiency rating for a house of this age in British Columbia is 56 whereas the highest rating achieved by the most energy-efficient houses in this category is 80."

Our housing type is defined as single detached, two-stories. The exciting part is that we could improve our efficiency by over 50%! That's amazing! The other interesting part is that the "equivalent leakage area" of our home is 1337 sm2, which is equivalent to .1337 meters squared, or having 1.44 square foot hole in the wall!

So, the summary of recommendations in order of EnerGuide points, followed by the ecoEnegy rebates we are eligible for, are as follows:

1. Upgrade our heating system to a [ductless] heat pump system - 17.1 points ($500)
2. Improve wall insulation to above R9 (we have NO insulation in our walls)! - 9.0 points ($1,269)
3. Replace 13 windows and 2 doors ENERGY STAR qualified for climate zone B - 4.1 ($600)
4. Improve attic/roof insulation to R20/R28 respectively - 3.1 points ($680)

Air sealing, domestic hot water and crawlspace insulation and water conservation all scored below two points, but collectively will add up for a relatively low cost investment (ecoEnergy rebate is $2,005 for all upgrades).

Our plan is to start with the "low-hanging fruit," i.e. the low cost investments such as insulation and air sealing that will provide a short-term return. We'll then move towards the larger investments, ideally financing some of the costs with our savings from the smaller steps.

Solar Hot Water and Grey Water Systems

I'm so excited about getting started. I really should be working today, but I've spent about an hour today making calls and getting quotes for solar hot water and grey water systems. (Thankfully I'm my own boss, so it's only me who loses out when I get distracted by this stuff!)

I first called my friend Roger Huber with Swiss Solar Tech. His company has en excellent reputation in BC for installing solar hot water systems at all scales, including hotels and other large buildings. I let him know that Chris and I just moved into our new home and that we're interested in a solar hot water system. I also let him know that that we are putting together a list of the upgrades we'd like to make, along with the cost estimates, so we can prioritize.

His first suggestion was that a heat pump would be a great cost-saving measure (since we have electric baseboard heat and an electric hot water tank), which was very nice because he doesn't sell heat pumps, (but he's very honest)! Because of the electric baseboard heat, we need to look at a ductless heat pump system. Once we receive the results of our ecoENERGY audit from John Suttie, we'll ask Roger to come and give us a quote on a solar hot water system.

My next call was to the local Brac Grey Water distributor, who is just across the bridge in West Kelowna. I am interested in a system that will provide grey water for both flushing toilets, as well as irrigating my garden in the hot, dry summer months. I won't feel so guilty taking baths if I know my water is going to be reused in the garden! I spoke to Blair and he gave me some high level quotes for their LB 300, RGW 150 and RGW 250, which are a crawl-space system and two other systems that go above ground. Once I get our full wish list together, I'll post it, along with the high level cost estimates and grants that we're eligible for.

First steps to greening our home

On February 1, I called my friend John Suttie, who works with City Green Solutions, the only non-profit provider of ecoENERGY home assessments in BC, to find out what would be involved in arranging an audit of our new home so that we will be eligible for grants for the energy effiency upgrades we make. He said that I would have to book him through City Green directly and that he would have them call me.

The next day, I received a call from one of their friendly customer support staff and we arranged our audit for February 16th. They sent a detailed email explaining the process and requesting several items in order to do the audit:

• Ensure your advisor has access to all rooms in the home, including suites
• Ensure your building envelope is intact (i.e. no holes in the windows, exterior walls, or ceiling)*
• Close all windows and doors to prepare for the blower door air leakage test
• Sweep your fireplace hearth, close dampers, and do not have a fire for 24 hours before the assessment**
• Clear access to the crawl space and/or attic
• Have your Property Tax Roll number and Fortis and Terasen Gas account numbers available for the advisor (we are under the City of Kelowna Utility, which is contracted to Fortis, so I called the City for this information)

Here is more information about City Green:

Our Certified Energy Advisor will begin your assessment by answering any questions you have about the ecoENERGY program and hearing about the retrofit plans you may have in mind. Next, the advisor will do a complete review of your heating system, windows, doors, ventilation and insulation. They will also conduct a blower door fan test to identify air leakage. At the end of your visit, the advisor will give you a verbal report on their findings and will make recommendations for improving your home energy efficiency. You will receive a written report, a home energy rating and a personalized retrofit plan within one week of your visit. The advisor will be required to take photos of the exterior of your house as well as key mechanical systems, for grant application and quality assurance purposes.

Your Certified Energy Advisor will also provide you with LiveSmart BC’s Low Carbon Lifestyle Guide with information on how you can live a Low Carbon Lifestyle by making climate smart choices on home energy use, waste, water use and transportation. Our energy advisors can answer your questions and direct you to local resources and information. For further information please see www.livesmartbc.ca/ and visit LiveSmart BC’s online carbon calculator.

Before your assessment, we invite you to visit our website, read our client success stories and visit our tips and Frequently Asked Questions pages for ways to reduce your energy bills.