As a self-proclaimed sustainable home builder, Dueck Builders really cares about carbon footprint. In fact, we were the first residential company in Canada to use EcoPact concrete from Lafarge. We were also the first to use their most stringent eco-pact Max and offsetting remaining emissions with credits.
Lately we have heard a great deal of talk about changing out gas furnaces for electric heat pumps. A lot of energy (pun intended) is being expended into “electrifying” houses, offices and other spaces. There are new zero-carbon code initiatives at a federal level, crediting Manitoba with a 0-carbon electricity grid, but does it really make sense to electrify?
Is Gas Needed?
Maybe the hype is too much, too soon. Strange to hear a sustainable home builder saying that, is it not? Here is why we suggest it may be prudent to keep gas around a little longer.
Manitoba Hydro Fires Up Brandon Generators During Peak Demand
Manitoba Hydro is expecting demand from within Manitoba to more than double over the next 25 years. We are already forced to fire up generators when demand exceeds supply, importing electricity is too expensive, or in times of drought.
“That’s fine”, you say, “we’ll just use gas to generate electricity when needed.” That is a fine approach, except that gas is only up to about 60% efficient at generating electricity. Your natural gas furnace (which is about 95% efficient these days) is a far better use of natural gas, than using gas to generate electricity to heat your home.
Manitoba Sells to Dirtier Grids
Another factor we consider, is every gigawatt of power not used in Manitoba gets exported to dirtier grids. So while our generation of hydro comes at a very low carbon footprint price, the actual carbon footprint factor that Hydro uses is much higher. We may generate at 1 tonne of co2 emissions per gigawatt-hour, but when you consider the potential of offsetting other power grids, it becomes more appropriate to consider the incremental GHG emission effects of consumption. Each gigawatt hour we use in Manitoba forces a coal or gas burning facility in other areas to compensate, creating more carbon emissions globally. Increasing electricity consumption at the expense of exporting less “clean” power does not reduces the global carbon footprint.
But I Want A Lower Carbon Footprint!
So how then should Manitobans building new sustainable homes, offices, or other buildings seek to reduce their carbon footprint? The answer is simply that we need to have a broader view of the problem. The thinking that got us into this problem will not get us out of it. We need to shift from patting ourselves on the back for reducing our reliance on gas, towards how we use our energy assets in the most efficient and clean way to decrease global emissions. To this end, I have some suggestions.
Reduce Overall Energy Consumption
First and foremost we need to consider how we can reduce our energy consumption whether it is gas, electricity or other power. Whether we are using the energy to heat our homes, drive our vehicles, or power our computers. The best thing we can do for global emissions is to reduce consumption.
This happens in a variety of ways, but one crucial way is by reducing your home heating/cooling and appliance loads. Build a sustainable home, insulate it better, detail it better, and control your air changes. If you cut your energy usage in half, you have done more to reduce your carbon footprint than switching from gas to electricity for heating.
In order to equal the carbon footprint of gas with a heat pump, you would need roughly 4x coefficient of performance using Manitoba Hydro’s emission factor of 750 tonnes of c02 emissions per gigawatt hour.
Use Renewable Generation
When budget allows for it, renewable energy is a fantastic resource to be able to capitalize on. Renewable energy has a long way to go to become a silver bullet, but if budget and project allow, it is a wonderful way to offset your home energy demand. This can also be done through offsetting your peak energy demand (charge your EV overnight). The less we increase peak loads on the grid, the less the generators need to pick up the slack.
Be Wise in Utility Choice
We need to realize we have to be responsible with the resources we have. We need to consider our actions on a global level. Gas has a role to play getting us to a lower carbon footprint species, at least until nuclear or other sources can pick up the slack on power generation (that is a whole other blog!! Thankfully smarter people than myself are tackling it).
Globally we want to reduce our carbon footprint, so we will need global thinking. Robbing Peter to pay Paul will not get us where we need to be. Rather competent and wise decision making will put us on the right path collectively.
For ideas to reduce energy consumption in your existing home, or if you are building a new home or addition and want to make it economically and environmentally a sustainable home, contact Dueck Builders, we would be very happy to consult and work as a team to build your dream home in s sustainable way!