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Robert & Sue Hawkins with their wood pellet boiler
Yellowknife family improving their energy efficiency –– one step at a time
One of the perceived barriers to Northerners making their homes more energy efficient is the cost of renovations.
The Hawkins family of Yellowknife is overcoming that “barrier” by making their home and their lives more energy efficient – one step at a time.
“It’s a personal lifestyle choice,” says Robert Hawkins. “We’re trying to make the right choices whenever we can because, as a family, we believe we can do things better.”
Some of the steps the Hawkins family has taken over the past few years include:
• purchasing a hybrid vehicle,
• installing a wood pellet boiler and a wood pellet stove,
• replacing toilets with dual or low flush models,
• replacing old appliances with Energy Star appliances,
• installing programmable thermostats and setting them to cycle with household activity,
• adding four to six inches of interior insulation throughout their home,
• adding insulation to their attic as well as exterior Styrofoam, and
• changing 95 per cent of their light bulbs to CFLs.
“We don’t have the money to do everything at once, so we’re doing it in stages. These improvements are all doable – if you build them into a household plan,” says Robert.
He adds that becoming more energy efficient is providing their household with “noticeable savings” as well as helping to teach their children, McKinley and Hudson, the wisdom of conserving resources.
“Our kids are part of our household recycling and composting effort and we’re trying to show them that you shouldn’t waste, and that you should only use what you need.
Robert says future energy efficiency plans for their home include researching solar power as both a means of supplementing their power supply but also as a back-up source of energy during short but cold winter power outages.
Vince Sharpe of Inuvik. Photo by Russell Noksana
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Inuvik “Dream home’’ one of the most
energy-efficient in the NWT!
Little did Vince Sharpe of Inuvik know when he built his dream
home on Shell Lake Road that it would be one of the most energy efficient homes in the NWT, reports Northern News Services Ltd.
An energy efficiency evaluation by the Arctic Energy Alliance shows the house has an EnerGuide rating of 82.
Go To NNSL Article |
Mary Kelly (left) checks for air leakage around windows. An outside view of the energy efficient home.
Yellowknife couple building first LEED home North of 60
Dwayne Wohlgemuth and Mary Kelly of Yellowknife are building the first house North of 60 to be accredited with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, reports Northern News Services Ltd. Dwayne said their goals in building the house were to: grow most of their own food; keep the trees around the house; build small; achieve EGH 85.5; obtain LEED Platinum, and have a house close to work and services. "We didn't want just a typical house," he said. "We wanted a small house that is energy efficient and has good air quality and one that is durable and going to last a long time."
Go To NNSL Article
Arctic Energy Alliance salutes Inuvik’s one-and-only hybrid SUV taxi driver
Russell Noksana, the Arctic Energy Alliance’s Inuvik Regional Energy Pathfinder, recently interviewed Inuvik taxi driver Maung Win who drives a 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – Inuvik’s only hybrid taxi.
1. Why did you buy your 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid? For the cost savings on fuel, and to reduce greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. I’ve always wanted to promote more use of renewable energy.
2. So what kind of cost savings are you seeing now? An average fuel savings of 50 per cent, or $1,200 per month. That’s based on 250 kilometres per day during a 12-hour day. On average, I fill up every four days or 700 kilometres – that’s compared to my old minivan which I filled up daily at $60 per day.
3. Has your business picked up since purchasing the hybrid? Yes, by 50 per cent. People want to know how the vehicle runs, and how much I save on gas and how many kilometres I can get on one tank of gas.
An article about Maung Win also appeared recently in the Inuvik Drum: Go To NNSL Article
Lefebvre family of Hay River
Brian Lefebvre of Hay River and his family are saving money and the environment by heating their home with wood pellets.They calculate it costs about $280 a month to heat their home with wood pellets in the winter with some auxiliary propane heat. That’s at least 35% less then when they heated only with propane – and the house is much more comfortable.
“We love our wood pellet stove and wouldn’t be without it,” says Brian. “We’re saving a tonne of money and we’re saving the environment. And we have not had a single issue with the stove in three years even though we run it 24/7 from September to April.”
Interested in wood pellet heat for your home for next winter? Contact the AEA’s energy professionals for advice and ask about rebates through the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program.
Kaad Mukhtaar
Yellowknife, NWT
Kaad Mukhtaar was the first taxi driver to switch to a hybrid vehicle. Kaad also assisted the Arctic Energy Alliance in the preparation of a Toyota Prius Case Study.
Sean Kollee
Yellowknife, NWT
Sean undertook a massive project: the construction of an eco-friendly home on Niven drive here in Yellowknife. Using such methods as passive solar design, heat recovery ventilation and the installation of a solar water heater Sean has created a exemplary building which proves it is possible to combat high heating bills and reduce our carbon imprint in the Arctic. Visit his website to learn more about the project.
How can I do that?
Although it is outside the grasp of many to build such a home, most of the techniques Sean used to insure his construction was as "green" as possible can be applied around the household if on a somewhat less grandiose scale. Visit our Tips for Individuals section to learn more.
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