Why are only a few People Building Energy Efficient “Net-Zero” Houses? (Part 2 Q&A)

Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

For many people, a net-zero home conjures up visions of houses beyond their reach. But supplying energy for your own home is no longer confined to the future. For many homes, a well-designed solar power system can meet 100% of their energy needs on a yearly basis. Lethbridge and the entirety of Southern Alberta get more sunlight than almost anywhere else in Canada, making solar panels the perfect solution for powering your home on green energy. Geothermal is the most efficient heating system available today, with up to 500% efficiency. And, unlike in the past, geothermal works as a complete heating and cooling system, without any need for an auxiliary heater in the winter or an airconditioner in the summer. For those seriously considering moving to a net-zero home, or going off-grid, geothermal is an important step. Geothermal is equally as effective at lowering energy costs in an urban or suburban environment. The speaker will argue that the biggest hurdle to green energy is how entrenched the old ways of doing things are. Green energy makes sense both fiscally and environmentally, but the world is slow to change. So perhaps the most powerful thing you can do is to start talking about it and talking about the steps you’ve made to lighten your ecological footprint. Speaker: Rudy Reger Rudy Reger is the owner and president of Energy Smart Canada & Arctic Spas Lethbridge. He spent most of his childhood in Germany, later moving to Paraguay, South America where he met his wife, Stella, and eventually moving to Canada in 1988. They have lived in Lethbridge ever since, raising three daughters and growing their business. Rudy began his journey in Canada as a truck driver, but soon started to venture out as an entrepreneur and eventually a business owner. They turned their passion for renewable energy into a full time business with the inception of their company Energy Smart Canada in 2001. Since then, they have worked hard to educate and offer energy efficient solutions to southern Albertans, introducing new products and becoming experts in their field. And now they’ve finally reached the goal of building themselves a self-sustaining, net zero home, right here in Lethbridge. Casa Verde is the result of years of planning and dreaming, and they are so excited that it’s finally here. They hope it will show others living in Alberta how easy and comfortable it is to live net zero. Moderator: TBA Date: Thursday, April 11, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required