We can’t keep doing things the same way. Climate change, rising green house gas emissions, an aging population, resource depletion and increasing public health challenges. So let’s try to do better. There are some sustainable technology and infrastructure “Pillars” we aim to address to create a healthier village, community, town and world. Below are just a few that we hope to test and utilize.
Solar Technology
Residential Solar Panels
- Installed on “near zero” homes
- Built “solar ready”
- Intelligent energy management system for homeowners net-metering options based on behind-the-meter connection to the utility power
- Residential ES and solar PV generation system can sustain critical loads of an average home during a grid power outage
Community Microgrid / Solar Field
- Concentrated, supplemental energy supply as part of the Microgrid
- Solar PV Generation field and large energy storage
- Net – 50 Power Generation/Storage
- 2.1MWp Solar PV Generation System
- 3MW/MWh Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
- Grid-tied bi-directional inverter
- Battery Management System (BMS)
- Microgrid Energy Management System
Solar Smartflower
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Smart Use
All-in-one photovoltaic and energy storage system. Operational within an hour and delivers approx. 4,000 kWh per year (fills the energy needs of avg. home)
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Smart Tracking
Monitors weather conditions to move with the sun or “fold-up” in poor weather conditions
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Smart Cleaning
Easily rids itself of dust or snow by folding & unfolding to maximize energy production
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Smart Cooling
Rear-ventilated to keep the unit cool & maximize energy production efficiency.
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Smart Mobility
Compact and mobile design that can easily be relocated if needed.
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Smart Safety
Constant self monitoring means a safe system. If winds increase, it takes its secure/night position.
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Smart Options
Available in eight colours with an appealing modern design.
Greywater Reuse
Greyter Water System
The Greyter Water System reclaims and treats greywater so that it can be reused. The Greyter HOME is a self contained recycling system that filters and disinfects the greywater to a near potable water quality. The Greyter HOME system is 19” deep x 28” wide x 65” tall.
- Capable of supplying 100% of the water required for flushing toilets
- Reduces interior household water consumption (and costs) by 25-30%
- Designed to meet the strict water quality requirements and performance guidelines of the National Standards Foundation (NSF 350)
- Simple and easy to maintain
- Reliable, easy, and inexpensive to repair and low energy usage.
The residential system has a holding capacity of approximately 200 litres. The commercial systems are much larger and, depending on the building size, will be designed to hold between 5,000-10,000 litres.
Benefits of GREYWATER RECYCLING
- Reduced freshwater extraction from rivers and aquifers
- Less impact from wastewater treatment plant infrastructure
- Nutrification of the topsoil
- Reduced energy use and chemical pollution from treatment
- Replenishment of groundwater
- Increased agricultural productivity
- Reclamation of nutrients
- Improved quality of surface and ground water
- Benefits to Municipalities
- Deferral/avoidance of new water and wastewater treatment Infrastructure
- Delays costly infrastructure repairs to current water and wastewater infrastructure
- Increases efficiency of current water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Conserves water supply
- Reduces annual operating costs to deliver and treat water
Benefits to Municipalities
- Deferral/avoidance of new water and wastewater treatment Infrastructure
- Delays costly infrastructure repairs to current water and wastewater infrastructure
- Increases efficiency of current water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Conserves water supply
- Reduces annual operating costs to deliver and treat water
“Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.”
– United Nations, ref. 2030 Goals
Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development filters, stores, and returns rainwater to the ground.
- Mimics nature
- Reduces localized flooding
- Less stress on traditional stormwater infrastructure
- Volume reduction
- Erosion control
Bioswales – incorporating low impact development (LID) into the road right-of-way transforms roads into green streets that improve their level of service and reduce the risks associated with stormwater management.
Treatment Train System – employs a number of processes including interception, absorption, attenuation, infiltration, retention, and evapotranspiration to moderate runoff rates, improve water quality, and promote shallow groundwater recharge.
Rainwater Capture – reduce water use (irrigation/indoor plumbing use) by using stormwater captured from roof drains or other clean sources of runoff.
Near Zero Homes
Near Zero homes are highly efficient and built to consume less energy than conventionally constructed buildings. Technology and building envelope upgrades help achieve these near zero efficiencies.
- Improved window glazing
- Insulated piping
- LED lighting
- More efficient HVAC
Power Haus Concept
The Power Haus Concept is an affordable and revenue positive approach to building Near Zero buildings. Solar battery storage creates the scenario where on-site power generation can offset the most expensive energy load in a home. Electrical savings can pay for the solar battery system on a mortgage.
Power Haus has a mixed fuel approach where natural gas is used to provide space and hot water heating with up to 25% reduction in GHG emissions. In addition, Power Haus frees up the grid so that electricity can be used to charge electric cars and not to power homes.
A Power Haus Home saves 1.2 tonnes or 24% of GHG emissions in relation to a typical OBC 2017 house model.
“Buildings are often the largest energy users…..More often than not however, it’s expensive to take an existing building and make the improvements to bring about energy savings.”
– Bill Clinton
The Environmental
Impact of Building
Payback
Geothermal
- Energy generation
- Heating & Cooling
- Energy storage
Geothermal Heating and Cooling: Safe, clean, reliable, and efficient. Geothermal systems transfer heat, rather than create it. The systems produce drastically lower carbon dioxide emissions than traditional systems and are extremely energy efficient.
Geothermal harnesses natural heat stored in the ground through a network of underground pipes called a ‘ground loop.’ A water-based solution circulating though the pipes collects the heat. This ground loop solution is passed through a heat exchanger or heat pump, which replaces the traditional furnace and air conditioning system, and distributed throughout the system.
Charging Stations supporting
Green Transportation
- Quick charging
- Charging canopies located near community parks
- 240V EV Charging Stations
- Charge electric vehicles in half the time as a 120V outlet
- Compatible with the following EV’s – BMW Active E, Chevy Spark and Volt, Toyota Prius, Kia Soul EV, Nissan Leaf, Tesla