44 Ways #14: Use Renewable Energy to Supply Your (Reduced) Energy Needs

Hello! This is Episode 414. This is Way #14 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. And this episode completes Section Three: Sustainable Services and Infrastructure.

It may seem strange that we’ve taken a while to get here, given this is where many homeowners will start in their sustainability choices for their project. ‘Let’s make sure we put solar on the house when we renovate or build new’ is a sustainability move many will make.

Way #14 is: Use Renewable Energy to Supply Your (Reduced) Energy Needs.

Note the inclusion of the word ‘reduced’ there, because that’s your first priority, and then your renewable energy can supply that lower need.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/414]

Now, I understand why solar feels like the obvious first move for many homeowners. It’s visible. It’s tangible. Its benefits show up on the electricity bill. And with rebates offered in many locations to offset the installation costs, they can be an attractive incentive to include.

But if you’re doing whatever you want in your home design and layout, ignoring the site and climate, and adding solar before you’ve addressed the energy efficiency of the home itself, well, you’ve possibly heard the saying: it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.

Instead, when renewable energy is used in collaboration with design measures that improve the efficiency of your home, it can be a really great way to achieve sustainability overall.

In this episode, I take you through the common mistake homeowners make when it comes to renewable energy, why going all-electric is the prerequisite for running your home on 100% renewable power, what rooftop solar actually involves and how to think about sizing and storage, and the sequence that gives you the best sustainability outcome at the lowest overall cost.

As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/414.

Now, let's dive in!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: