Our Net-Zero Energy Design
The Opportunity that was: This is about the heritage Library in Picton, Ontario, created by Andrew Carnegie in 1906.
The County is expanding it by 140% with conventional heating and air conditioning. With efficient building redesign, use of natural gas and electricity will rise by only 60%. However, carbon dioxide emissions rise by 60% too.
Yet, the County had declared a “Climate Emergency.”
Our Solution: In response, we proposed a “net-zero energy system.” This uses geothermal heating and cooling driven by solar electricity. Since geothermal is 400% efficient, solar needs to supply only 25% of the geothermal output. Net-zero means that generated electricity surpluses cancel purchases annually.
Verification: Our design matches 12 larger sites when scaled for size.
Benefits: This proposal offers the following benefits:
Reduced operating costs from avoided natural gas expense, reduced electricity expense, reduced maintenance expense. Together, these savings would reduce voter property taxes.
A high expected return on investment with government incentives is 14% compared to the cost of municipal debt of about 2%. The proposal avoids the cost of replacing the conventional system.
From a long-term view, the accumulated life cycle value after 100 years is $9.4 million. This builds savings in utility and maintenance costs, adds government incentives, and subtracts the capital cost. Excluding incentives, the life cycle value is $7.2 million.
Result: County decided to keep the current design using natural gas and purchased electricity in spite of the 60% increase in carbon dioxide and utility costs. A squandered opportunity that has driven me to help other cities.