As a renewable energy specialist, I often hear the comment, “I’d like to do something with renewable energy. I just don’t know what makes the most sense.” The first answer must be: “If you want to make the most economical sense, work to conserve energy rather than creating it.” That means doing things as simple […] Read more
Stories by Will Oddie
It’s not easy being green when choosing how to renovate
Renovating is part of the human condition. Whether it was adding branches to the temporary hut, putting more thatch on the roof or enlarging our one-room soddy, we have been renovating ever since we developed shelter. Environmentally conscious construction often focuses on new buildings, but maintaining and renovating an existing building can be more green […] Read more
Summer ends need to heat but new energy season arrives
The summer season is so short in the northern climate that it encourages intense engagement. Getting out into the natural environment is restful and invigorating. Some people back pack with only a tent, some use a trailer or full RV and others invest in a permanent structure, often near if not right on a lake. […] Read more
Electricity and the power of knowledge
We are electric powered. We wake to a clock radio. We go to the kitchen and switch on the light, the coffee maker and the radio. We take the jam from the fridge and the bagel from the toaster. We think of supper and grab food from the freezer to thaw. We take the cell […] Read more
Alternatives found to traditional stick-built homes
Shelter is one of humanity’s most basic needs, along with food and clothing. Folks have always worked with what is at hand, be it snow to make igloos for the Arctic winter or branches to make overnight shelters in the bush. Stud construction, the norm in Canada and the United States, was developed because it […] Read more
Holding back nature, one degree at a time
Heat is always on the move. Whether it is the teapot going cold or the warmth from our home’s natural and artificial heating systems, heat tries to migrate to colder areas. Several types of heat transfer affect us: radiant, convection, conduction and phase change. Radiant heat transfer is one that we know well. The sun, […] Read more
Zero energy building produces what it consumes
There was a time when all of us had zero-energy housing and many in the developing world still do. There they use human energy to scavenge for food and wood, a renewable energy source for heating and cooking. When we developed the use of fossil fuels, starting with coal, we no longer were in a […] Read more
Governments take steps to encourage renewable energy
Most citizens agree that renewable energy is a good thing. Regular publicity and renewable energy products in big-box retailers have many people believing its time has come. But based on per kilowatt-hour cost, conventional energy is still less expensive than renewable energy in most jurisdictions. It can be argued we are not paying the full […] Read more
Keep winter energy bills in check with minimal cost
We live in a cold climate and in winter it takes energy to stay warm and keep functioning. We must heat buildings, warm our vehicles and with shorter daylight hours, increased energy use is unavoidable. However, there are things we can do to save money and use less energy. Major energy efficiency changes, such as […] Read more
Solar drying efficient, economical
Solar-heated air is an effective heat source, but only to a point. That’s because air does not hold much heat. Most homes use heated air with their forced air heating systems, but the air must be moved immediately to be effective. This means the effectiveness of solar-heated air depends on the application. Installing a solar […] Read more
