Calgary man eliminates energy bill with solar-powered home

After some major home renovations, one Calgary man hasfound a way to make Enmax pay himat least through the summer.

With the addition of solar panels onhis garage roof and four inches of "superinsulation" around his home,Peter Darlingtonhasrecently converted hisnorthwest house into a net zero energy solar home, which actually produces more electricitythan it uses in the warmer months.

Darlington ran an exterior contracting company for 15 years and figured he'd get a jump start on reducing his energy costs ahead of coming regulatory changes.

"I was aware of how easy it would be to hyper-insulate the building. It just kinda made sense to lock down my energy prices for the coming 25, 30 years," he told CBC Calgary News at 6.

Calgary man says his solar-powered home will recoup $40K cost of upgrades over 25 years

8 years ago

Duration 3:04

Peter Darlington recently converted his nothwest home to a net zero energy solar one.

ManyAlbertansexpect topay more forfuel, natural gas and propane come Jan.1when the Alberta NDP's carbon tax levy kicks in.

• Alberta to have toughest carbon tax in the country by 2020: report
• Calgary households among highest greenhouse gas emitters in the country, study finds

Darlington estimateshe paid roughly $40,000 for thesolar panels and mechanical work to remove all natural gas elements from the home and make it strictly electric.

Where he used to pay $200 per month in energy bills, he's actually been able to sell surplus electricity back to the grid over the past months.

The solar panels are under warranty for 25 years and Darlington estimates his home upgrades will more than pay for themselves over that time.

"If the energy price goes up, then obviously the returns will be much quicker," he said.

"I think a lot of people will be moving this way going forward. It certainly makes a lot of sense."

With files from CBC Calgary News at 6