Local Alberta Couple Sees Value in Energy Efficiency


By: Deanna McArthur

One of the reasons I love my job is because I get to meet and tell the stories of so many unique people across the province.

Earlier this month we featured Chelsah Thomas, who together with her husband, built Central Alberta’s first contemporary Passive, Net Zero home.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Rod and Nancy Chernos, two lifelong Albertans who are focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, family, and doing good in the world.

The 73-year-olds lived in Lethbridge for over 10 years, but eventually sought refuge from Lethbridge’s windy conditions in a farm east of Calgary. When Nancy, an early childhood services teacher, and Rod a poultry specialist, decided to retire, they began searching for their ideal location to settle into retirement.

“It was important that we stay in Alberta because we love our province,” said Rod. “We looked all over to find something reasonably close to our family, and away from the rush-hour traffic that we used to deal with in Calgary.”

Eventually, they found the perfect piece of land in the Raven area, north of Sundre, to build a home with energy efficiency as a focus.

“We do have rush-hour in the bush, and it just happens to coincide with rush-hour in Calgary,” said Nancy. “But it’s wild animals that get busy at sun up and sun down, and we would rather take our chances with them, than with cars and trucks! This seemed like the perfect place to hang our shingle out for as long as possible.”

Making Energy Efficiency a Priority

The retirees have always had an affinity for energy efficiency. During his working years, Rod’s poultry house was built as efficient as possible to reduce his operating costs, so he knew first-hand the benefits of building efficiently.

“We decided to build our home out of insulated concrete forms because they provide a number of advantages over ‘stick built’ houses such as a R factor of around 24, and their strength to name a few,” said Rod. “Then we thought, if we are going to spend the extra money on the insulated concrete forms, then why put in cheap windows? So, we installed triple glazed windows throughout the house.”

The Chernos’ invested in blown in cellulose insulation for their attic, which has a minimum R rating of 40, a wall hanging 89% efficiency boiler to supply heat and heat their water, a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), and have recently installed LED lights in all of their fixtures.

Additionally, the home was oriented in such a direction as to maximize passive solar heating in the winter, with eaves wide enough to keep the house cool in the summer. “In the winter it can be -30⁰C outside, and if the sun is shining, our boiler will not have to run at all during the day,” said Rod. “The house is extremely cool in the summer months, which means no need for an expensive air conditioner!”

“We seemed to be ahead of our time with this. We went above and beyond with our home energy efficiency, and all before any of the rebates were offered by the government.”

To take the project even further, they decided to install a solar system on their property to generate their own electricity.

“We didn’t want to go the route of a having a bank of batteries in our basement,” said Rod. “They eventually need to be replaced and your lifestyle generally has to change. The next best thing was to send the electricity that our system produces directly back to the grid. So, that’s what we did! Since our roof didn’t have quite the right slope, and in case we wanted to replace our shingles, we opted for a ground mounted system adjacent to the house.”

Maximizing the Benefits of a Solar System

Not long after their solar system was completed, Nancy and Rod learned about a unique program, offered by a local Energy Marketer, that would help them earn more for the electricity they generate and ship back to the grid.

The Solar Club, offered by Mountain View Power, a local company that sells electricity and natural gas, allows solar micro-generators like the Chernos’ to earn 18.75 cents/kWh on electricity exported to the grid during high generation months, and switch to a lower rate of 6.49 cents/kWh during low generation months. The program also offers micro-generators 5% cashback on electricity imported from the grid.

The cost of joining the program? Members are asked to make a donation to their local food bank.
“The premise of the program is what makes it special,” said Rod. “We were previously signed up with EPCOR, and we weren’t getting a good return. As an example, if we were being charged 6.2 cents/kWh, then that is exactly what we were credited for the power produced and sent back to the grid.”

“The fact that we can change to a lower rate in the winter with just 10 days notice, and no penalties, is really something special. Plus, getting paid more during the peak production months will help us reduce the overall payback period for the solar system.”

“When we installed the system, we were looking at a payback period of approximately 16 years. We weren’t sure if we would live long enough to see it paid off! With this program, we stand a darn good chance of seeing that day!”

But saving money on their utilities wasn’t the main driver behind Rod and Nancy’s decision to invest in solar and an energy efficient home.

“We were not proud of how our generation had abused non-renewable resources,” said Nancy. “We were part of this abuse, and we are the first to admit that. That wasn’t the legacy we wanted to leave with our grandkids. So, we asked ourselves, what could we do to make a difference? Hence, the energy efficient house and finally, the investment in our solar power system.”

Giving Back to the Community

Being energy conscious is only a small piece of this couple’s incredible story. Both have donated their time to various volunteer organizations and traveled to developing countries to lend their expertise to the locals.

“All of our travels and volunteering has made us pretty grateful for what we have here,” said Rod. “It is so special to be able to give back and learn from others.”

The spirit of giving back is another reason the Chernos’ decided to join Mountain View Power’s Solar Club. Owned and managed by the Olds Institute, Mountain View Power uses 100% of its profits from the sale of electricity and natural gas to support and grow its community and region in a vibrant and sustainable manner.

“Our business model leverages community spending for community good,” said Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of Olds Institute/Mountain View Power. “Our profits from the sale of energy have created opportunities for community sustainability and economic and community development.”

Since its inception in 2010, Mountain View Power has generated over $1 million for the Olds community. The funds have been invested in programs such as:
  • Physician attraction
  • The Boys and Girls Club
  • Olds Crime Prevention Committee
  • Olds Splash Park
  • Sponsoring the Olds Grizzlys, the local AA hockey team
  • Citizenship awards
  • Women of excellence awards
  • Community sustainability plan
  • O-NET which offers free WIFI across the community
“Every citizen in our community has been touched by a program or service that has been funded by Mountain View Power, whether that be the WIFI, a doctor, or a school program.” said Mitch.

Rod and Nancy are proud of doing business with a local company that is so dedicated to the community, and hope their story might encourage others to invest in energy efficiency. In fact, their passion for the topic has already inspired their children to follow a similar path.

“Our oldest daughter and her husband own an electric vehicle and they have just covered their residence in Canmore with solar panels,” said Nancy. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!”

To learn more about Mountain View Power and the Solar Club click here. To learn more about solar power or to find a solar installer local to you, click here.
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