Electrifying Everything: Alberta’s $0 Energy Home
⚡ Introduction: A Real Alberta Example of Energy Transformation
For many Albertans, the idea of completely replacing fossil fuels with renewables still feels unrealistic — especially when it comes to home heating, hot water, and transportation.
There’s a common belief that for every gigajoule (GJ) of fossil fuel energy we use today, we’d need the same amount of renewable electricity to replace it. It sounds logical… but it’s wrong.
This misconception is called the Primary Energy Fallacy, and understanding it is the key to realizing how an electrified future really works — and why it uses far less energy overall.
One of Intricate Renewables’ engineers proved it firsthand by transforming his Edmonton home into a fully electrified, solar-powered residence. His home now runs on solar panels, a high-efficiency heat pump, and an electric vehicle — with a total energy bill approaching $0 per year.
Let’s unpack how.
🧩 The “Primary Energy Fallacy” Explained
When we burn natural gas or gasoline, most of the energy goes to waste — literally.
A gasoline engine converts only about 25% of the fuel’s energy into motion.
A natural gas furnace turns about 90% into usable heat, but the source energy (fossil fuels) required is much higher.
Power plants, pipelines, and refineries all lose energy at every stage.
So when people say “we’d need just as much renewable energy as fossil fuel energy”, they’re comparing apples to oranges.
Electrified systems — heat pumps, EVs, and solar — use less primary energy because they’re far more efficient and often draw from “free heat” in the air or ground.
Think of it like switching from a wood-burning stove to a convection oven — same cooking result, but much less waste.
🏠 The Home: A Fully Electrified Case Study
Our engineer’s home began as a typical Alberta residence — 2500 sqft home powered by a natural gas furnace, gas water heater, and a gasoline vehicle. Today, it’s completely powered by renewable electricity.
🔧 What Changed
Natural Gas Furnace & Hot Water → Air-to-Water Heat Pump
Gasoline Car → Electric Vehicle (EV)
Grid Electricity → 100% Offset with Solar PV System
The natural gas meter was removed entirely — meaning no fossil fuels remain.
Despite Edmonton’s sub-zero winters (down to -35°C), the home stays comfortably warm and efficient year-round thanks to the heat pump and solar integration.
📊 Real Data: Before and After
The engineer tracked every gigajoule (GJ) of energy before and after electrification using real-world data.
Here’s what it revealed:
In other words, total primary energy use dropped by more than 70%.
And since most of the electricity now comes from rooftop solar, grid dependence and carbon emissions plummeted.
💰 The Economics: Cost, Savings, and Payback
Transitioning to a fully electric home wasn’t just cleaner — it was smarter financially.
Total Project Cost:
Solar PV System – $21,450
New Heat Pump HVAC System – $25,000
Less $16,000 baseline replacement cost = $9,000 premium
Electric Vehicle – $18,000 premium vs. comparable gas car
➡️ Net Total Cost: $48,450
Annual Savings:
Gasoline: $2,600
Natural Gas: $1,200
Electricity: $1,200
➡️ Total Savings: $5,000/year
📉 Payback Period: ~9.7 years
After that?
The home’s total energy cost — electricity, heating, cooling, hot water, and one vehicle — drops to roughly $0 per year.
And even if financed through a mortgage, the energy savings outweigh the added monthly payments.
🏗️ Longevity and Maintenance
Solar Panels & Inverters: 25-year warranties.
Heat Pump System: Designed lifespan ~25 years.
Maintenance: Minimal — change filters, check glycol annually, and clean solar panels occasionally.
This system isn’t just clean and efficient; it’s durable, low-maintenance, and future-proof.
🌍 Why This Matters: Efficiency Is the Hidden Advantage
This case study highlights something that rarely makes headlines — electrification reduces energy waste.
When you stop burning fuels and start using electric systems designed for efficiency, your total energy use — measured in gigajoules — falls dramatically, even if your comfort and output remain identical.
This isn’t just good for the environment. It’s:
Good for your wallet (lower operating costs).
Good for the grid (less demand and more distributed generation).
Good for Alberta’s economy (local solar and heat pump installation jobs).
We don’t need one-for-one replacement of fossil energy. We need smarter systems — and they’re already here.
🧭 How Intricate Renewables Helps Homeowners Electrify
At Intricate Renewables, we engineer energy independence for Alberta’s future.
Here’s how we guide clients on this same path:
Custom Energy Analysis: Understand your home’s current energy flow, losses, and opportunities.
Integrated Design: Solar, battery, EV charging, and heat pump systems engineered to work together.
Alberta-Proven Solutions: We design for real-world cold-climate performance, not theoretical lab tests.
Education-First Approach: We make electrification understandable, not overwhelming.
From concept to commissioning, we make “net-zero living” achievable — one engineered home at a time.
☀️ The Takeaway: Alberta’s Clean Energy Future Is Already Here
This project proves that a fully renewable lifestyle isn’t just possible — it’s practical.
With solar energy, a heat pump, and an EV, one Alberta household eliminated its fossil fuel use, slashed its energy costs, and gained independence from rising rates — all while cutting its carbon footprint by more than 70%.
For homeowners across Alberta, this is the blueprint: cleaner, smarter, and cheaper energy — engineered for our climate and designed for your future.
At Intricate Renewables, we’re here to help make that future your reality. Click here to GO SOLAR or contact us to discuss our full-electrification solutions.
