The Decarb Dad Home Experiment
My career centered around businesses improving their energy efficiency - so when we bought our 1960's home in 2017, I wanted to practice what I preached and do as much as I could to reduce our utility bills and reliance on fossil fuels.
Our home became a real-world experiment. A typical 1960s Ontario home.
A real family.
Real weather.
Real energy bills.
Over several years, we transformed our house into a more comfortable, efficient, electrified, and lower-carbon home — while still keeping the realities of family life, budgets, and reliability in mind.
What changed:
☀️ Solar Power (2018)
10 kW solar system producing ~10,000 kWh/year
🔥 Hybrid Heating (2022)
High-efficiency heat pump + gas backup
→ Lower energy costs
→ Better comfort
→ Resilience during extreme cold
🚗 Electric Transportation (2023)
Replaced gasoline driving with electric driving
~45,000 km/year powered by electricity
⚡ Smarter Energy Management
Optimized charging, electricity rates, thermostat settings, and daily energy habits
🏠 Building Envelope Upgrades (2017–2021)
Improved insulation, windows, and air sealing to reduce energy demand before adding technology
The result?
We run our home and two vehicles—including electricity, natural gas, a high-mileage EV, and a gas backup—for about $350/month - BEFORE incorporating our 10kW Solar system!
A home that uses less energy, produces some of its own, costs less to operate, and delivers better comfort year-round.
The biggest lesson?
You don't start with solar. You start by understanding your home.
What happened?
Compared to where we started:
↓ 41%
Natural gas consumption
↓ 85%
Gasoline consumption
↓ ~80%
Household carbon emissions
↓ Significant
Energy costs over time while improving comfort and resiliency
Your house will take a different set of steps based on YOUR budget, YOUR timelines and YOUR goals.