EFFECT HOME BUILDERS ACHIEVE FIRST OFF-THE-ELECTRICAL-GRID OFFICE SPACE IN EDMONTON THROUGH CLEANTECH AND NATURAL GAS

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EFFECT HOME BUILDERS ACHIEVE FIRST OFF-THE-ELECTRICAL-GRID OFFICE SPACE IN EDMONTON THROUGH CLEANTECH AND NATURAL GAS


October 18, 2022

EDMONTON, AB (October 18, 2022) Effect Home Builders has successfully completed its high-performance home demonstration of micro-combined heat and power (mCHP). The project involved retrofitting a 1940s-era two-story home using clean technologies and natural gas to create an office space totally disconnected from the electrical grid, resulting in an 80% reduction in GHG emissions.

This innovative project is the first office space in Edmonton to be completely off-grid, using solar and co-gen to power the office. The team installed two 1.5kW micro-combined (mCHP) units as part of the building’s retrofit, a co-generation heating method that uses natural gas to generate both heat and electricity. A 4.9kW photovoltaic solar electric system was also installed to provide electrical power to the building.


Effect HomeBuilders staff and Mike Holmes

Image: The staff of Effect Homes with Mike Holmes in front of their Off-Grid Office


“This project is very exciting as it’s much more than a renovation. It enhances the neighbourhood and showcases an innovative way to generate all power onsite, while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Les Wold, General Manager of Effect Home Builders.

National and provincial winners of the Green Home Award, Effect Home Builders’ Off-Grid Office is energy efficient while lowering costs. The solar-electric systems produce excess energy to the tune of 14,000 kWh in about four years, which saved 44,000 kg of GHG emissions from Alberta’s electricity generators.


Effect HomeBuilders mCHP Units

Image: Effect Home Builders’ micro-combined heat and power (mCHP) units.


“I had the pleasure of touring Effect Home Builders’ new off-grid office a few years ago, and I think it is great! Les and his team found a way to regenerate an old building to net-zero standards, reduce emissions, and live in the core of the city. Inspiring people to come into the city using a bicycle, rather than a car – you can walk to work and play in the city – creating an excellent example of the future of residential home building,” said Mike Holmes, President of Holmes Approved Homes.

NGIF Industry Grants invested $95,000 towards the development of the Off-Grid office space. “NGIF was excited to fund Effect Home Builders’ innovative technology to reduce GHG emissions and lower costs. The project shows that clean technologies improve the environment, and we are happy to see the successful completion of the project,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Capital Corporation and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “NGIF Industry Grants and its focus on de-risking clean technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and market commercialization.”

“Supporting Effect Home Builders’ Off-Electrical-Grid Office space is yet another example of the gas industry’s commitment to improve environmental performance while maintaining reliable, affordable energy services. Investments in companies such as Effect Home Builders provide tangible benefits across the value chain, while delivering a solution to reduce emissions and lower costs,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.


NGIF Investors and Project Partners

      ATCO Logo    Enbridge Logo   Fortis BC Logo   PNG Logo


About NGIF Industry Grants
NGIF Industry Grants is a first-of-kind, industry-led grant organization to fund early-stage startups developing solutions to environmental and other challenges facing Canada’s natural gas sector. NGIF Industry Grants develops, demonstrates, and de-risks these technology solutions through field trials and pilot projects to drive innovation and support environmental goals in Canada. NGIF Industry Grants’ investment focus is on existing natural gas production, transmission, distribution, storage, and end-use applications, as well as projects that will lead to the expanded production of emerging gaseous fuels like renewable natural gas and hydrogen. The organization has built a portfolio of startups, trusted partnerships with the government for co-funding opportunities, and a robust technical evaluation investment model. NGIF Industry Grants is operated by NGIF Capital Corporation.

About NGIF Capital Corporation
NGIF Capital Corporation is a Canadian venture capital (VC) firm offering grant and equity financing for startups that deliver solutions to the environmental and other challenges facing the natural gas sector. NGIF Capital Corporation is unique in how it brings Canada’s energy industry leadership to every investment. Like other VCs, it takes new companies and their ideas from concept to commercialization. Unlike other VCs, NGIF Capital Corporation has strong connections to every part of the gas value chain, from production through to end-use, offering it a means to test, develop, and accelerate the commercial implementation of innovative gas technology wherever it fits in the sector. The model benefits consumers, investors, and Canadian society as a whole. NGIF Capital Corporation operates NGIF Industry Grants (the original Natural Gas Innovation Fund), the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre, and NGIF Cleantech Ventures. NGIF Capital Corporation is wholly owned by CGA Enterprises, a venture of the Canadian Gas Association.

About Effect Home Builders
Effect Home Builders is a custom home builder based in Edmonton. As a net zero energy builder, they remain a leader of environmentally friendly design by providing the latest, most practical green solutions. For more information, visit: www.effecthomes.ca

About CGA
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. CGA’s utility members are Canadian-owned and active in eight provinces and one territory. CGA members meet 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of over 577,000 kilometres of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows it to deliver an ever-changing gas supply mix to over 7.4 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians. CGA members ensure Canadians get the affordable, reliable, clean gaseous energy they want and need. CGA is also working to constantly improve that gaseous energy offering, by driving forward innovation through the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).


Fund Information:

John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Managing Partner, NGIF Cleantech Ventures
613-748-0057
[email protected]

Media  Information:

Ayoola Ajibare
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403) 389-2212
[email protected]


NGIF Industry Grants Logo surrounded by 14 participants logos (Birchcliff Energy Ltd.; Canadian Natural Resources Limited; Cutbank Dawson Resources Ltd. (a 100% subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation); Perpetual Energy Inc.; PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd.; Shell Canada Energy; Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd.; Tourmaline Oil Corp.; APEX Utilities Inc.; ATCO Gas Ltd.; Enbridge Gas Inc.; FortisBC Energy Inc.; Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.; and SaskEnergy Inc.and Canadian Gas Association Logo


 

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At NGIF, we invest in companies who are leading in the development of clean technologies for energy and who have the potential to demonstrate significant and quantifiable environmental and economic returns.

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