“With the federal government committed to 30% less fossil fuel in eight years, we’re seeing the business growing right now.” The Canadian government wants all new homes built to be net-zero ready within the decade. Net-zero homes are able to produce as much energy as they consume. Being net-zero ready means a home can achieve that standard with the addition of solar panels. Winkler’s Grandeur Housing won a Canadian Home Builders’ Association award for innovation in 2021 for its first net-zero modular home, which incorporated solar panels in its design, and more homeowners are seeing the benefits of solar power across the board. “More and more people are worried about (hard) economic times and costs in Manitoba,” says Mitchell. “Solar energy is cheaper than all other types of energy, even Hydro.” Evolve Green engineers and designs alternative energy systems — typically involving solar panels — for residential and large-scale industrial sectors. That includes designing and installing on-grid and off-grid systems for homes and cottages, as well as solar hot-water heating, street lights, mobile signs and emergency backup systems. If you’re planning to build a new home, you might consider installing a solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charger in the garage for future use. Evolve Green can help with that, too. Cont’d on page 98
>> BACKUP ELECTRICITY can be a lifesaver during a power outage, especially during a major storm. Keeping a sump pump running, a freezer turned on, and a furnace operating can make all the difference between an inconvenience and a catastrophe. If your backup system is solar powered or solar ready, all the better. After all, solar energy is the wave of the future, and the future is now. “Our industry will grow over the next five years,” predicts Lorena Mitchell, founder and president of Evolve Green, which specializes in solar.
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