The Power of Renewable Energy

West House augments its efficiency with two types of solar energy. A solar thermal system provided by FortisBC and designed by Canadian Solar Technologies preheats water for the in-floor radiant heating as well as for domestic hot water use. Day4 Energy Solar Photovoltaic panels produce more energy per area than any others in their class and provide electricity to the house in a "grid-tie" installation: the house is fully connected to the grid with a bidirectional net meter that allows us to feed power back into the grid when surplus is produced and use power from the grid as it is needed, transparently to the residents.

A Schneider Electric PV inverter and Branch Circuit Power Meter ensure that the electricity generated by the home is usable and measured effectively. The whole electrical system is smart-meter ready.