a few years ago I was telling my friend Patrick that I was thinking of buying a
Patrick that I was thinking of buying a
Patrick that I was thinking of buying a new car and I told them about some of
new car and I told them about some of
new car and I told them about some of the features that I was considering like
the features that I was considering like
the features that I was considering like leather seats premium sound system and
leather seats premium sound system and
leather seats premium sound system and navigation and he encouraged me to get
navigation and he encouraged me to get
navigation and he encouraged me to get these features he said something about
these features he said something about
these features he said something about how they would serve me well in my
how they would serve me well in my
how they would serve me well in my impending midlife crisis so later in the
impending midlife crisis so later in the
impending midlife crisis so later in the same conversation I told Patrick that I
same conversation I told Patrick that I
same conversation I told Patrick that I was that one of the cars I was thinking
was that one of the cars I was thinking
was that one of the cars I was thinking of it was an electric vehicle but this
of it was an electric vehicle but this
of it was an electric vehicle but this time he asked me what would be the
time he asked me what would be the
time he asked me what would be the payback for the extra cost of electric
payback for the extra cost of electric
payback for the extra cost of electric over gasoline in other words how long
over gasoline in other words how long
over gasoline in other words how long until the savings in gas equaled the
until the savings in gas equaled the
until the savings in gas equaled the extra cost of the electric car and that
extra cost of the electric car and that
extra cost of the electric car and that got me thinking well I you know I
got me thinking well I you know I
got me thinking well I you know I thought why does why do we apply
thought why does why do we apply
thought why does why do we apply financial metrics to some edge to some
financial metrics to some edge to some
financial metrics to some edge to some purchases but not others like why didn’t
purchases but not others like why didn’t
purchases but not others like why didn’t he ask me about the payback for the
he ask me about the payback for the
he ask me about the payback for the leather seats and it seems to me that
leather seats and it seems to me that
leather seats and it seems to me that this often happens with purchases that
this often happens with purchases that
this often happens with purchases that have some environmental impact and
have some environmental impact and
have some environmental impact and that’s when I realized that I have a
that’s when I realized that I have a
that’s when I realized that I have a problem with payback
problem with payback
problem with payback you see payback measures the benefit for
you see payback measures the benefit for
you see payback measures the benefit for the purchaser only but what about the
the purchaser only but what about the
the purchaser only but what about the rest of us like in the case of an
rest of us like in the case of an
rest of us like in the case of an electric vehicle there are benefits like
electric vehicle there are benefits like
electric vehicle there are benefits like reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality and they benefit
improved air quality and they benefit
improved air quality and they benefit everybody not just the purchaser so that
everybody not just the purchaser so that
everybody not just the purchaser so that got me thinking this is kind of like a
got me thinking this is kind of like a
got me thinking this is kind of like a pay forward because these are benefits
pay forward because these are benefits
pay forward because these are benefits that apply to all of us long into the
that apply to all of us long into the
that apply to all of us long into the future
future
future now both pay back and pay forward are
now both pay back and pay forward are
now both pay back and pay forward are important pay back provides the
important pay back provides the
important pay back provides the financial justification for the purchase
financial justification for the purchase
financial justification for the purchase but pay forward takes into account the
but pay forward takes into account the
but pay forward takes into account the benefits for all of us into the future
benefits for all of us into the future
benefits for all of us into the future and I think there’s lots of examples of
and I think there’s lots of examples of
and I think there’s lots of examples of purchases
purchases
purchases that provide both the financial payback
that provide both the financial payback
that provide both the financial payback and environmental pay forward and I’d
and environmental pay forward and I’d
and environmental pay forward and I’d like to tell you about three projects
like to tell you about three projects
like to tell you about three projects that I’ve done over the past 15 years
that I’ve done over the past 15 years
that I’ve done over the past 15 years that have turned out to be both
that have turned out to be both
that have turned out to be both financially and environmentally
financially and environmentally
financially and environmentally rewarding and I kind of think of these
rewarding and I kind of think of these
rewarding and I kind of think of these projects like bricks you know on their
projects like bricks you know on their
projects like bricks you know on their own they don’t actually accomplish much
own they don’t actually accomplish much
own they don’t actually accomplish much but as you’ll see when put together they
but as you’ll see when put together they
but as you’ll see when put together they actually have turned into building
actually have turned into building
actually have turned into building something pretty substantial so the
something pretty substantial so the
something pretty substantial so the first project was solar pool heating
first project was solar pool heating
first project was solar pool heating solar pool heater that was starting to
solar pool heater that was starting to
solar pool heater that was starting to fail so I took that opportunity to
fail so I took that opportunity to
fail so I took that opportunity to investigate solar pool heating and if
investigate solar pool heating and if
investigate solar pool heating and if you’re not familiar with it the way
you’re not familiar with it the way
you’re not familiar with it the way solar pool heating it through the
solar pool heating it through the
solar pool heating it through the electric heater it pumps it up to the
electric heater it pumps it up to the
electric heater it pumps it up to the roof and there’s tubes that run that the
roof and there’s tubes that run that the
roof and there’s tubes that run that the water runs through the Sun you know
water runs through the Sun you know
water runs through the Sun you know absorbs the energy from the Sun and
absorbs the energy from the Sun and
absorbs the energy from the Sun and heats up the water it’s a great system
heats up the water it’s a great system
heats up the water it’s a great system and on a sunny day the pool can rise in
and on a sunny day the pool can rise in
and on a sunny day the pool can rise in temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius
temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius
temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius and it’s all free now the problem with
and it’s all free now the problem with
and it’s all free now the problem with solar pool heating solar but the
solar pool heating solar but the
solar pool heating solar but the operating cost for solar pool heated
operating cost for solar pool heated
operating cost for solar pool heated per year so from a payback standpoint
per year so from a payback standpoint
per year so from a payback standpoint that was six point two years and from a
that was six point two years and from a
that was six point two years and from a pay forward the energy savings were
pay forward the energy savings were
pay forward the energy savings were about four thousand kilowatt hours per
about four thousand kilowatt hours per
about four thousand kilowatt hours per year and the that means that the
year and the that means that the
year and the that means that the associated greenhouse gas emissions that
associated greenhouse gas emissions that
associated greenhouse gas emissions that were saved were about 1600 kilograms per
were saved were about 1600 kilograms per
were saved were about 1600 kilograms per year so fast forward a couple years and
year so fast forward a couple years and
year so fast forward a couple years and in 2005 we decided to add on to our
in 2005 we decided to add on to our
in 2005 we decided to add on to our house and in doing so we were going to
house and in doing so we were going to
house and in doing so we were going to exceed the capacity of our heating and
exceed the capacity of our heating and
exceed the capacity of our heating and cooling system so this gave me an
cooling system so this gave me an
cooling system so this gave me an opportunity to investigate alternatives
opportunity to investigate alternatives
opportunity to investigate alternatives and I looked into geothermal geothermal
and I looked into geothermal geothermal
and I looked into geothermal geothermal or ground source if you’re not familiar
or ground source if you’re not familiar
or ground source if you’re not familiar with it the way it works is
with it the way it works is
with it the way it works is the the temperature of the ground about
the the temperature of the ground about
the the temperature of the ground about two meters below the surface is a
two meters below the surface is a
two meters below the surface is a constant 12 degrees Celsius and the
constant 12 degrees Celsius and the
constant 12 degrees Celsius and the great thing about 12 degrees Celsius is
great thing about 12 degrees Celsius is
great thing about 12 degrees Celsius is that on a hot summer day 12 degrees
that on a hot summer day 12 degrees
that on a hot summer day 12 degrees feels pretty cool and on a cold winter
feels pretty cool and on a cold winter
feels pretty cool and on a cold winter day 12 degrees feels pretty warm so what
day 12 degrees feels pretty warm so what
day 12 degrees feels pretty warm so what they do is they dig a trench they lay
they do is they dig a trench they lay
they do is they dig a trench they lay down tube and they run fluid through it
down tube and they run fluid through it
down tube and they run fluid through it and it takes advantage of that
and it takes advantage of that
and it takes advantage of that difference in temperature to heat and
difference in temperature to heat and
difference in temperature to heat and cool the house it’s a very very
cool the house it’s a very very
cool the house it’s a very very efficient system the problem is it’s
efficient system the problem is it’s
efficient system the problem is it’s expensive for the upfront investment and
expensive for the upfront investment and
expensive for the upfront investment and in this case the extra cost was $13,000
in this case the extra cost was $13,000
in this case the extra cost was $13,000 but the operating cost is very low so it
but the operating cost is very low so it
but the operating cost is very low so it saves me $1,700 a year in energy and so
saves me $1,700 a year in energy and so
saves me $1,700 a year in energy and so the payback turns out to be seven point
the payback turns out to be seven point
the payback turns out to be seven point seven years and from a pay forward
seven years and from a pay forward
seven years and from a pay forward standpoint the energy savings were 11
standpoint the energy savings were 11
standpoint the energy savings were 11 just a little over 11,000 kilowatt hours
just a little over 11,000 kilowatt hours
just a little over 11,000 kilowatt hours that’s about a quarter of my energy bill
that’s about a quarter of my energy bill
that’s about a quarter of my energy bill was reduced just by putting in
was reduced just by putting in
was reduced just by putting in geothermal and the Associated greenhouse
geothermal and the Associated greenhouse
geothermal and the Associated greenhouse gas reductions were over 4,600 kilograms
gas reductions were over 4,600 kilograms
gas reductions were over 4,600 kilograms that’s the equivalent of taking one car
that’s the equivalent of taking one car
that’s the equivalent of taking one car off the road so we were pretty happy
off the road so we were pretty happy
off the road so we were pretty happy with that and fast forward a few years
with that and fast forward a few years
with that and fast forward a few years more and in 2014 I actually did buy that
more and in 2014 I actually did buy that
more and in 2014 I actually did buy that electric vehicle and I did get the
electric vehicle and I did get the
electric vehicle and I did get the leather seats and all the other stuff
leather seats and all the other stuff
leather seats and all the other stuff that Patrick suggested and in 2015 the
that Patrick suggested and in 2015 the
that Patrick suggested and in 2015 the Ontario government had the micro Fit
Ontario government had the micro Fit
Ontario government had the micro Fit program and that was a program where
program and that was a program where
program and that was a program where they would commit to a long term 20-year
they would commit to a long term 20-year
they would commit to a long term 20-year contract to buy power that anybody
contract to buy power that anybody
contract to buy power that anybody produced using a solar installation so
produced using a solar installation so
produced using a solar installation so we went ahead and we put in a 10
we went ahead and we put in a 10
we went ahead and we put in a 10 kilowatt rooftop solar panels and the
kilowatt rooftop solar panels and the
kilowatt rooftop solar panels and the whole installation the cost for that was
whole installation the cost for that was
whole installation the cost for that was $29,000 now that system generates 4,500
$29,000 now that system generates 4,500
$29,000 now that system generates 4,500 dollars per year so the payback is six
dollars per year so the payback is six
dollars per year so the payback is six point four years the pay forward because
point four years the pay forward because
point four years the pay forward because it generates 11,500 kilowatts a year of
it generates 11,500 kilowatts a year of
it generates 11,500 kilowatts a year of energy and it the associated reductions
energy and it the associated reductions
energy and it the associated reductions for greenhouse gases were four
for greenhouse gases were four
for greenhouse gases were four thousand six hundred kilograms that’s
thousand six hundred kilograms that’s
thousand six hundred kilograms that’s like taking another vehicle off the road
like taking another vehicle off the road
like taking another vehicle off the road so in summary and there’s a lot of
so in summary and there’s a lot of
so in summary and there’s a lot of numbers on this chart but really just if
numbers on this chart but really just if
numbers on this chart but really just if you think of the bottom line these three
you think of the bottom line these three
you think of the bottom line these three projects combined result in taking
projects combined result in taking
projects combined result in taking eleven thousand kilograms a year of
eleven thousand kilograms a year of
eleven thousand kilograms a year of greenhouse gases were that we’re not
greenhouse gases were that we’re not
greenhouse gases were that we’re not producing and the total payback for all
producing and the total payback for all
producing and the total payback for all three of those projects is six point
three of those projects is six point
three of those projects is six point seven years now six point seven is not a
seven years now six point seven is not a
seven years now six point seven is not a great payback it’s okay but it’s not
great payback it’s okay but it’s not
great payback it’s okay but it’s not great but the point is we didn’t make
great but the point is we didn’t make
great but the point is we didn’t make our decision based solely on the payback
our decision based solely on the payback
our decision based solely on the payback we took into account those other
we took into account those other
we took into account those other benefits like the environmental
benefits like the environmental
benefits like the environmental improvements and all of those things
improvements and all of those things
improvements and all of those things that pay forward and we balanced the two
that pay forward and we balanced the two
that pay forward and we balanced the two of those and decided that the
of those and decided that the
of those and decided that the combination was was the right thing to
combination was was the right thing to
combination was was the right thing to do and made us want to proceed so here’s
do and made us want to proceed so here’s
do and made us want to proceed so here’s a here’s a graph of our energy
a here’s a graph of our energy
a here’s a graph of our energy consumption over the last 15 years Nick
consumption over the last 15 years Nick
consumption over the last 15 years Nick said I was an engineer so I like to
said I was an engineer so I like to
said I was an engineer so I like to measure things so you get the sense of
measure things so you get the sense of
measure things so you get the sense of all this
all this
all this so I’ve superimposed some of the key
so I’ve superimposed some of the key
so I’ve superimposed some of the key milestones along the way and you’ll see
milestones along the way and you’ll see
milestones along the way and you’ll see that starting from the left-hand side
that starting from the left-hand side
that starting from the left-hand side you know in 2004 that was our first year
you know in 2004 that was our first year
you know in 2004 that was our first year of full solar pool heating and then we
of full solar pool heating and then we
of full solar pool heating and then we start building that house addition and
start building that house addition and
start building that house addition and we start using more and more energy
we start using more and more energy
we start using more and more energy because of that and then we put in
because of that and then we put in
because of that and then we put in geothermal in 2007 is the first full
geothermal in 2007 is the first full
geothermal in 2007 is the first full year of geothermal and that’s that
year of geothermal and that’s that
year of geothermal and that’s that dramatic drop in energy consumption
dramatic drop in energy consumption
dramatic drop in energy consumption that’s about a 25% drop in my energy
that’s about a 25% drop in my energy
that’s about a 25% drop in my energy consumption and then we carry on pretty
consumption and then we carry on pretty
consumption and then we carry on pretty flat for a number of years I buy the
flat for a number of years I buy the
flat for a number of years I buy the electric vehicle at the end of 2014
electric vehicle at the end of 2014
electric vehicle at the end of 2014 because we charge it at home at night
because we charge it at home at night
because we charge it at home at night the consumption starts to go up again
the consumption starts to go up again
the consumption starts to go up again and then in 2015 we put in solar and so
and then in 2015 we put in solar and so
and then in 2015 we put in solar and so you see that other big drop in our net
you see that other big drop in our net
you see that other big drop in our net energy consumption another 25% drop in
energy consumption another 25% drop in
energy consumption another 25% drop in energy consumption now compare that to
energy consumption now compare that to
energy consumption now compare that to these gray bars and the gray bars are
these gray bars and the gray bars are
these gray bars and the gray bars are what my energy consumption would have
what my energy consumption would have
what my energy consumption would have been
been
been if I hadn’t done these three projects
if I hadn’t done these three projects
if I hadn’t done these three projects and you see some pretty big differences
and you see some pretty big differences
and you see some pretty big differences there that by the end of it by the end
there that by the end of it by the end
there that by the end of it by the end of 2017 my energy consumption is about
of 2017 my energy consumption is about
of 2017 my energy consumption is about half of what it would have been had I
half of what it would have been had I
half of what it would have been had I not done those things so and that’s the
not done those things so and that’s the
not done those things so and that’s the energy savings as well as all of the
energy savings as well as all of the
energy savings as well as all of the associated greenhouse gas and an
associated greenhouse gas and an
associated greenhouse gas and an environmental benefits so that’s the pay
environmental benefits so that’s the pay
environmental benefits so that’s the pay forward and you know now you see what I
forward and you know now you see what I
forward and you know now you see what I mean when I say that you know those
mean when I say that you know those
mean when I say that you know those individual projects they didn’t sound
individual projects they didn’t sound
individual projects they didn’t sound too good but when you look at it over
too good but when you look at it over
too good but when you look at it over time and you look at the combined effort
time and you look at the combined effort
time and you look at the combined effort these are those are the bricks that I
these are those are the bricks that I
these are those are the bricks that I was talking about that ended up building
was talking about that ended up building
was talking about that ended up building something I think pretty substantial so
something I think pretty substantial so
something I think pretty substantial so what’s the next project for me well
what’s the next project for me well
what’s the next project for me well we’re starting to investigate energy
we’re starting to investigate energy
we’re starting to investigate energy storage for the home so this would be a
storage for the home so this would be a
storage for the home so this would be a residential sized battery that we would
residential sized battery that we would
residential sized battery that we would use as backup I could replace something
use as backup I could replace something
use as backup I could replace something like aged diesel generator in case we
like aged diesel generator in case we
like aged diesel generator in case we ever lose power but it can also be
ever lose power but it can also be
ever lose power but it can also be something that we would charge with
something that we would charge with
something that we would charge with solar power or charge up using really
solar power or charge up using really
solar power or charge up using really low cost power in the off-peak times and
low cost power in the off-peak times and
low cost power in the off-peak times and then using that power in high peak times
then using that power in high peak times
then using that power in high peak times where the power is more expensive so we
where the power is more expensive so we
where the power is more expensive so we would save a fair amount of money but
would save a fair amount of money but
would save a fair amount of money but I’m still calculating the payback and of
I’m still calculating the payback and of
I’m still calculating the payback and of course buffet forward for that
so what does this mean for all of us
so what does this mean for all of us well I know not everybody can you know
well I know not everybody can you know
well I know not everybody can you know has the room to put in geothermal or
has the room to put in geothermal or
has the room to put in geothermal or wants to spend the money upfront for
wants to spend the money upfront for
wants to spend the money upfront for some of these things but I do think
some of these things but I do think
some of these things but I do think there’s some important lessons and
there’s some important lessons and
there’s some important lessons and sometimes some of these environmental
sometimes some of these environmental
sometimes some of these environmental things can seem daunting you know that
things can seem daunting you know that
things can seem daunting you know that the problems are so big what can one
the problems are so big what can one
the problems are so big what can one person do but I do think there are some
person do but I do think there are some
person do but I do think there are some things that we can do first of all clean
things that we can do first of all clean
things that we can do first of all clean technology is advancing very quickly and
technology is advancing very quickly and
technology is advancing very quickly and the paybacks and the pay forwards are
the paybacks and the pay forwards are
the paybacks and the pay forwards are improving so rapidly all the time so I
improving so rapidly all the time so I
improving so rapidly all the time so I encourage you to think about these
encourage you to think about these
encourage you to think about these things you know do the calculations and
things you know do the calculations and
things you know do the calculations and maybe you’ve thought about them a few
maybe you’ve thought about them a few
maybe you’ve thought about them a few years ago but revisit them because
years ago but revisit them because
years ago but revisit them because everything is improving very very
everything is improving very very
everything is improving very very quickly
quickly
quickly second if you notice two of my projects
second if you notice two of my projects
second if you notice two of my projects were based were driven by replacement
were based were driven by replacement
were based were driven by replacement decisions so my pool heater died so I
decisions so my pool heater died so I
decisions so my pool heater died so I had to do something or we built onto the
had to do something or we built onto the
had to do something or we built onto the house and I had to replace the heating
house and I had to replace the heating
house and I had to replace the heating cooling system so it’s easy to you know
cooling system so it’s easy to you know
cooling system so it’s easy to you know nobody’s going to you know take out a
nobody’s going to you know take out a
nobody’s going to you know take out a perfectly good piece of equipment just
perfectly good piece of equipment just
perfectly good piece of equipment just to put in something that’s a little more
to put in something that’s a little more
to put in something that’s a little more efficient but when you have to make a
efficient but when you have to make a
efficient but when you have to make a change that’s when you can make the
change that’s when you can make the
change that’s when you can make the greatest impact so even though it’s a
greatest impact so even though it’s a
greatest impact so even though it’s a little more time-consuming it requires a
little more time-consuming it requires a
little more time-consuming it requires a little more effort to do the research
little more effort to do the research
little more effort to do the research find out what the alternatives are of
find out what the alternatives are of
find out what the alternatives are of course calculate the payback and the pay
course calculate the payback and the pay
course calculate the payback and the pay forward that’s when you can really make
forward that’s when you can really make
forward that’s when you can really make a difference another lesson I think is
a difference another lesson I think is
a difference another lesson I think is to pay attention to how we talk about
to pay attention to how we talk about
to pay attention to how we talk about payback and financial returns you know
payback and financial returns you know
payback and financial returns you know when when we talk about payback we talk
when when we talk about payback we talk
when when we talk about payback we talk about how long how long until the
about how long how long until the
about how long how long until the savings equal the extra cost but that
savings equal the extra cost but that
savings equal the extra cost but that kind of implies that the benefits end
kind of implies that the benefits end
kind of implies that the benefits end once the payback has been achieved but
once the payback has been achieved but
once the payback has been achieved but that’s not the case at all those those
that’s not the case at all those those
that’s not the case at all those those savings continue long into the future in
savings continue long into the future in
savings continue long into the future in the case of my projects already they’ve
the case of my projects already they’ve
the case of my projects already they’ve generated over thirty five thousand
generated over thirty five thousand
generated over thirty five thousand dollars of savings so instead of
dollars of savings so instead of
dollars of savings so instead of thinking about how long until we achieve
thinking about how long until we achieve
thinking about how long until we achieve the payback we should think about how
the payback we should think about how
the payback we should think about how much the savings are going to be over
much the savings are going to be over
much the savings are going to be over the lifetime of that piece of equipment
the lifetime of that piece of equipment
the lifetime of that piece of equipment or that asset if we do that then our
or that asset if we do that then our
or that asset if we do that then our mindset will probably be more more
mindset will probably be more more
mindset will probably be more more positive towards that purchase and
positive towards that purchase and
positive towards that purchase and finally if you’re talking to somebody
finally if you’re talking to somebody
finally if you’re talking to somebody and they’re talking and they’re
and they’re talking and they’re
and they’re talking and they’re considering you know hybrid or electric
considering you know hybrid or electric
considering you know hybrid or electric vehicle or some kind of a clean
vehicle or some kind of a clean
vehicle or some kind of a clean technology decision you know by all
technology decision you know by all
technology decision you know by all means ask them about the payback but
means ask them about the payback but
means ask them about the payback but also ask them about the pay forward get
also ask them about the pay forward get
also ask them about the pay forward get them thinking about the benefits not
them thinking about the benefits not
them thinking about the benefits not just to themselves but to everybody else
just to themselves but to everybody else
just to themselves but to everybody else and see if you can get them to take both
and see if you can get them to take both
and see if you can get them to take both pay back and pay forward into
pay back and pay forward into
pay back and pay forward into consideration when they make their
consideration when they make their
consideration when they make their decision because if they do that every
decision because if they do that every
decision because if they do that every time that happens that’s one more brick
time that happens that’s one more brick
time that happens that’s one more brick that gets put to words building a better
that gets put to words building a better
that gets put to words building a better world thank you
world thank you
world thank you [Applause]
”
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