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Bosch contributes to Canada’s EcoPlusHome to help achieve net zero energy in residential homes
July 20, 2011 - Can a family of six live their everyday life without dependence on fossil fuels for an entire year? By integrating its efficient geothermal, solar and home appliance technologies, Bosch said it has helped Canada’s EcoPlusHome demonstrate that today’s modern family can live a net zero existence without compromising comfort or cost.
July 20, 2011 By Alyssa Dalton
“Through the use of both passive and active eco-friendly efforts, the 3,067-sf home in Bathurst, New Brunswick provided comfortable and affordable living year-round,” it explained.
In order to prove that an average consumer’s home can achieve net zero status at a price of about $275,000 USD, Bosch designed the EcoPlusHome in partnership with Tight Lines Productions, Maple Leaf Homes and local partners in New Brunswick. From December 2009 to December 2010, a family of six living in the EcoPlusHome consumed approximately 14,000 kilowatt hours (kwh), said Bosch. At the same time, the home generated roughly 15,000 kwh – more electricity than it consumed, it continued, adding that “Reducing reliance on fossil fuel, EcoPlusHome emitted few emissions and helped promote a healthier living space and cleaner air.”
“By providing a highly efficient geothermal heat pump, solar thermal system, photovoltaic panels and home appliances for the EcoPlusHome, we have demonstrated that climate protection pays off and that net zero living can be achieved comfortably and affordably,” said Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch LLC and member of the Bosch Board of Management. “As a leading technology company, Bosch is committed to supplying innovative solutions that help conserve resources and protect the environment.”
Describing the EcoPlusHomes as the “most energy-efficient home in Atlantic Canada”, the homes continue to be built and sold across Altantic Canada, as well as British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Currently 12 homes are in construction and pre-sold. The first modular EcoPlusHomes has arrived in Dartmouth, N.S., and Moncton and Bathurst, N.B.
According to Bosch, the New Brunswick home withstood temperatures ranging from -35°C and up to +35°C. “The overall reduced dependence on fossil fuel makes EcoPlusHomes virtually immune to fluctuating fuel prices that can increase during peak demand seasons, allowing a more accurate forecast of the homeowner’s budget. The end result: energy-efficiency at an affordable price,” it said.
Included in each home is a complete line of Bosch alternative technologies, such as: geothermal heat pumps, Thermotechnology systems (a collective heating, ventilation and air conditioning system), and 52 mono-crystalline photovoltaic solar modules.
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