By Louise Rachlis, Ottawa Citizen, December 10, 2020
Tyler Galaski and his family have zero regrets about building and living in a Net Zero energy home.
Net Zero Homes produce as much clean energy as they consume. They are up to 80 per cent more energy efficient than typical new homes and use renewable energy systems to produce the remaining energy they need.
“After researching the subject and taking building science courses, I knew it would be very healthy and quiet to live in,” says Galaski of OTG (Off the Grid) Construction, who built a net zero energy ready/passive house in Calabogie, Ont., near Ottawa, for himself.
“I knew that energy costs are rising and I can over-insulate a home and have cost benefits later. I wanted to take a different turn, and prove to myself that it wasn’t going to cost that much more than a regular house. I decided to build only net zero energy homes in Ottawa, Renfrew, Calabogie and surrounding areas.”
As for his own net zero home, “we were living in Alta Vista, and we wanted to move to the country for the kids,” says Galaski, 40, who has been in the construction business for his whole career, establishing OTG Construction in 2009.
https://ottawacitizen.com/life/eco-homes-let-the-cold-wind-blow