Remember to Sweat the Big Stuff
 

It is critical to promote the development of wind & solar because renewable energy sources can reduce carbon emissions resulting from consumption of secondary energy.

However, it is even more important to remember the Rule of 3C (conserve, convert, clean) as society looks for feasible ways to improve & protect our environment.

Federal data (NRCan) show that heating & cooling buildings consumed 547 billion kWh of secondary energy in 2022 ... 21% of Canada's total consumption.  In that year, wind & solar produced 40 billion kWh (StatsCan).

 
 
This thermal energy consumed for heating & cooling was responsible for the emission of 71 billion kg of carbon that year, or 16% of Canada's total.
 
One option is to consider the technology of ground source heat pump (GSHP) which produces thermal renewable energy from the earth on a fully dispatchable (no batteries required) basis.
 
If ALL residential & commercial buildings in Canada installed GSHP, they would produce that 547 billion kWh a year of renewable energy and reduce emissions by 71 billion kg of carbon.  It would allow a PTC (Production Thermal Credit) to incent efficiency, and offer other benefits to the building owner, our economy and our environment.
 
On an individual level, the average household would produce 21,307 kWh from its GSHP system and reduce carbon emissions by 3,148 kg.  It would need 5,918 kWh to operate the components which, added to the 5,098 kWh for lights & appliances, means the household would produce 21,000 and consume 11,000 ... verified as netzeroPLUS.
 
 
 

Further information:

NetZeroPLUS Canada

Common Misperceptions of Ground Source Heat Pump

NRCan: Heating & Cooling with a Heat Pump

How the Canadian Senate is installing GSHP

My Green Home