Awards are bestowed in recognition of the leadership, skill and imagination that achieve excellence in a particular endeavour.

Canada's Energy Efficiency Awards honour innovation and progress in energy efficiency in the categories of equipment and technology, housing, buildings, industry, transportation (on-road), outreach and media.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

When John Ross set out to build a house for himself, he indulged his decades-old passion for energy efficiency. The result is an inexpensive three-bedroom bungalow that, for most of the year, relies on the sun for heating, cooling and electricity.
Ross's interest in energy grew during a stint at the University of Minnesota in the early 1980s, when he studied solar-power theory and technologies. He also met enthusiasts from across North America who shared his desire to promote the use of alternative energy.

"Their keeness fed my passion," Ross says. "I knew I'd discovered my niche."
Once back in Nova Scotia, Ross began to put his knowledge and zeal to work in a part-time business installing solar-powered hot-water systems in private homes and businesses. Ross continued to study new technologies, networked with construction professionals, and acquired considerable experience in solar power and energy efficiency.

Ross relied on his knowledge and experience when it came time to design and build his own home. The 2,000 square-foot house features high-efficiency windows and insulation to minimize energy wastage. All three forms of solar energy – passive, active and electrical – combine to heat and cool the home and to supply electricity. In Mr. Ross's eyes, though, the beauty of the house lies in the integration of its systems.
Photovoltaic modules charge the batteries that provide household electricity. To heat the home and hot-water tank, the sun's energy is collected via a series of roof-mounted solar panels and transferred to a non-toxic liquid that circulates through a network of pipes. Part of the network is embedded in the home's eight-inch insulated concrete slab floor, which radiates heat throughout the house. Additional energy is provided when the sun's rays pass through a bank of south-facing windows, warming the air inside.

To facilitate heating and cooling, the home's air ducts also run through the slab floor. A register in each room, along with a central fan and air exchanger, enable Ross to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the house.
In winter, a fan and a pump circulate warm air and liquid to the cooler parts of the house. In summer, the process is reversed to help cool the home; excess heat is channeled into the garage floor or under the outside patio. In addition, the fan and pump can be run at night to take advantage of cooler outside temperatures.
Should the systems fail to provide enough energy, a connection to the province's electrical grid, as well as a propane tank, provide adequate backup.
Since Ross moved into the home in October 2002, he's tracked his hydro and propane bills closely. He estimates that a similar home connected to the province's electrical grid and heated by an oil-fired furnace would require $1,500 more per year in energy expenditures. The home, including all systems, was built for approximately $185,000 – comparable to the price of a new bungalow of equal size in the region.
Ross continues to exercise his passion, and will lend his considerable expertise to two construction projects in the summer of 2004.

"The energy of the sun," Ross says. "is like money in your pocket-no one can charge you for using it!"

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	Mail:	P.O. Box 9 Cleveland, Nova Scotia, B0E 1J0 Canada
	Telephone:	902.625.1539
	Facsimile:	902.625.3444
	Email:	info@sunrossenergy.ca