The recent threat of power blackouts in Alberta’s hydro grid should be a wake-up call for all of us that a variety of power options is the best safeguard.
The recent cold snap confirmed that our family needs to revisit our backup plan because the new inside energy efficient window blinds were not as effective as the temporary outside Styrofoam shudders we used in the past.
We have a 46-year-old house (with too many windows even though they are mostly half inch double pane) and heat with a ground based geothermal heat pump which performed well until the -30 C temperatures arrived.
Even with the wood backup soap stone heater which kept the rec room at a pleasant 20 C the majority of the house was only 14 C. I could have turned on the electric assist but we decided to tough it out and make sure we put up the temporary shudders before we get another cold snap.
If you’re planning on converting to a heat pump I recommend talking to people who have installed one. If you want to apply for a grant you will need an inspection which will enable you to put money toward other improvements if the inspection allows you to do them.
Over the long-term, stopping the excessive loss of heat is the first step to a successful outcome.
I also suggest a recent podcast for heat pump information as well as a variety of topics related to the recent cold snap. What on earth by Laura Lynch on CBC radio, aired Jan. 21, 2024, describes how heat pumps can still keep you toasty in Canada’s coldest cities and what you should consider before getting one. For example, hybrid systems (gas and electric) or possibly a wood backup in some more rural areas.
Lynch also talks about how blackouts were averted in Alberta by users volunteering to make power reductions as well as what really triggered Alberta’s electricity supply crunch, and how a greener grid can still meet demand.
Of interest to those thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle, she talks to a resident from Prince George who wanted to see how his Tesla would perform on a long trip during the -30 C weather. He stressed the importance of preheating (preconditioned) his vehicle from the grid before heading off to McBride and also makes the point the other electric cars besides his Tesla could have made it as well.
Closer to home, my daughter and some friends who own straight electric cars also managed through the cold weather.
Norway drivers love EVs. In 2023, 80 per cent of vehicles purchased were electric even though temperatures are -40C for extended periods.
The high taxes on gas no doubt helps promote EV sales and drivers are used to the preconditioning during the extreme weather and they have a well-developed charging system because of the high number of EVs.
Another important factor is climate change which goes something like this: the warmer long-term trend seems to be impacting El Nino events which are more frequent short duration extreme weather conditions like heat waves, atmospheric rivers and cold snaps all of which will require some sort of backup plans.
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