Episodes

  • 396. Deep Dive summary of Anatomy of a Straw Bale Dream Home

    396. Deep Dive summary of Anatomy of a Straw Bale Dream Home
    Feb 14 2025
    Here is an AI deep dive summary of Green Energy Futures' David Dodge interviews with Lance and Wendy Olsen about their unique straw bale home. The Olsens, seeking to downsize and minimize their environmental impact, built a net-zero home incorporating straw bale insulation, rammed earth walls, and solar technology. The home features innovative elements, such as reclaimed concert hall seatbacks repurposed as cupboards and a toilet paper storage system built into a wall. Lance discusses the home's heating and water systems, as well as artistic details like a custom handrail he is building for the spiral staircase using reclaimed farm material. The video highlights the home's energy efficiency and sustainable design, offering inspiration for anyone interested in green building practices. Let us know if you find this a helpful addition to our coverage of the Straw Bale Dream Home. GreenEnergyFutures.ca Episode 396 - Anatomy of a Straw Bale Dream Home
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    13 mins
  • 396A. Making of a Net-Zero Straw Bale Dream Home - Part 1

    396A. Making of a Net-Zero Straw Bale Dream Home - Part 1
    Feb 13 2025
    In part 1 of our series on a Net-Zero Straw Bale Dream Home we meet Lance and Wendy Olson as they were building their straw bale home. They wanted to downsize, reduce their footprint and build the most energy efficient home they could. After a lot of research they landed on the idea of building a straw bale home. But they didn't stop there, this straw bale home has loads of innovative features in it from the rammed Earth walls, to solar thermal heating and solar PV for electricity. Their goal was to reach net-zero. We were there when the Olsons worked with partners at SAIT and Habib Gonzalez, the guru of straw bale building in Canada. In part one we see how the home is built and some of the unique features of this amazing and sustainable homes. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast PART 1 - Making a Straw Bale Dream Home ✅ BLOG - GreenEnergyFutures.ca ▶️ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/greenenergyfuture/
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    4 mins
  • 395B. Worst case scenario - An air-source heat pump at -41

    395B. Worst case scenario - An air-source heat pump at -41
    Feb 4 2025
    In Part 2 of our series on the worst case scenario for an air-source heat pump, improvements were made, the post reno energy audit is done and we check back a year later after installing an air-source heat pump in a cabin with 2x4 walls and R12 insulation in the cold Canadian north. Full story GreenEnergyFutures.ca VIDEO story https://www.youtube.com/greenenergyfuture/ GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast Subscribe to hear new stories every week - check back on our more than 400 stories!
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    4 mins
  • 395A. Worst Case Scenario - Installing an air-source heat pump in a 2x4-walled cabin

    395A. Worst Case Scenario - Installing an air-source heat pump in a 2x4-walled cabin
    Jan 26 2025
    Energy efficient heat pumps are revolutionizing home heating. So we wanted to know, can we install an air-source heat pump in a cabin with energy inefficient 2x4 walls? This is part 1 of that story that starts with an energy audit. Energy efficient builders hold tight to the maxim "envelope first" which means focus on improving insulation and other measure that reduce your energy needs first before looking at your mechanical systems. But what if you are on a budget? What if its a seasonal cottage? What if you can't spend tens of thousands of dollars on those improvements? We set out to answer these questions and to determine the limits of air-source heat pumps that are taking the world by storm these days. Learn more in our blog and video story and watch for part 2. GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast
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    4 mins
  • 394B. Janna Greir adds Kunekune pigs to her thriving Solar & Sheep operation

    394B. Janna Greir adds Kunekune pigs to her thriving Solar & Sheep operation
    Jan 21 2025
    In part 2 of our Solar & Sheep series first generation farmer Janna Greir adds Kunekune pigs to her solar & sheep farm. It turns out these cute little oinkers are symbiotic with the sheep. They eat parasites and worms left behind by the sheep thus interrupting their lifecycle keeping the sheep healthier. www.GreenEnergyFutures.ca www.CKUA.com Podcast Full story https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/394-first-generation-farmer-janna-greir-builds-thriving-operation-by-combining-sheep-and-solar Be sure to check our part 1 and Subscribe Today for 400 more stories just like this!
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    4 mins
  • 394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds thriving operation by combining the two

    394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds thriving operation by combining the two
    Jan 14 2025
    Janna Greir and her partner Ryan always loved the idea of ranching, living in the country, and operating a small farm, but becoming a first-generation farmer is nearly impossible these days. That is until she discovered the combination of sheep and solar. The family had a dozen sheep until she landed a contract with Capital Power to manage the vegetation on their Strathmore Solar Farm. Janna has become an expert in vegetation management since then and the land is now much more productive and her flock has grown to more than 1,000 sheep on this one site alone. Not only has Janna grown her flock significantly, she is also doing consulting work to help others do the same. Her experience points to a bright future for farming and solar. Part 1 in a 2-part series. GreenEnergyFutures CKUA.com Video Podcast BLOG at GreenEnergyFutures.ca
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    4 mins
  • 394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds a thriving operation by combining the two

    394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds a thriving operation by combining the two
    Jan 13 2025
    Janna Greir and her partner Ryan always loved the idea of ranching, living in the country, and operating a small farm, but becoming a first-generation farmer is nearly impossible these days. That is until she discovered the combination of sheep and solar. The family had a dozen sheep until she landed a contract with Capital Power to manage the vegetation on their Strathmore Solar Farm. Janna has become something of an expert in vegetation management since then and the land is now much more productive and her flock has grown to more than 1,000 sheep on this one site alone. Janna has become a consultant, and is already further expanding her operation pointing to an amazing bright future for what is called agrivoltaics, the combining of solar and farming. Rather than gobble up farmland, she is improving productivity and dramatically improving the economics of being a farmer, first generation or otherwise. Part 1 in a 2 part series. GreenEnergyFutures CKUA.com Video Podcast BLOG at GreenEnergyFutures.ca
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    4 mins
  • 394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds thriving operation

    394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds thriving operation
    Jan 13 2025
    Janna Greir and her partner Ryan always loved the idea of ranching, living in the country, and operating a small farm, but becoming a first-generation farmer is nearly impossible these days. That is until she discovered the combination of sheep and solar. The family had a dozen sheep until she landed a contract with Capital Power to manage the vegetation on their Strathmore Solar Farm. Janna has become something of an expert in vegetation management since then and the land is now much more productive and her flock has grown to more than 1,000 sheep on this one site alone. Her story points to a bright future for farmers who want to improve productivity and the economics of their farms. Janna says there is nothing but potential for the expansion of the idea often referred to as Agrivoltaics. This is part one in our series. GreenEnergyFutures CKUA.com Podcast BLOG at GreenEnergyFutures.ca
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    4 mins