Using Local, Renewable Energy and Net Zero Homes
Meet Bill Kelly, a pioneer in making his home fully electrified and energy self-sufficient. Bill’s story shows us the potential of rooftop solar combined with energy efficiency to meet building energy needs with hyperlocal renewable sources. This post is part of Profiles in Living Connected to Place, my series that portrays individuals living connected to place with intention and the support of systems that make it possible. Prior posts can be found here.
In 2017, San Francisco resident Bill Kelly and his family made their San Francisco home a fully electrified net zero energy home. With a career in energy management and solar power, Bill was an ideal pioneer for transitioning his home into one that produces as much energy as it consumes over a year.
Bill grew up in rural Maryland. He has fond memories of playing with his cousins in the outdoors. Bill also remembers having an “oil mustache” after swimming in the Chesapeake Bay and seeing commercials about growing pollution and litter. He developed a strong sense of environmental awareness and concern.
In high school, he had no idea that he could pursue a career that could help the environment and economy at the same time. A professor at Stanford University, where he attended as an undergraduate, opened his eyes to what was possible. He learned from him about small-scale energy systems. This knowledge led to work managing projects that drove down business energy use and costs. He went on to help lead a large solar company for over fifteen years and, more recently, support school districts in energy management and education.
Bill and his family’s net zero home uses solar power installed on the 300-square-foot roof of their two-story house. The system provides all the energy they need in their home and for charging their electric car.
To improve efficiency and reduce energy demand, they installed high-performance windows, added insulation, and provided indoor lighting through windows and LED fixtures. Water and space heating were converted to electric power using efficient heat pumps and radiant heating underneath the wood flooring. Two heat pumps power the radiant heating, and another provides hot water. They electrified cooking through an induction cooktop and an electric steam oven. The final appliance converted from gas to electric was an electric clothes dryer.
Their monthly bill for gas and electricity went to zero. They saved money and experienced much comfort with heated floors and stable indoor temperatures; a quiet indoor environment with high-performance windows and insulation; and rejuvenation from the natural daylight inside. Bill’s family also feels safer because they do not have natural gas in the house.
One concern people have about fully electrified net zero homes is giving up gas for cooking. For Bill’s family, however, this has been one of the most satisfying changes. They can cook precisely on the induction cooktop and love that it can be cleaned in 30 seconds. They cook just about anything, including vegetables, in the oven that has an electric steaming function. Bill notes that these cooking appliances are highly efficient, heat up fast, and don’t cause indoor air pollution like gas burners.
The climate crisis demands that we move swiftly away from fossil fuel energy and reduce energy demand. People like Bill Kelly show how this can be done in our homes with the added benefits of eliminating energy bills, improving comfort and indoor safety, and without sacrificing cooking performance. A net zero home also connects its inhabitants to nature through heat pumps that extract warmth from ambient air to panels that harness the sun’s energy. A decentralized, renewable energy system helps people take control of their energy supply and connect to and heal the planet simultaneously.