Green Energy Futures

Hosted by David Dodge

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582

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The CKUA Radio podcast of the GreenEnergyFutures.ca series hosted by David Dodge. Inspiring stories of inspiring people building the sustainable economy of the future.

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60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 4474 min

447. Love at First Build - Jilaire and Andrew's Journey to Net Zero

Jilaire and Andrew's passion for building energy efficient homes and each other started right out of school. The couple sold their family home to finance their new home building business. Most couples might find being business partners, parenting partners and life partners a little overwhelming. 120 homes later after much blood, sweat and tears we ask how it all going with Maison Design Build Homes, their company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/love-at-first-build-jilaire-and-andrews-journey-to-net-zero VIDEO: https://youtu.be/uzM8IPOpMYQ Subscribe to our Chasing Net Zero Series on YouTube and don't miss a single episode. We're travelling across Canada to find the best net zero home builders in the country. #netzero #greenhomes #energyefficiency #heatpump #solar #homes

September 30, 2026Episode 4464 min

446. Chainsaw Retrofit to Net Zero and the Secret Powers of the Energy Advisor

"Chainsaw Retrofit" sounds crazy, but...Discover the hidden magic of energy advisors and the amazing results of a “chainsaw retrofit” to net zero! Stephen Magneron from Homesol Building Solutions teamed up with Philip Coe of Revision Built to upgrade Philip’s 1970s bungalow all the way to net zero ready. As Stephen and Philip show, a chainsaw retrofit is a smart, reliable way to take an older home’s frame and turn it into a high-performance, net-zero gem. Basically, the house gets a thick, cozy new bear skin—super-insulated walls and roof all the way down to the footing. It’s perfect for turning old, energy-hungry homes into efficient, all-electric spaces that feel great to live in and are kind to the planet.🟢 BLOG: greenenergyfutures.caRELATED VIDEOS:▶️ Energy Advisors: Superheroes of Affordable Net Zerohttps://youtu.be/Dfnyqwn_hHQ▶️ The Unsung Hero Behind Urbandale’s Push to Net Zerohttps://youtu.be/Z5VF1Tf-rQo▶️ CHASING NET ZERO SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLBLbJXjojqZ-c_voZoMqSbQqlqP7Oel7

September 23, 20263 min

445. The Secret Powers of the Energy Advisor and Urbandale's Journey to Net zero

Energy Advisors are the friendly faces behind the net zero movement! Let’s join master energy advisor Stephen Magneron from Homesol Building Solutions for a fun tour of Urbandale Construction’s Net Zero Ready homes in Riverside, Ottawa. We’ll see how his team teamed up with Urbandale to reach net zero. 🟢 CHASING NET ZERO SERIES - Subscribe Today! 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/445-urbandales-journey-to-net-zero-and-the-secret-powers-of-the-energy-advisor 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Z5VF1Tf-rQo?si=Xo7ZBiCAhcqeGFRp #netzero #solar #sustainableliving #heatpumps

September 16, 2026Episode 4443 min

444. Energy Advisors: The Superheroes of the Net Zero Home Revolution

Working quietly behind the scenes, energy advisors are like secret weapons for builders aiming to create the most affordable net zero homes possible. This week, we’re heading to Ottawa, Ontario, to see how master energy advisor Stephen Magneron from Homesol Building Solutions teams up with builders and homeowners. We checked out a net zero ready home from Urbandale Construction and another from RND in Ottawa. Stephen and his team help builders find the most budget-friendly route to net zero and keep boosting energy efficiency along the way. Plus, the energy advisor tests each home to make sure it earns Energy Star or CHBA Net Zero Ready Home labels. 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/444-energy-advisors-are-the-unsung-superheroes-of-the-net-zero-home-revolution 🟢 SUPERHEROES VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Dfnyqwn_hHQ 🟢 CHASING NET ZERO VIDEO SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLBLbJXjojqZ-c_voZoMqSbQqlqP7Oel7 ❤️ Subscribe to ensure you don't miss a single episode!

September 2, 2026Episode 4434 min

443B. The Ultimate Home Energy Hub - Batteries, V2G, Backup and more

This is the Home Energy Hub of the future! Cameron Shirt of Tribe Solar has just installed a home energy battery that has a solar inverter, V2G EV, home backup, DC fast EV charging and much more. This is the future of the home energy system that allows you to save your solar energy for use at night, export to the grid when it makes sense, and save a lot or perhaps even profit from home energy production. But that's not all, it also a Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technology allowing you to draw energy from your EV to the home or grid. AND it is also a DC EV charger that charges at 25 kW per hour, about three times the speed of regular home Level II chargers. This project also pioneered the use of cargo drones to install the 17.5-kilowatt solar system on the roof of Spencer Young's home. SUBSCRIBE to our CKUA Radio Features Podcast! Learn more at GreenEnergyFutures.ca and subscribe on YouTube. 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/443-the-all-in-one-home-energy-hub-solar-storage-fast-v2g-charging-and-backup 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6g_8vbS3ZQg?si=c117EP5jIcYN7gIb

August 26, 2026Episode 4433 min

443. How a First Nations guy got into the Solar Business that is Leading the Way in Innovation

Cameron Shirt was reading a lot, and he felt "climate change is a real thing and nothing was being done about it."So he did a deep dive into the best solutions and decided solar was cost-effective and a great solution.So he began his journey with an electrician apprenticeship, then he worked for solar companies on big and small projects, and then four years ago started Tribe Solar, which this year had its best year ever installing solar. And the company is leading solar innovation by installing a first-of-its-kind home energy hub that just might be the future of home energy. It's an inspiring story. SUBSCRIBE to our CKUA Radio Features Podcast! Learn more at GreenEnergyFutures.ca and subscribe on YouTube. 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/443-the-all-in-one-home-energy-hub-solar-storage-fast-v2g-charging-and-backup 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6g_8vbS3ZQg?si=c117EP5jIcYN7gIb

August 21, 2026Episode 44211 min

442. AUDIO BLOG - Kyle Newman's Cost-Effective Strategies for Net Zero in Cottage Country

AUDIO BLOG - Kyle Newman of Stratton Homes in Huntsville, Ontario, avoided prescriptive green home certifications such as Passive House, instead building the most energy-efficient homes he could by cherry-picking the most cost-effective energy efficiency solutions he could find.He was looking for the best formula for building net zero homes that are so affordable he could adopt net zero ready as the minimum standard for Stratton Homes.Lo and behold, the strategy worked! We take a look at Kyle Newman's cost-effective strategies for net zero that are so affordable he now builds every Stratton Home to a minimum net zero ready standard.What we found in Ontario's Cottage Country were some amazing net zero homes that cost less in monthly expenses than a code-built home! 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/442-kyle-newmans-cost-effective-strategies-for-net-zero-homes-in-cottage-country 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/c6PUas150PM 🟢 CHASING NET ZERO SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLBLbJXjojqZ-c_voZoMqSbQqlqP7Oel7

August 19, 2026Episode 4424 min

442. Kyle Newman’s Cost-Effective Strategies for Net Zero Homes in Cottage Country

Kyle Newman of Stratton Homes in Huntsville, Ontario, avoided prescriptive green home certifications such as Passive House, instead building the most energy-efficient homes he could by cherry-picking the most cost-effective energy efficiency solutions he could find.He was looking for the best formula for building net zero homes that are so affordable he could adopt net zero ready as the minimum standard for Stratton Homes.Lo and behold, the strategy worked! We take a look at Kyle Newman's cost-effective strategies for net zero that are so affordable he now builds every Stratton Home to a minimum net zero ready standard.What we found in Ontario's Cottage Country were some amazing net zero homes that cost less in monthly expenses than a code-built home! 🟢 BLOG: https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/442-kyle-newmans-cost-effective-strategies-for-net-zero-homes-in-cottage-country 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/c6PUas150PM 🟢 CHASING NET ZERO SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLBLbJXjojqZ-c_voZoMqSbQqlqP7Oel7

August 14, 2026Episode 4419 min

441. VIDEO - If I Had a Hammer, I'd Build You a Net Zero Home in Cottage Country

Kyle Newman practically grew up with a hammer in his handand a deep love for nature. His dad taught him why energy-efficient homes matter. When Kyle started building his own place and homes forothers, he found it tough to meet strict standards like Passive House on atight budget. So he embraced the “Pretty Good House” idea from green buildingexpert Martin Holladay. Before long, he naturally figured out the mostbudget-friendly way to build homes that meet the CHBA Net Zero Ready Homelabel. This is the story of a dedicated net zero pioneer who nowbuilds every Stratton Home to at least net zero ready standards in Ontario’slovely Cottage Country. ❤️ Consider liking and sharing this story to bring us ever closer to the day when all homes are sustainability built, climate resilient and future proof. 🟢 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Q1_-I37sgJw 🟢 CHASING NET ZERO SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLBLbJXjojqZ-c_voZoMqSbQqlqP7Oel7 #netzero #solar #energyefficiency #chasingnetzero #greenenergyfutures