Article and Photography by Andy Zeltkains

 As we move through our daily lives it is difficult not to be influenced by the ways our environment has been impacted by human activity. Most notably is how the climate has drastically changed over a relatively short period of time as we see warmer winters, hotter summers, shifting rainfall patterns and a higher frequency of extreme weather events. In Muskoka, as with many other areas, striking a balance between economic development, daily living and the long-term sustainability of the environment continues to be an ongoing challenge. Protecting the essential components of nature such as wetlands, threatened species, water quality and the air we breathe is a vital goal for all.

One way of minimizing our impact on the environment is to adopt alternative methods of heating and powering our homes. Statistics Canada reported households consumed more than one-fifth (22 per cent) of Canada's total energy used in 2021 and were responsible for about 16 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Although the numbers are trending downwards, there is still more progress to be made.

Living a “greener” lifestyle is ultimately influenced by how our daily behaviours and choices effect our environmental footprint. There are many ways to attain this kind of lifestyle in addition to self-sufficiency. Some Muskoka residents have adopted alternative ways of living to help them achieve these goals.

Muskoka resident Rick Zytaruk, upon his retirement from IBM, started helping his daughter design environmentally friendly homes. Through the experience he discovered the need for creating passive homes that were properly built and could truly reduce their impact on the environment.

According to the Canada Green Building Council, the building sector is Canada’s third largest carbon emitter and how we select our building methods and materials can make a significant impact on long term sustainability. Consequently, in 2018 Rick decided to start a company that factored sustainability into construction. Located near Baysville, Tooketree Passive Homes employs 12 to 15 people and manufactures prefabricated homes using S.E.E.D. panels. These are prefabricated wall, floor and roof panels that are Sustainable, Ecological, Efficient and Durable. Using natural materials to build these panels can make a big difference on how a home performs environmentally over time, explains Zytaruk.

All materials leave a carbon footprint so choosing the right materials for construction is important. Cement, which requires massive amounts of energy to produce, and petroleum-based products and materials are poor choices according to Zytaruk. The use of natural materials such as cellulose, hemp and wood are used in the building panels to create a home with better air quality, lower energy costs and durability over time. These materials are also renewable.

A philosophy at Tooketree is “to produce passive houses that are super-efficient, super insulated and can be primarily heated by passive solar, and heat from people and appliances.” Over time, Zytaruk is hoping to see more of the building industry move towards environmentally friendly construction methods as people opt for the use of natural materials and alternate ways of building.

Fifteen years ago, when Bracebridge residents Scott Young and Martha Armstrong decided to build at their new location they elected to take an alternate approach to construction. They were ultimately hoping to create a “net zero home” which, according to the Canadian Builders Association, is defined as “a home that produces as much clean energy as it consumes.”

Choosing straw as an insulator and a modified beam construction method, which uses less wood, Young and Armstrong were able to build a highly energy efficient home with an insulating R-value of 60. Concrete used in construction was also combined with shredded hemp to make it lighter and reduce the amount of cement needed. Concrete in the floor in combination with thick walls increased the thermal mass of the building and has resulted in a steady heat distribution throughout the year. Fewer windows on the north side of the home and more windows on the south and west facing walls helps passive solar heating to occur and cellular blinds are used to keep the heat in at night.

With a wood stove as a heat source and back-up electric in-floor heating, the home is easy to heat and has a comfortable and consistent temperature. When initially deciding on energy sources for the home, Young and Armstrong weighed the cost of solar panels against readily available local hydro and opted for the latter.

“We decided to balance our ideals with what was practical at the time and local hydro gave us the best bang for our buck,” explains Young. “We love our location in Bracebridge and are happy that we chose to design our home like we did.”

Upon finding the ideal rural property in Muskoka, Jon Vollebekk and his wife Sara Kerrigan wanted to create a self-reliant lifestyle. They loved their location but getting hydro to the home would have been very expensive. As a result, they investigated how solar energy could be employed to support their energy needs.

“I had been inspired by stories from other people who had chosen an alternative lifestyle,” says Vollebekk, “and this encouraged me to see if Sara and I could make it work.” 

Kerrigan and Vollebekk consulted a company with expertise in solar energy that was able to walk them through the process of choosing the right system based on their budget and energy requirements. Using a special metre, they were able to catalogue the energy usage of the various appliances in their home to determine how much power would be needed. Solar panels based on these needs were set up along with a system to store the collected energy in a series of batteries. They also determined high energy appliances, like the stove, dryer and water heater, would be best powered by propane and a wood stove would be used to provide heat when required. In a climate like Muskoka’s, it is difficult to generate enough solar power in the winter so a propane generator is needed as backup.

Vollebekk estimates they require about 170 hours of propane generator use during winter months but otherwise the solar panels do a good job of meeting their daily energy needs. He also explains he and Kerrigan are tuned into the various energy requirements of the household appliances they use and can balance this use as needed when solar energy is not abundant.

In the planning stages, Kerrigan and Vollebekk also hired a consultant to help them create a passive home. A south facing location, triple glazed windows, an insulated concrete foundation and extra insulation in the roof and walls created a very energy efficient home. A tiny wood stove on the ground floor is all that is needed to give them plenty of heat on the coldest days.

Adding gardens with a solar-powered irrigation system, along with chickens for meat and eggs, has added to their independence as well. Kerrigan grew up on a farm and felt comfortable with the idea of growing food as part of their self-sufficiency.

“Although we have enjoyed our solar energy system, our lifestyle has not been without challenges along the way,” elaborates Vollebekk.

The batteries need regular maintenance and have to be replaced after 15 years. Sometimes there are repairs to the system as well and there are not a lot of companies around with the knowledge and parts to fix things when they go wrong. Hidden costs like higher insurance and mortgage rates are also factors to be aware of when trying to rely mostly on solar.

“Going off-the-grid does change your whole lifestyle but we have no regrets,” says Vollebekk.

Another Muskoka couple who have adopted an off-the-grid lifestyle are Sarah Piatkowski and Kevin Coughlin who built their new home two years ago near Spence Lake. They also wanted to be self-sufficient and opted for a passive home design combined with solar panels and a battery storage system. Using apps on their phone, they manage and balance their power needs based on what types of activities are going on in the home.

Similar to Vollebekk and Kerrigan, Coughlin and Piatkowski found it necessary to have high energy items such as the stove, dryer and water heater be powered by propane.

“Depending on just solar in Muskoka is difficult so other sources of energy like wood and propane are needed,” shares Coughlin. The couple further explained that going off-the-grid is not a money saving venture but they wouldn’t do things differently since they value their independence from the regular hydro grid.

“We know we’ll always have power when others depending on hydro are out,” says Coughlin.

Eventually Coughlin and Piatkowski plan to include gardens and a greenhouse on their property, in addition to their chickens. When designing their home Sarah and Kevin settled on a metal roof which is ideal for setting up a rain catchment system so collected water can be used for their gardens.

One of Coughlin’s regrets is the need to use batteries to store their energy from the solar panels. He acknowledges batteries have a large environmental footprint but it’s a balance between “green versus ungreen” in order to achieve an overall positive outcome. Nevertheless, Piatkowski and Coughlin are happy they chose their unique lifestyle and, with their young children, hope to continue improving on the way they live.

Whether you’re prepared to build passively or go off-the-grid or not, there are many ways to adopt a greener lifestyle in our homes. Even small changes in our households can make a difference over time. There are more and more resources becoming available to make self-sufficiency possible and solar technology and energy storage systems continue to improve. Despite the various challenges, a greener way of living supports the preservation of the natural integrity and beauty of the environment in places like Muskoka for future generations.