Eco-friendly experience brings $50,000 to Airdrie family

After eight months of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting sustainable living practices, an Airdrie family has won $50,000.

Samantha and Kevin Shannon said: “We are very proud, we did not expect this.”

The Shannon family took part in Live Net Zero, competing against several Canadian families.

“We're very impressed with what eight families have done across the country, and we're proud that our home is being used as an example by the building services industry of how all Canadians can reduce carbon emissions in their homes,” he said. The Shannon Family.

Samantha and Kevin made several major changes to their home during the competition, including installing a geothermal heating system, solar panels on the roof, and replacing the garage/workshop's natural gas furnace with a heat pump.

“(It's) a lot of hard work and you don't get to see it when all the work is done,” Samantha said.

“It's not like we've renovated and we don't have a shiny new kitchen to show off, it's all under our feet or on the walls and the back of our roof.”

The Shannon family also adjusted their lifestyle, working remotely whenever possible, using an e-bike and trailer to run errands and transport their three children.

“The trip itself was incredibly rewarding, sharing our story with other Canadians and the other teams in the challenge,” said Kevin, who added that after eight months, they've noticed a reduction in their energy bills.

The couple hopes to inspire other middle-class families to improve energy efficiency by offering advice on phased projects and expert advice.

“Their incredible efforts demonstrate the profound impact individual actions can have on our collective journey toward a greener, more sustainable future,” said Aran O'Carroll, Canadian Geographic's national director of government relations and environmental protection.

Kevin and Samantha plan to use some of the gift money to buy an energy efficient door.