• LNZ 2025 Winners

Taking Measured Steps to Reduce a Rural Mini Home’s Emissions

  • 3 min read
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Roger Williams, Quispamsis, New Brunswick (September Prize Winner: Our Homes)

At 80, Roger Williams is still improving his home. He describes himself as a low-income senior, living with his partner in a 1,000-square-foot mini home in Quispamsis, New Brunswick.

Over 15 years, he transformed a relatively leaky home into one that now produces more electricity annually than it uses. His approach was steady and disciplined. He began with measurement and air sealing, reduced demand, then reinvested savings into LED lighting, heat pumps, improved windows and solar panels, supported by a Greener Homes Grant and net metering.

Roger won the Prize-of-the-Month in the “Our Homes” category of the 2025 Live Net Zero Household Challenge because his story shows that living more sustainably is achievable through incremental upgrades and persistence. He continues refining his home, proving that steady progress can lead all the way to net zero.

Rather than waiting for perfect timing, Roger moved forward whenever savings, grants or practical opportunities aligned. Each upgrade built on the last.

For Roger, visibility matters. If others can see that a small, older home can reach net zero, they may believe it’s possible for their home as well. Roger emphasizes practicality and savings. He advises beginning with low-cost improvements such as air sealing and lighting, then using the financial savings to fund the next step.

Roger also approaches transportation realistically. He’s reluctant to upgrade his older car for environmental reasons – because it still works. Getting rid of it also means wasting the emissions it took to make the car. Although he would buy an electric vehicle if his car became unreliable. Instead of forcing change, Roger evaluates options carefully and acts when it makes environmental and financial sense.

Roger’s Entry

Our journey started, in 2009, with a blower door test on our 1000 sq ft mini home. It revealed 6.5 ACH50. We installed LED lights throughout the house. I was working, so my wife removed all of the trim, section by section, and foamed or caulked every crack she could find.

In 2011 we installed an air to air heat pump that would operate down to -25C and an HRV. A blower door test revealed the ACH50 was down to 4. The savings were banked until January of 2022, when we had all of our windows replaced with triple glazed, low E glass. The comfort level of the home was vastly improved.

The Greener homes Grant started later that year and we took the largest plunge. We had a solar evaluation done that called for 14 panels, installed on our Southwest facing roof. Since our mini home roof is 68 feet long, I decided we would go with 19 panels with Micro-inverters. The panels were installed in October of 2022. We kept our old car and used those savings to pay for the panels. We also had ten trees removed to get the full benefit of the solar system, so we sent money to Tree Canada to replace the trees.

In New Brunswick, we are on Net Metering that is balanced on March 31st. On March 31st of 2025 they cleared our over production of 1035 Kwh. So we are producing more than we use. Although we are considered “Low income Seniors” we feel we are doing our bit.

Reflections from Roger

Below, Roger shares why he entered, what motivated his decision and how sustainable living shows up in his daily life.

Why did you enter the Live Net Zero Household Challenge?

I like to share what we have accomplished. We took a relatively leaky mini home and took it to net zero on an annual basis. Several people I know have been inspired to start the process. 

What motivated you to take these actions?

Doing what we can. I finally got solar at 77 years old.

What other sustainable actions are part of your life?

I am now 80 years old and my ICE [internal combustion engine] car is 13 years old. It is not environmentally sensible to replace. We would buy an electric car if our ICE car became unreliable. I have installed a 14 50R outlet by my driveway, so my children can charge their plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when they visit.

What would you say to others thinking about starting?

Most people I have talked to are motivated by the savings. Emphasize the path to the savings with the minimum investment.

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