The prize, which includes a $1,000 bursary from the Agence de l'efficacité énergétique, was presented to Mr. Biaou at the Énergia awards gala on November 10. Mr. Biaou's contest entry was his Master's thesis project on zero net energy homes.

Zero net energy homes (ZNEH) are energy-efficient dwellings that are connected to the local electric power grid, but produce energy using renewable sources--in this case, photovoltaic panels. When a ZNEH produces a surplus of electrical energy, the unused portion is distributed to the power grid, and during periods when its autonomous system cannot fill all of the home's energy needs, it draws from the grid. Annually, a ZNEH produces at least as much energy as it consumes. If the power company purchases the electricity generated by the house at the same rate at which it bills the client, the net yearly electricity bill for that home is zero.

The goal of Mr. Biaou's project was to simulate a ZNEH and demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a net yearly energy balance of zero using commercially available equipment. The project's originality resides in the coupling of the photovoltaic (solar) array to a geothermal heat exchanger for heating and hot water needs. With this configuration, annual power consumption was 87 kWh/m2, while the Canadian average is 256 kWh/m2. The power company is required to supply only 9,000 kWh or so of electricity annually (which, in addition, will be returned in the form of energy produced by the house) compared with around 24,000 kWh for a conventional home. As well, peak power demand in winter drops from 9.8 kW to 3.9 kW.

"This type of project has quite a lot of potential in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable development," Mr. Biaou notes. "Unfortunately, the main barrier to widespread implementation of ZNEHs is still the very high cost of photovoltaic panels. But I remain fairly optimistic, because although Canada is only just starting to explore ZNEHs, their development is being encouraged in countries like Japan, Germany and the U.S. Over the medium to long term, the market should grow, bringing the cost of equipment down."

Mr. Biaou's project was conducted under the direction of Professor Michel Bernier.