Water, wind or sun? Before you build, learn the lay of your land and choose the energy source that works best for you.

When energy consultant Elizabeth White moved to Quebec from England, she was struck by an intensely different climate. “Coming from England, I was blown away by the extreme climate here, and so I became interested in home design for climate,” says White, who studied architecture and designed her own energy-efficient house.

Years later, she’s working as an energy consultant, advising home and cottage owners how to best use the geographic terrain of their houses when planning construction — especially if renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or micro-hydro will be implemented. She tells owners to look at the specific features of a piece of property. Does a site have good access to direct sunlight, especially on the south side? Is there consistent wind? Are there any seasonal or year-round creeks nearby?

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