These homes generate power for the grid — and residents don't worry about blackouts

When there's a local power outage, it doesn't affect Rebecca Calder's house in Edmonton's new Blatchford neighbourhood.

The Wi-Fi network, the fridge and the heat pump that heats and cools the townhouse all keep humming along, thanks to a backup battery in her basement.

"It's great," she said — and not just for power outages.

The battery charges from solar panels on the roof of the three-bedroom home she shares with her husband, Daniel, and five-year-old daughter, Ida. That allows the family to use stored solar power to run the dishwasher and laundry, even after the sun goes down, and to earn a credit of up to $60 per month on their electricity bill in the summer.

The solar panels and battery provide benefits not just for the Calders but for the entire electrical grid. They're designed