Following very big problems with companies, I had to stay in a caravan without electricity or heating (I am currently renting because it is impossible to live there for the winter).
I installed a solar panel there with two batteries which allowed me to live in real life with solar energy.
Conclusion: it is possible to live in complete energy self-sufficiency on the condition of solving the problem of domestic hot water in winter and cooking all year round.
I understand your problems and I pity you for having been forced to such an end !!
I hope you were able to win your lawsuit against these companies and their insurance behind, like me, for poor workmanship, poor surveillance by an architect, a renovation, for my retirement, but without finding myself homeless.
It is certain that we become much more suspicious, not to depend on others.
One solution is to have several sources of complementary energy, back-up, gas and even electricity in the event of a major health and mobility problem, given its ease of use and its low cost of equipment.
There are boilers with both pellets and wood logs, much more automatic than stoves.
The biggest in energy is heating, and thermal solar can be almost completely sufficient in a low consumption house.
An important point is the structure of your Canadian well, length, depth, volume of earth used thermally.
Otherwise, a lot of info with achievements on:
http://herve.silve.pagesperso-orange.fr/solaire.htm
http://www.apper-solaire.org/
The long discussions on econology and the links indicated:
https://www.econologie.com/forums/post193300.html#193300
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conduction_thermique
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusivit%C3%A9_thermique
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperatur ... %A4higkeit
with various links on variants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_thermal_storage
http://www.icax.co.uk/alternative_energy.html
http://www.icax.co.uk/articles.html