Lifestyle, location and commuting

Commuting

Charging EVs without a private parking space or on the move - the best options

Many of us live in cities where homes like apartments built from subdivided older houses don't have a private parking spaces - as EVs become the preferred option for commuters, what are the solutions for charging an EV in public places or on the move. Any of us who've owned gas powered vehicles over the years know…

Lifestyle, location and commuting

Moving to the countryside? Here's how that can work...

The impact of 2020 and working from home has a lot of people considering moving away from urban centers to the countryside. How do we stave off an environmental disaster of losing greenspace to housing. With so many of us being forced to work from home, this has brought many changes to our economy, our priorities…

Lifestyle and environment

Save the whale's (poop) - Save the planet !! (And $2m per whale)

Carbon sequestration, carbon reduction & carbon offset are hot topics in the global fight against climate change & while saving rain forests & planting trees is popular, the IMF say saving the Whales may be the best plan yet. What do whales listen to? 'Pod' casts... Talking of which, I listened to a fascinating…

Choosing where to live

Urban living

A green home doesn’t always cost more to build, but always costs less to operate. A healthy efficient home saves money, reduces your carbon footprint and improves your quality of life. Housing is an enormous source of carbon emissions, so it is also a place where we have tremendous room for improvement. This…

Lifestyle, location and commuting

A sustainable executive home near Toronto GTA built for comfort, efficiency, and future resilience

Passive heating and off-grid ready construction can offer a feeling of security in a future of uncertain climate-related weather challenges. When the current owners of this rural property in Erin, Ontario began looking for an executive-style home within reach of the Greater Toronto Area, they quickly realized there…

Lifestyle and environment

Simple and affordable ways to live more sustainably every day

Firmly convinced that we can make better choices every day (and that this would actually make a difference), here's an Ecohome checklist of easy ways to learn sustainable habits at home. Let's be inspired, every day According to a recent survey sponsored by Google of more than 3,000 Americans by using a type of AI…

Lifestyle and environment

How to handle a power outage in cold weather

As North America accelerates the electrification of homes and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels like oil and gas for heating and cooking, this also increases the potential for power outages in cold weather to disrupt our daily lives. Why be prepared for power outages in cold weather? From celebrating holidays to…

Lifestyle and environment

Save money by washing clothes in cold water - especially as it can wash better!

It's tempting to run your washing machine on cold water to save some dollars, but many people will tell you that it's not effective for washing clothes properly or for removing stubborn stains - and that's not quite true. So, a little background story, I always called my mom "Laurence, the guardian angel of…

Lifestyle and environment

How to reduce energy bills this winter to help reduce the cost of living...

Faced with the rise in the cost of living that is hitting Canada and North America, reducing energy use and bills has become a necessity. To stay positive, the Ecohome team explores ways to save money while living better and greener. The current economic situation is pushing many Canadians and North Americans to…

Lifestyle and environment

COP26 and world carbon emissions by country per capita - which countries top the charts?

It's a common misconception that Canada & the US are doing ok 'ish' on carbon emissions - as looked at in terms of absolute emissions the usual suspects are there on top. However, looking at per capita CO2 emissions reveals a different story. With the recent COP26 Global Climate Change Conference in Glasgow…

Lifestyle and environment

Fridge organization - how to optimize fridges to reduce food waste (and why it matters)

The amount of food wasted in North America is huge - but beyond the implications of reducing our grocery bills, unnecessary food waste is having a significant impact on climate change. Here's a comprehensive guide to organizing fridges at home. Preventing food waste - optimal fridge organization Did you know that…