Mechanical systems

Solar photovoltaic

Tesla solar roof gains ground with target of 1000 solar roofs / week

Finding a long-term roofing solution hasn't been the norm in the US & Canada, but the times they are a changing. Sustainable homes are gaining in popularity and the Tesla solar roof tiles are starting to make sense. The Telsa solar roof tiles are in the news again. They now have solar panel shingle installations…

Greywater Recycling

At last, a compact & easy to maintain solution for gray water recycling & treatment - the Hydraloop

Treating and recovering gray water in the home has always been a bit of a hit and miss affair, with DIY solutions often the only option - until now. At last, a packaged solution for gray water treatment & recycling - the Hydraloop Reducing home water consumption is an increasingly important issue, as the world is…

Wood stove and biomass heat

Wood combustion – How firewood burns & how to get the best heat while being eco-friendly

Wood Combustion – how firewood burns, the stages and processes, & how to get the best heat for your $ while being eco-friendly. Understanding how firewood burns, the technical details Stage 1: The evaporation of moisture – otherwise known as “getting the d@mn thing going” If you’ve ever tried to burn wet or…

Renewable energy

Can you really power your home with a bicycle generator?

Would you exercise for an hour every day if the workout powered your home for twenty-four hours? EcoHome investigates if Bike Generators cut the mustard. Mitigating climate change at home, get on your bike! As we look for ways to mitigate climate change , improving home energy efficiency and decentralising power…

Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized

Design and construction of frost-protected shallow foundations with radiant heat

Building our Frost Protected Shallow Foundation slab on grade with Solar radiant floor heating powered by air tubes heated with air solar panels for our demo house - Ingenious! Ideal for boosting Passive House heating in cold climate zones. Why build a frost protected shallow foundation using prefabricated foam…

Solar thermal collectors

Product of the month: Solar water heater with overheating protection

The flat plate solar thermal collector from Viessmann has a modulating collector to prevent overheating. Solar thermal panels in cold climates are at risk of freezing in winter, so in the North, we use a glycol mix as a heat transfer fluid. This prevents panels from freezing but introduces new problems in the summer…

Solar thermal collectors

All about solar thermal collectors

Choosing the right solar thermal water heater system. What is a solar thermal collector? A photovoltaic (PV) solar collector converts solar radiation into electricity , but a solar thermal collector is much simpler than that. It refers to a device that collects heat directly from solar radiation. That can be as…

Solar photovoltaic

Using reflectors to increase the yield of solar panels

A study showed that reflectors on solar panels can increase their performance by up to 30%. The continuing drop in cost for home solar power generation has led to a dramatic increase in the rate of installations, for both residential and commercial use. Increasing the yield through reflection could make that an even…

Solar photovoltaic

Lithium-ion solar home batteries

How to choose and properly size a solar home battery system. Home battery systems have recently improved in two substantial ways, and the first big improvement is in the batteries themselves. Lithium-ion batteries on the market today are much more robust and functional than the lead-acid batteries we have relied on…

Solar photovoltaic

Choosing between solar trackers and fixed solar panels mounts

What to consider when choosing between a fixed-angle solar mount or one that tracks the sun all day. What to consider before buying a home solar power system Update your appliances and get your demand down as low as possible. Convert any appliances that you are intending to convert (such as installing heat pumps to…

HRV and ERV

How to keep your HRV clean and operating efficiently

Cleaning your heat recovery ventilation HRV unit will extend the lifespan and keep it running efficiently. Why cleaning HRV units is so important When any machine has its normal operation hampered, it will reduce its efficiency and ability to function properly. Many of us are probably guilty of forgetting about…