Mechanical systems

Renewable energy

Tidal generators offer a predictable supply of renewable energy

Renewable power sources such as sun and wind present challenges for grid operators in being able to consistently meet demand. Tidal and river generators remove that unknown, and Cornwall, Ontario will soon benefit from a river turbine pilot project. A project started in 2002 by Verdant Power Inc. saw tidal turbines…

Ventilation

Ventilation & air exchangers

Are houses too airtight? No they aren't! Fresh air circulation is essential to prevent mold & mildew in today's modern energy-efficient homes so Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) is fitted. Homes built in the last 40 years in Canada are relatively airtight . Before that we…

Lighting

Home lighting design

Home lighting impacts safety, function, energy consumption and quality of life. Different lights offer not only different levels of efficiency, but a variety of colours as well, and can help with Seasonal Affective Disorder(S.A.D.). The first thought of home lighting design should be the orientation of windows for…

Plumbing and water heaters

Plumbing & water

Water efficient toilets, compact plumbing design, low-flow fixtures, grey water recovery and rainwater harvesting. There are lots of ways to save water in a home. Home water consumption in Canada: On average, Canadians use over 300 litres of water per person, per day. Compare this to consumption in the UK of 200…

Renewable energy

Solar heating and energy generation

It has been estimated that the sun provides as much energy in 15 minutes as humans use in a year. By taking advantage of that with heating and electrical generation, we can work to end our dependence on fossil fuels. How to set up a home solar energy system Our future truly depends on us continuing to develop and…

Plumbing and water heaters

How to save money on your hot water bills

Heating water accounts for one fifth of our energy consumption and there’s a lot we can do to improve that. How to save money on hot water: We will discuss a number of ways to conserve water, particularly hot water, but all of that starts with using less in the first place! Choosing low flow fixtures and toilets…