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"Energy efficiency"

Energy efficiency / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

  • 12 - 21 of 21 Guides
Wildfire Smoke & How to Keep it Outside Homes
Healthy indoor air quality

How to keep wildfire smoke out of homes with mechanical ventilation systems?

...energy efficiency; indoor air leaks waste cooling power during summer and heating power during winter - which is why using HRV and ERV systems is recommended to reduce energy loss whilst ventilating homes. When there are wildfires in the area though causing a smoky atmosphere, an airtight envelope also helps prevent th...

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Manual powered foot pedal washing machine for doing laundry off-grid
Appliances

Off grid foot pedalled washing machines doesn't need electricity and uses very little water.

...Energy Star washing machine can cut water usage to about 49 litres per load and significantly cut energy usage, but this, the Drumi, will not only wash your clothes without using electricty, it also uses as little as 10 litres of water per load. Think about the implications of that for a minute in a world facing catast...

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Reducing the need for air conditioning and staying cool
Heating and cooling

How to keep homes cool without air conditioning

...energy and save money on the pages below and in the Ecohome Green Building Guide pages. See LEED and Passive House ready prefab homes for Canada and the US  How to design a home for thermal comfort and energy efficiency Zero carbon homes - the Ecohome S1600 prefab comes close! Heat pumps are for heating AND coo...

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LED filament bulbs
Lighting

All about LED filament bulbs

...energy efficiency in the following pages and in the Ecohome Green Building Guide. All about home lighting design Different electric home heating types - which are best? Best energy saving tips for green homes - 10 tips Renewable energy - what are the best ways to generate power at home? Future-proof building ...

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Balanced insulation levels in a green home
Efficient home design

Insulation in green home building, a balanced approach to putting it where it does the most good

...Energy modeling can help determine how much heat would be lost from each surface of a home; armed with that knowledge you can apply your insulation dollars in a way that they give you the most comfort and the best return on investment. If you're building new and have enlisted the help of a designer or architect, ask ho...

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Aeratron AE2 ceiling fan
Ventilation

Ceiling fans and air circulation- video

...efficiency, and the ceiling fan is a big part of making that happen. This video explains the relationship between those systems. Thanks to our sponsor Aeratron for providing super efficient and quiet ceiling fans that fit in nicely with the look of this LEED v4 Platinum certified house.  Video from the Ecohome Youtube ...

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Why build LEED?
LEED Homes

Why build LEED?

Are there LEED Certified builders? There are no LEED certified builders, only LEED certified buildings. To build a home to LEED certification is something that is accessible to anyone, no accreditation is required to undertake the process. It is simply a matter of registering your project and successfully completing th...

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Mixed interior room lighting
Lighting

Home lighting design

...energy consumption make it a worthwhile investment. On the negative side, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury vapour, and are actually considered hazardous waste when disposed of. While the energy efficiency compared to incandescent bulbs is substantial, it’s hard to ignore the health risks. If you are using them, try to...

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Water efficiency
Plumbing and water heaters

How to save money on your hot water bills

...energy efficiency with a tankless delivery system are somewhat exaggerated. In reasonably-sized homes without extremely long hot water feeds, the savings are negligible. And at two or even three times the price of a conventional water heater, your return on investment will be an awfully long way off, and your money is ...

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Roxul mineral wool batt insulation in LEED Homes
Insulation and soundproofing

Choosing the right insulation: the pros, cons and applications for walls, slabs and basements

...Energy-efficient stone wall insulation can drastically reduce energy bills and provide a more sustainable living space without compromising on comfort. Find out how to make your home energy-efficient by insulating stone walls. Read more about modern SIPS construction using straw as insulation here Foam boards: expanded...

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