"Solar"

Solar / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Efficient home design

Phase change building materials - natural heat storage in buildings

This article was inspired by a podcast I heard at Positive Energy, where I have yet to hear a podcast that I didn't want to listen to a second time, so check them out if you're like me and you think listening to building science makes mundane tasks like folding laundry a joy. This particular episode was about phase ...

Renewable energy

Which is the best type of home energy generation for green homes?

...solar panel than someone in Ontario for example. All this is to illustrate that there is not one right answer to the question of 'to be or not to be' someone with photovoltaic solar panels, your own wind turbine, solar heated floors, bike generator, or even a water-wheel! Solar heating - passive and active energy Passi...

Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized

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

...solar-heated air into the thermal battery which is the concrete slab floor. Building a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) with Passive Solar air-heated radiant floor slab © Ecohome Solar air heating panels are a growing trend in green building online, with one notable shortfall – the heat that is generated i...

Tiny house

Off-grid tiny house in the heart of the Sierras.

...solar air heater Find more about green home construction and reap the benefits of a free Ecohome Network Membership here. Image via Going Off Grid Image via Going Off Grid via Flow.com In case you're wondering, Basich does have a second home - on wheels. © Mike Bas...

Renewable energy

Transparent solar panels

...solar power generation. Find more info pages about solar PV & sustainable building in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages here: Build your own solar air heater - see our DIY guide All about solar panels - the different options & how they work Ten questions to ask a solar panel contractor So...

Off-grid and Net-Zero Housing

Off grid living blog, part 2: passively heated, this house in Quebec aims for LEED certification

...solar home side elevation © Craig Anderson Passive solar design interior for this off-grid home © Craig Anderson Exterior porch design © Craig Anderson Simple but effective low energy kitchen design © Craig Anderson Now you know more about solar PV and home battery power stora...

Wind power

The Trinity portable wind turbine will charge your gadgets on the go.

We've seen portable charging devices for personal gadgets, we've seen vertical axis wind turbines and now we have seen a marriage of the two. That's right, appropriate technology enthusiasts, there is a portable wind turbine on the horizon and it's perfect for charging your electronic gizmos. Skajaquoda is a research ...

Passive solar home design

Ecohome Kenogami House wins Home of the Year Award

...Solar Index program (PSI) of energy modelling designs from the benchmark of complete passive solar heating, this is not a rigid target. Depending on climate and other considerations (such as with the Kenogami House), achieving zero heat demand is not always the best use of resources. Regardless of your building envelop...

Slab on Grade

Slab-on-grade technical guide

...Solar Homes & LEED certified homes. Slab on Grade Foundation © Yanni Milon for Ecohome Sacrifices, challenges and solutions: In order to be able to make an informed decision about this type of foundation, there are several precautionary steps that must be taken and challenges to be addressed. Your state ...

PSI

Case Study: Kenogami House, Saguenay, Quebec

...solar heat gain. Exterior durability measures include a metal roof and fascia, electrically controlled exterior shutters, stone and red spruce siding. Heat recovered ventilation is provided by a Zhender air exchanger rated at 93% efficiency and along with interior appliances is powered by a 5.4 watt photovoltaic solar ...

Passive solar home design

The principal designer of the house that inspired the global Passivhaus movement reflects on the project that started it all.

...solar energy". The solar people on the committee then designed a solar furnace consisting of about 17.9 m2 or 193 sq. ft. of vacuum tube solar collectors and a 12,700 litre or 3,355 US gallon storage tank insulated to about R100, with appropriate pumps and heat exchangers to supply heat to the house and provide domesti...