Short of a wood stove, pretty much all heating systems require power to operate. So in the event of an apocalypse (zombie, climate, asteroid, etc) these two pellet stoves can keep you warm when the power goes out. These wood pellet stoves need no electricity Burning wood to heat a home does not make you an…

Despite the good intentions, Earthships in cold climates can't work because they contradict the laws of physics. I'm not the Mike Reynolds who invented the Earthship, I'm the Mike Reynolds who thinks Earthships in Canada and other cold climates are a bad idea. A coincidence of names; just putting that out there so…

With a little creativity & ingenuity small spaces can be maximized for a greater food harvest from your garden & look great doing so. Many of us look forward to the unmistakable taste of fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruit , especially those that come from our own soil. For those of you who would like to grow…

To ensure comfort and get the highest efficiency from the systems in the Edelweiss House air must circulate. In order to ensure comfort and get the most from the various systems of our house air needs to move around. Our air source heat pump and our heat pump water heater work together in boosting the efficiency…

Heat pump water heaters can help cut your hot water energy consumption by close to one third, particularly when partnered with an air source heat pump. Heat pump electric hot water heaters, good or bad idea? Water heaters are generally the biggest energy drain in a home after heating . so Air-to-water heat pump…

Heat pumps can heat a house three times more efficiently than other heating types. When paired with a heat pump water heater this greatly reduces the cost of heating and domestic hot water. How well does a mini split heat pump work in a LEED or Passive House certified home? Really well as it happens, see a great…

Whether or not you're interested in edible landscape design, permascaping, or creating a food forest, this list of cold tolerant edible perennials is a great place to start. When beginning to think about permanent edible landscape design and forest gardening, taking in the general concepts of Permaculture can help…

Radon gas in homes is a growing health concern. Adding a passive radon stack is always a good idea to prepare a home for better indoor air quality. Radon gas builds up in homes and has serious health effects . Reducing radon gas in homes is cheap and easy with a slab floor barrier with proper sealing at junctions…

LED light bulbs now come dimmable and with warm colours. Check out our video on choosing bulbs and DIY installation tips. How to choose the best LED bulbs and DIY lighting fixture installation tips. LED bulbs are here to stay, it's time to make the leap. The colours are warmer now, the bulbs are dimable and the…

Drywall may all look the same sitting in stacks in the store but they are very different in performance, strength and ecological impact. How to choose eco-friendly drywall: There is a lot more to choosing drywall than one might think, and as it finds its way into pretty much every building made, a lot of resources…

Say goodbye to chlorine and hello to beauty, by using plants for filtration and oxygenation of natural swimming pools. Natural swimming pools - what are the origins? Natural pools were inspired by the beauty and joy of swimming in mountain lakes , a team of Austrian researchers are credited with launching a movement…

A living green roof can last far longer than many other roofing systems when installed properly. DIY green roof installation The following DIY green roof video shows the steps needed to ensure your green roof will not leak. Watch more Green Building Guide videos from Ecohome on YouTube here The most common building…

Badly needed infrastructure for charging electric vehicles coming from the provinces, along with financial incentives for purchase. There is no question that the best way to lower emissions as we scurry about a city is to travel by foot, bike or public transportation, yet it’s unlikely we will see the end of the…

The three considerations of a toilet are water efficiency, performance and aesthetics. Toilets usually account for about a third of the indoor water use in a home , so toilets that carry the EPA WaterSense® label are a great place to start looking . Then comes the choice of either single flush or dual flush- it's a…

Radiant heated floors add comfort to a home and can help you heat more efficiently. How to lay your won hydronic under floor heating tubes There is some debate in performance building circles, particularly in the Passive House community as to whether or not you can add enough insulation below a concrete floor to…

Comparing the performance of air source heat pumps and ground source geothermal heat pumps using the example of the Living City Campus Archetype Sustainable House to discover which is the best option. Air source heat pumps, and are ground source heat pumps "geothermal?" Let's clear up some confusion on terminology…

Tadelakt is an inherently waterproof natural plaster method that originates in Morocco. Workshop Description Tadelakt is a natural plaster method that originates in Morocco and is the only type of natural plaster that is inherently waterproof, making it ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, showers, tubs and sinks. It is a…

Learn which seeds to start indoors, how many to plant, when, and how to care for them. There are few things more staisfying than growing your own food and with rising food prices a home garden is also a great way to save money on groceries! At the completion of this workshop you will leave with your own seedling…

Learn which seeds to start indoors, how many to plant, when, and how to care for them. There are few things more satisfying than growing your own food, and with rising food prices a home garden is also a great way to save money on groceries! At the completion of this workshop you will leave with your own seedling…