Thermal bridges in walls can reduce the overall performance of a home. Thermal breaks are the answer to this problem. Thermal bridges cause heat loss, thermal breaks stop heat loss It is easy to look at the R value rating of a material and assume that our entire wall assembly matches it uniformly. But when you…

The quality of windows you install will have a big impact on both your comfort and your heating bill. Here is a guide to help you choose the best windows for your high performance home. Which windows are best? Windows are essential to our homes, so getting the choice of window right is important . They give us…

How to build a slab-on-grade with a thickened edge on standard soil. There are many ways to build a slab-on-grade (or frost-protected shallow foundation), the following is a step-by-step walk though of a thickened-edge slab floor we built. XPS or EPS rigid foam is typically used under concrete slab floors, in this…

Ecohome's Edelweiss House shows that with thoughtful design, high performance home construction is attainable and affordable, without great sacrifices in space or quality of life. The guiding principles during the design of Ecohome’s Edelweiss House demonstration home - passive heating and cooling, healthy living…

When you're a long way from the amenities of civilization in an off-grid home, employing both active & passive solar strategies can provide security, independence & just good living in general. With their house about three kilometers from the nearest paved road and hydro pole, so truly off-grid, Craig Anderson and …

Soon to be riding along with the Natural Resources Canada R-2000 program will be a new pilot project that will recognize builders who achieve net zero energy performance in homes. From the Natural Resources Canada website: Overview: The R-2000 Net Zero Energy pilot aims to recognize the builders and homes reaching…

What is a heat pump? An energy efficient home heating system that can save money and reduce fossil fuel use. Read on to find out how heat pumps work and if they make sense for in your home. Are heat pumps really more efficient? When it comes to residential heating and cooling systems, few types of heating systems…

The report, titled Canada Green Building Trends: benefits driving the new and retrofit market, is the first of its kind in Canada. OTTAWA, June 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian green building market is poised to see strong growth over the next three years, with surveyed Canadian firms expecting to grow their green…

Adobe ovens make incomparable food! Easy to build from natural and local materials, these ovens are a great addition to any back yard, campground or park… anywhere that people gather to share food and company. Instructor: Ashley Lubyk of Dirt Craft Natural Building Adobe ovens make incomparable food! Easy to build…

Dense-packed cellulose insulation in double stud walls offers high performance while maintaining a low carbon footprint. Here we bust some of the unfortunate myths and misunderstandings surrounding this type of wall construction. Dense-packed cellulose insulation - the history In 2005, Metric Homes of Carp, Ontario…

This conference will help to accelerate waste solutions in Ontario by promoting successful waste reduction and diversion strategies. The 1st Zero Waste Conference will be held in the Sunshine City on August 10 and 11, 2014. This one-day forum and evening gala at Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario is being…

Hands on comprehensive two week workshop. This two week course with 3 seasoned instructors is one of the most comprehensive workshops available! Hands-on training includes stone foundations, round pole framing, cob and straw bale wall systems, windows and doors, earthen plasters, earthen floors, living…

If you think a rainwater catchment system might be what you're looking for, whether to maintain independance or to further water conservation, read on. Setting up a rainwater catchment system If it is not for financial reasons, why are you installing a water tank? Here are some reasons: To do your part for water…

Whether it’s a small pizza oven in the backyard or an entire home, natural building techniques are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as they prove to be durable, low-cost, low-impact, and toxin-free. Guest experts describe and facilitate the unique properties of earthship building, which makes use of recycled…

Whether it’s a small pizza oven in the backyard or an entire home, natural building techniques are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as they prove to be durable, low-cost, low-impact, and toxin-free. Get stuck in—literally—as you use your feet to mix cob from water, sand, and clay, make and use earth plaster, and…

Basements in Canada & USA face serious challenges: fluctuating water tables, surface floods, thermal shock, radon gas infiltration, condensation, mold, mildew, rotting walls and heat loss. Better basements manage these issues. The most common practices currently employed for finishing basement interiors as living…

Whether you plan to use rainwater for toilets, showers or properly filtered for drinking, harvesting rainwater can be an excellent part of a home water efficiency strategy. Rainwater harvesting is a great strategy for reducing domestic water use and protecting our homes and the land surrounding it. Harvesting…

This course is based on the LEED for Homes rating system, but is applicable to those seeking any LEED specialty accreditation. Participants will gain an understanding of the purpose of LEED and the philosophies behind it, and how various rating systems function. This is intended as an overview only of rating systems…

Why are basements moldy? Because we build walls so they can't dry. Simple changes in wall design will result in mould-free durable basements. Basements don't have to be moldy, that is the first thing to realize. It's easy to build a basement better, or to finish an existing basement correctly , we just need to…