This one-day interactive workshop provides a technical review of the LEED Canada for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system. Technologies and strategies that can assist in achieving credits are discussed, and participants are given the opportunity to consider the synergies between various…

The history of Insulating Concrete Forms or ICF for construction in North America from 1932 to 2023 is an interesting one. Often compared to building with Lego, Ecohome will soon be looking into at the future of ICFs for sustainable home construction. The Definitive History of ICFs - Contents What is the history of…

Can a house be too airtight? No it cannot. The difference between air barriers and vapour barriers is often confused. Also confused, is which one is more important. The difference between air barriers and vapor barriers The job of a vapor barrier is to prevent vapor diffusion, and the job of an air barrier is to…

This conference is organized to share and discuss recent developments in clean energy sector. Many exciting new process technologies have been in recent years developed in the filed of clean energy, and many have been adopted by the industry. ICCE 2012 will provide a forum for the exchange of latest technical…

Learn from one of Canada's most experienced 'edible forest gardeners'; plant propagator; & herbalist Richard Walker. Learn how to unlock the productive capacities of your property. Create edible perennial plant systems that work together like forests do. Move beyond theory to learn the hands-on tricks of the trade…

North American Solar Solutions - 3 day in depth solar thermal course, for distributors or individuals. Due to the increased request for in depth solar thermal training, regarding both distributor & individual participants . North American Solar Solutions has scheduled special dates this to try to accommodate all…

Learn how sustainable building practices are not only environmentally responsible, but financially viable as well. This one-day workshop is a detailed examination of how to build financially viable deep green buildings. It describes how to build a business case for building green as well as manage green building…

Electric resistance heating converts almost 100% of its energy into heat. Ultimately though, the true efficiency and environmental impact of heating with electricity is determined by the source of its production. Is electric heating eco-friendly? Determining whether or not electricity is an efficient and…

During the combustion process, natural gas is the most efficient and least harmful of fossil fuels. How affordable or ecologically responsible it will be in the future depends largely on supply, sourcing and the supply network. The cleaner burning process (than diesel fuel) and price has made heating and cooking…

A two-day study course for those seeking LEED Green Associate certification. This two-day Green Associate study course is an important element of an individual’s study plan. It provides opportunities to gain and test new knowledge through the use of lecture, small and large group activities, and practice test…

Dense hardwoods like maple, oak, birch and cherry are some of the better woods for heating & burn hottest. Different species of wood are available in different areas, so the best firewood will vary by location, see below. First rule for choosing the hottest firewood? Before we get into which wood is best for…

Improvements in stove technology have made wood and biomass fuel a more popular and efficient heat source. There has been an increase in the use of wood and other biomass fuel for heating homes across the colder parts of North America & Canada for the last decade . In Eastern Canada and the USA in particular this…

When refinishing a wood floor, sanding is one place where you can safely save some money by doing it yourself. Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure, and in the home renovation world, time equals money. Sanding and refinishing a hardwood floor, when is the best time to do it? It may…

Professional energy raters use HOT2000, an energy modeling program designed to determine the energy consumption of buildings. Mindscape Innovations is a sustainable design firm from Kitchener, Ontario that has developed a free online version for the rest. Energy modeling is a process for determining the approximate…

Designed to exceed LEED Platinum status, architects Perkins + Will are pursuing the Living Building Challenge with the The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre. The 19,000 square foot VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre creates a harmonious balance between architecture and landscape from a visual and…

Green home building certification programs & rating systems offer an independent third party appraisal of the health, durability and performance of homes and buildings. Why pay for a green home certification? As more people pursue high efficiency green home rating certifications, they become increasingly well known…

With free materials found on Craigslist, Joel Allen built his treehouse, The Hemloft, hidden in plain sight on Crown land. Now that he's shared it with the world, it's going to be hard for him to keep it to himself. Definitely one of the coolest pioneers of the Tiny House Movement in BC Canada, the Hemloft Treehouse…

Despite being portable, it's almost impossible to think of this traditional looking tiny house as an RV. What tiny home living is all about: Inspired by the Tiny House Movement, Chris and Malissa Tack designed a 140 Square foot home that sits on a 7’ x 20’ trailer bed. This traditional looking home with gable roof…

Felled trees in residential areas have most often been either burned as waste, or taken to landfills. With the help of portable mills and tree salvage companies, better use is being made of this valuable resource. Milling lumber from your own trees It's always a bit sad to watch an old and seemingly healthy tree…