Smart door locks offer convenience & security, especially when teamed with an optional camera & smart doorbell with siren. Like screening calls on your mobile, unwanted visitors can be filtered out - or open the door remotely. What is a smart lock for a home? Smart door locks are deadbolt front door locks that can…

Which type of insulation is best for reducing emissions and safely mitigating climate change? There may be a case to be made for EPS rigid insulation. Are foam insulation panels a green choice? The short story is, maybe. And the long story is, well.... When we launched Ecohome about a decade ago, our mission was to…

Zero-carbon housing & zero-energy housing are terms used interchangeably to define single family dwellings with a very high energy efficiency rating - but the overall calculation includes many other factors & should insist on good internal air quality. The low carbon footprint of the S1600 kit house The…

Houston, Texas to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2025 as part climate change mitigation strategy to become carbon neutral by 2050. City of Houston to be powered with 100% renewable energy In April, 2020, The City of Houston announced a renewed deal with NRG Energy as the City’s retail electric provider, with…

A new type of two layered paint in a range of colors has been developed by researchers at Columbia University in New York that can save energy & reduce cooling bills. Sounding too good to be true, we took a closer look. Reflective paint keeps buildings cool & lowers AC bills Studies show that a…

Architect-designed modern & minimalist homes always attract attention - especially ones that are super efficient, stunningly beautiful and that ooze quality - But Le Refuge is all that and more - It's Affordable too. The tiny house movement is on the far end of the scale of a very encouraging and growing trend…

Growing food at home, even in an apartment, is easy for both adults & kids ; here is a beginner’s guide to growing tasty greens & vegetable sprouts indoors - just add some window space and let the harvest begin. A certain level of independence and a real sense of satisfaction can be gained from the growing hobby of…

Smart homes can help reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses by reducing the number of surfaces we touch in our homes, and for most things we do touch we can zap those with UV light and sanitize without chemicals. Coronavirus or COVID-19 is changing how we live, obliging us to practice social distancing and…

E bike and electric scooters are two low-carbon & independent ways to commute to work, as is walking - it all depends on local legislation, weather conditions and the distance to commute as to the best option. All nations want and need to get back to work, and soon , but there's going to have to be a lot of…

Ordinance approval will permit movable tiny homes as habitable accessory dwelling units (ADU) & changes the laws for tiny houses on wheels in California. Tiny house living is a growing trend across the US and Canada , but the question ‘are tiny homes green?’ has always been a hard one to answer since most cities…

Our houses aren't generally where most of us spend most time, but for the next few weeks at least we're mostly #stayathome - Ecohome helps houses become better Homes, at a safe distance. During these challenging times, The Ecohome Network is continuing to bring people together virtually, helping people turn houses…

Natural building materials such as hemp flooring or HempWood contribute to healthy indoor air quality; they can also act as carbon storage & preserve natural resources & forests traditionally used for wood flooring products. Natural building products such as hemp flooring are gaining in popularity for those who want…

Basements flood, full stop. As a hole in the ground similar to a swimming pool, once all is done to stop water getting in, we then need to remove any water with a sump pump, a sump pump battery backup & maybe a sump pump alarm to stop basements flooding. Spring flooding of basements is very common and most times can…

We explore the oft-touted notion that air-purifying house plants remove toxins & improve air in homes. As much as we like a little interior greenery, we're forced to conclude it's a whole pile of compost in the making. Do house plants clean indoor air? The idea that house plants filter and clean indoor air is at…

We heard about an awesome way to find essentials online that are in stock & at regular pricing which, for as long as we're on 'social distancing' lock downs or quarantine, is music to our ears! Here we share what we found. Finding essentials while at home with the kids - ordering online What a year this week has…

Finding the right high-efficiency home air filter for furnaces & ventilation systems is essential for keeping indoor air clean, healthy & protecting us from allergens, animal dander, pollen, mold spores & maybe worse. What are home air filters used for? Air filters on air handling units such as furnaces, HRV, and…

The Swedish company Azelio has an innovative solution for generating carbon neutral electricity with storage that doesn't need batteries. New technology combines solar power generation & battery free power storage The forever-changing landscape of the green home building industry sees ideas come and go, and on…

The IEA warns that Covid-19 may cause a slowdown in the world’s progress to clean energy & while the coronavirus may prompt a drop in global carbon emissions this year, long-term climate action will suffer too in it's wake. "The economic impact of coronavirus must not derail the switch to sustainable energy" In a…

Carbon sequestration, carbon reduction & carbon offset are hot topics in the global fight against climate change & while saving rain forests & planting trees is popular, the IMF say saving the Whales may be the best plan yet. What do whales listen to?  'Pod' casts... Talking of which, I listened to a fascinating…