Policy and Regulations

UK government unveils planning and infrastructure bill to fast-track development and boost economic growth

New legislation aims to cut red tape, accelerate housing projects, and enhance sustainable infrastructure across the UK. The UK Government has introduced the much-anticipated Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a groundbreaking legislative initiative designed to transform the country’s planning system. Announced by…

Canada’s housing plan - a step toward a smart, sustainable future

Canada's housing crisis and the path forward: how the Carney Liberal Government's push for affordable prefab homes could solve the shortage amidst construction challenges and rising tariffs. Canada has long struggled with a severe housing shortage, and the government has announced plans to address it with a major…

Policy and Regulations

State of New Jersey passes tax credits bill for lower carbon concrete

Bill S287 was signed on Jan 30th and signals State sanctioned incentives for the decarbonization of the concrete industry - including the supply, delivery and use of lower carbon concrete. In a breakthrough for reducing the carbon footprint of North American construction, Bill S287 was signed on the 30th of January…

Policy and Regulations

California bans natural gas heating in homes

We previously reported that the UK and Europe was phasing out the use of 'natural' fossil gas in homes, and that Canada is also dropping hints about banning gas. Now California has decided to go ahead and ban gas furnaces, and gas water heaters in homes. “While this strategy will clean the air for all Californians…

Policy and Regulations

Oil heating ban in new homes in Canada, is gas next?

From December 2021, Quebec banned oil heating in new homes, and as of 2023 it will even be prohibited to replace or repair oil furnaces. Looked at in detail the new provincial regulations potentially also go for gas heating. Adopted on November 17, 2021 in Quebec, the regulations for banning oil-fired heating…

Policy and Regulations

Carbon tax in Canada or USA – How More Tax might be a Good Thing

Raising taxes is usually something that dips into all wallets - but the Carbon tax, applied correctly to target consumption, may be the best thing that ever happened for the North American construction industry and homeowners. I was a carpenter/contractor for decades, during and in between university. In 2008 an old…

Policy and Regulations

Tiny Houses are going to be legal in Santa Cruz, California!

Tiny Homes, Tiny Houses on Wheels (or Thows), Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU's), Coach Houses, these are all variations on a theme for affordable, less impactful homes. The main issue to date has been Building Code which was unfavorable to Tiny Homes. Living in a Tiny House in California is getting easier all the…

Policy and Regulations

Tiny houses on wheels approved in San Jose, California

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…

Policy and Regulations

Ontario clarifies building-code for legal laneway homes in Toronto

In a landmark appeal case Ontario BCC has clarified building-code for laneway homes making it easier to get a permit for legal Tiny Houses in Toronto from May 2020 with shared access & sprinklers legally accepted. Toronto’s New Laneway Suite Program bylaw gives hope for tiny homes After buying a home on Manning Ave…

Policy and Regulations

BC Leads the way in energy efficient housing and green job creation though the BC Energy Step Code

BC Energy Step Code - A step in the right direction for Sustainable home building in Canada. This step follows in the path of Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 initiative , which began in 2009, with the Greenest City Action Team masterminded & co-chaired by Gregor Robertson, at that time Mayor of Vancouver, and David…