Products and Materials

The impact of tariff changes on home building and renovation in the U.S. and Canada

Exploring the potential impact of proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian construction materials, how Canadian tariff retaliation could reshape the industry, and the potential shift towards alternative building methods. Recent statements by the newly inaugurated U.S. President, Donald Trump, propose a significant 25%…

Infographic of the mid-rise wood v concrete construction comparison report

High performance energy efficient homes help to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool them, but this is only half of the story! The embodied carbon in the construction is also important, especially when building mid-rise high density homes. Embodied & operational carbon comparison for mid-rise…

Products and Materials

A sustainable, zero-carbon alternative to Portland cement concrete from Prometheus Materials CO - BioConcrete !

Using naturally occurring microalgae, Prometheus Materials and a team of scientists and engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a carbon zero alternative to carbon intensive portland cement based concrete... suitable for ready mix. In a recent press release, Prometheus Materials, a zero-carbon…

Products and Materials

Two startups cutting emissions from the use of concrete have won the $20 million Carbon Xprize.

Ecohome encourage anyone building with some ready mix concrete to check if there is a local supplier of CarbonCure to help reduce the carbon footprint of your build. A while back Ecohome was pleased to find and report on some upcoming technologies that were producing Low-carbon and carbon-neutral concrete…

Products and Materials

Ikea sustainability and their new sell-back program

When we think of big-box stores and retailers we don't generally think of sustainability, we think of a "pile it high & sell it cheap" disposable mentality - but we've been discovering that Ikea, the worlds largest furniture retailer, is at least trying. So here’s a new situation – We find that a certain corporation…

Products and Materials

Habitat for Humanity - building durable homes in California wildfire zones from ICF

Build with Strength is partnering with Habitat for Humanity International to supply the concrete for affordable and sustainable housing in 16 locations across the U.S. Due to the significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come with the production of Portland cement, Ecohome has long promoted alternatives to…

Products and Materials

The UK Competition and Markets Authority is investigating "Greenwashing" of Products - Good!

We dislike product "Greenwashing," so it's music to our ears that the CMA in the UK will investigate descriptions and labels used to promote products and services claiming to be ‘eco-friendly’ with Worldwide implications. So what is product Greenwashing? Greenwashing eh? Heard the one about the "Natural Insulation"…

Products and Materials

A new reflective paint can reduce energy consumption & lower cooling bills

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…

Products and Materials

Cellulose rigid foam board insulation - the environmentally-friendly styrofoam replacement?

A new environmentally-friendly rigid foam insulation board made from cellulose nanocrystals is a viable alternative to Styrofoam - according to researchers at WSU. Current rigid foam insulation panel choices It would probably not come as a surprise to many people to hear that fiberglass insulation and rigid foam…

Products and Materials

Salvaging old lumber with the Nail Kicker

The Nail Kicker quickly and easily removes nails from old lumber, saving costs on material purchase as well as waste disposal. Most people, certainly those reading here on our site, would no doubt prefer to see old lumber re-employed than sent to a landfill, but staying on a construction budget can on occasion trump…

Products and Materials

A new high performance wall system makes inroads into the Ottawa construction market

With the help of The Healthiest Home in Ottawa, a couple in Aylmer, Quebec are the first in the National Capital Region to build a home with an innovative wall panel system from a U.S. company called K-Tect. Brian Allemekinders and Deidre Yukich say that despite their new home being twice the size of their previous…