accessory-dwelling-unit / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

FabCab’s approach to sustainability is simple - design healthy, efficient environments to accommodate varied lifestyles. Dedicated to designing a space that is usable for people with a range of ages and abilities, they are equally dedicated to offering their clients eco-friendly and economically resourceful spaces. The...

The complete guide to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Canada As housing prices soar and the need for urban density increases, the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) has emerged as one of the most popular sustainable housing solutions in Canada. Whether you call it a laneway house, a garden suite, a granny flat, or a base...

If your fantasy is to live totally off the grid anywhere around the world, that dream just got one step closer to reality. Nice Architects just unveiled the first photos of their incredible egg-shaped Ecocapsule home - and the tiny solar and wind-powered dwelling will be available for sale later this year. Nice Archite...

I'm sure we can all agree that as the cost and inconvenience of commuting to work continues to escalate, the advances in networking technology are making the possibility of working from home a viable alternative to schlepping ourselves to the office. When we consider eliminating the daily commute, the benefits are clea...

Laneway homes in Vancouver For years, Vancouver has been a leader in urban densification, championing alternatives to urban sprawl. The laneway house was a cornerstone of this strategy. However, recent and significant changes to provincial and municipal zoning have dramatically expanded the possibilities for homeowner...

The Quebec homeowner's guide to ADUs, multi-generation & backyard tiny houses  How to navigate municipal bylaws, PIIA architectural requirements, and construction costs to build a legal secondary suite or "UHA" in Quebec. In Quebec, the conversation around Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) is rather unique. While the...

In the fall of 2015, the City of Ottawa conducted a public-consultation survey to gauge interest in a change of bylaws to allow secondary dwellings (Coach Houses or Tiny Houses) to be constructed on existing residential properties when space allows for it. The result was positive, with 60% of respondents in favour. Thi...

Shipping container homes are gaining popularity globally, especially as Tiny Houses, as they can be seductively attractive with their modern looking lines, colours and shape - but one question we've been asked consistently is: Are shipping containers good or bad as homes , and for the environment? Like many great ideas...

So, urban agriculture. It's important, right? That’s certainly the conclusion I've come to when pondering the future of food production, our future on this planet, and sustainability in general. As a proponent of urban agriculture it's also clear to me that both space and soil toxicity are challenges that beg to be ove...

B.C. paves the way for Tiny Homes on Wheels - here's what you need to know: In a landmark move for the sustainable housing movement, the British Columbia government has officially clarified the legal status of Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs), providing a long-awaited roadmap for builders, buyers, and municipalities. This ...

The Ontario homeowner's guide to 'as of right' zoning of laneway homes, garden suites & Bill 23 The Canadian federal government as well as provincial governments are promoting increased rates of home construction to aleviate the housing crisis, to stimulate the economy, and to increase urban density. This makes it ...