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

Sustainably built Prefabricated Tiny houses from FabCab
Tiny house

Tiny Houses: The FabCab prefabricated building WA

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...

Accessory dwelling units (ADU)

The Complete Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Garden Suites & Laneway Homes in Canada

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...

The off-grid Ecocapsule accessory dwelling unit
Tiny house

The off-grid Ecocapsule tiny house

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...

The Archipod
Tiny house

Have a backyard home office delivered by truck

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...

Vancouver's first laneway home in 2010
Accessory dwelling units (ADU)

Vancouver laneway homes, ADUs & multiplexes in 2025

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...

Modern detached garden suite or bi-generation home in Quebec
Accessory dwelling units (ADU)

The Quebec Homeowner's Guide to ADUs, Bi-Generation & Backyard Tiny Homes & coach houses

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...

Ottawa Coach Houses with prefab modern tiny house kit homes are available here
Tiny house

Ottawa now allows backyard coach homes & high-end tiny house kits

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, Good or Bad?
Accessory dwelling units (ADU)

Are shipping container houses environmentally friendly & good or bad to live in?

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...

Urban Farm Unit - Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Pisciculture and Urban Farming
Food production

Growing food in urban cores with the Urban Farm Unit

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...

A tiny home on wheels near Vancouver in BC
Tiny house

Tiny Homes on Wheels - Legal in BC Canada?

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 ...

Modern two-story laneway house with garage and living space in Toronto GTA ON
Accessory dwelling units (ADU)

The Ontario Homeowner's Guide to Laneway Homes, Garden Suites & Bill 23

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 ...