full-spectrum-lighting / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

The first thought of home lighting design should be the orientation of windows for quality of life, but also passive solar heat gain. Not only does the sun offer free heat, but free light as well. Natural and certain types of artificial lighting can reduce the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Studies s...

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and 'daylight balanced' home lighting: how do they affect us? As the days grow shorter in the fall and winter months, many people experience a noticeable drop in mood and energy. For some, this shift goes beyond the typical 'winter blues' and is clinically recognized as seasonal affect...

There are a lot of options to consider when shopping for appliances, designing home lighting, and heating your home. These pages outline some things you can do that will help reduce your consumption, and despite what is sometimes a higher sticker price, usually save you money. Efficient and effective home lighting desi...

How to choose the best LED bulbs and DIY lighting fixture installation tips. LED bulbs are here to stay, it's time to make the leap. The colours are warmer now, the bulbs are dimable and the price is coming down. Incandescent bulbs give off lots of unwanted heat, which in summer months makes your air conditioning syst...

Best practices for attached garages: a homeowner's & pro's guide Designing an attached garage requires a sophisticated approach to building science to ensure that convenience does not compromise indoor air quality or thermal performance. Because these structures share a common wall and often a ceiling with the prim...

Clever kitchen design ideas: a homeowner's and pro's guide The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it can also be a source of frustration if the space is not designed to function efficiently. This guide explores a range of innovative, space-saving, and convenient ideas that will make your kitchen a pleasure to use. F...

Alternatives to grass lawns - ground covers!  North American backyards have one main point in common – Kentucky blue grass. But here we’re talking about ground covers and alternatives to this grass, not a bunch of fiddle and banjo players jamming in your backyard.  The traditional green grass we use to cover our front ...

What is the difference between LED and Incandescent lightbulbs? At the beginning of the 20th century, light bulbs were handmade, with incandescent filaments painstakingly being placed in tiny glass globes. Manufacturing is a little more automated now, but the performance of incandescent bulbs hasn't changed - 80-90% of...

Flooded basement? That really sucks... Basement flooding can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare, and I should know. My basement first flooded while I was away getting married, so our honeymoon was spent mopping up the mess left by that flood. I get it - it’s a horrible sight and feeling to step down those stairs and sudd...

Smart homes take advantage of smart phone technologies to provide you with automated control of your homes systems such as heating and lighting.  This guide provides a comprehensive look at the key aspects of this topic. Below is an overview of the sections we will cover, allowing you to jump directly to the informatio...

Why are sun tunnels better than skylights? There is a quality of life you get with natural light that artificial lighting just can’t fake. That’s why skylights and sun tunnels (or light wells) are so popular. Living in a naturally lit space improves moods, it saves energy on lighting, and it connects us to the outdoors...