modern-landscapes / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

A new cement block manufacturing process developed by an American company named Solidia Technologies® produces 40% fewer emissions during manufacturing than conventional concrete, resulting in a dramatically lower environmental footprint. Solidia’s concrete is formulated with less lime and is cured at lower temperature...

The tiny house movement is on the far end of the scale of a very encouraging and growing trend towards modern smaller home sizes. Small homes take less materials to build than large homes, and they consume less energy to operate. Ergo, smaller homes are ‘greener’ homes. At least most of the time…  Tiny houses are on on...

The tiny house movement is on the far end of the scale of a very encouraging and growing trend towards modern smaller home sizes. Small homes take less materials to build than large homes, and they consume less energy to operate. Ergo, smaller homes are ‘greener’ homes. At least most of the time…  Tiny houses are on on...

Permeable pavers or paving stones are best for driveways and paths Gaining an understanding of the importance of stormwater management may steer you towards a design and product choice in interlocking paver stones, which will help you retain and manage stormwater that falls within your property.  When patios and drivew...

We already have an article about whether shipping container homes are good or bad? But that was more in relation to cold climates - so we decided to redress the balance and seek out an example of beautiful shipping container homes in a warm climate to showcase. Especially now that laws on Tiny Houses in California are ...

How to grow vegetables & fruits in a garden Plants survived long before humans were around to water them, so we aren't talking about reinventing the wheel here, but rather a sensible choice of plants and basic water management. Native species of plants in a given region have adapted to their own climate and can usu...

Invasive plants are defined as plants from other continents, countries or even other regions of Canada. Humans have been introducing foreign plants to new lands since the 17th century, for horticultural, agricultural or medicinal purposes. Due to a lack of natural competitors they can often propagate swiftly and comple...

If you're like me and you love to grow your own food but have limited access to all day sun, do not fret - a bountiful harvest is still well within your reach. Just like the gardeners that grow them, many vegetables will actually appreciate a little respite from the sun during the hottest months of the growing season. ...

A guide to non-toxic weed removal on patios Are there weeds growing in cracks between flagstones or pavers that are driving you nuts? Almost enough to get some earth-poisoning chemicals to fix it, but your conscience won't let you? Great, because we feel the same someatimes and we have some solutions to offer you to re...

Introduction: The Future of Coastal Living As British Columbia moves toward more stringent energy regulations, the residence at 242 Shore Lane on Bowen Island has emerged as a premier benchmark for the future of sustainable luxury. This home is not merely a coastal retreat; it is a meticulously engineered "jewel box" t...

Housing affordability and availability are major challenges in Canada, and traditional construction methods can’t keep pace with growing demand. Governments are responding with strategies like zoning changes, incentives for higher density, standardized home designs to streamline permits, and financial aid for affordabl...